People

Fernando A Villanea

Research Interests: I am interested in understanding the genetic legacy of Neanderthals and other archaic human species. My work is focused on learning about the natural history of archaic species as observed through genetic data; including the ancient genomes sequenced from individuals long dead, as well as the small fragments of archaic DNA inherited in people living today. My favorite theoretical frame is the coalescent, my favorite method is computer simulation, and my favorite analysis tool is Approximate Bayesian Computation.

Interests outside the lab: I enjoy adventuring with my wife, hiking, olympic lifting, tabletop gaming, and science-fiction.

Kolondja Thillot

Kolondja Thillot is an undergraduate Research Assistant at the Villanea Lab and recipient of a BSI Summer Scholarship.

Research Interests: I am interested in understanding the genetic admixture events behind Homo sapiens evolution, the archaic African "ghost" populations still unidentified and the effects that archaic genetics have on variation between modern populations globally. My work is focused on learning about the natural history of ancient archaic populations via the genetic sequences conserved in us today!

Interests outside of the lab: I like to hang out with friends & family, read sociology books, go on runs, and play basketball.