Human genetic diversity across languages and cultures

My research focuses on the study of human population prehistory through our genetic variability, and on the relationships between genetic fingerprints and demographic events such as human migration, diffusion and contact.  I explore parallels between genetics and other anthropological fields, particularly linguistics. My work encompasses the genetic prehistory of diverse regions, including sub-Saharan Africa, Europe, and especially South America. I have conducted fieldwork in Botswana, Peru, Chile, Venezuela and Italy. I am an expert in the study of Y chromosome and mitochondrial DNA variation, and in the field of genetic genealogy, while currently focusing on large-scale global genomic datasets. I am deeply interested in the societal impact of genetic research and its influence on our understanding of group and individual identity. I am committed to enhancing participation and transparency in human genetic studies, with particular attention to including minority and indigenous populations. I am a senior Assistant Professor of genetics at the University of Cagliari, Italy, and also affiliated with the University of Zurich, where I lead the “Human Genetic Diversity Across Languages and Cultures” research group within the Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, supported by the Institute for the Interdisciplinary Study of Language Evolution.