Maanasa Raghavan
Assistant Professor
Email: mraghavan[AT]uchicago.edu
Maanasa is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Genetics. Maanasa earned a PhD from the University of Copenhagen in 2011 and was a postdoctoral researcher at the Centre for GeoGenetics, Denmark (2012-2015) and a Senior Research Associate at the University of Cambridge (2016-2018). Maanasa's doctoral and postdoctoral research focused on the early peopling of the Americas using ancient genomics. Her current research leverages modern and ancient DNA to investigate how and when patterns of worldwide genetic diversity were formed and implications for present-day human health and disease. Outside of the lab/office, Maanasa enjoys playing the drums, fussing over her cats, and watching hockey (Go Leafs!).
Bridget Chak
PhD Student (Genetics, Genomics, and Systems Biology), joint with the Barreiro Lab
Email: bchak[AT]uchicago.edu
Bridget is a PhD student in Genetics, Genomics, and Systems Biology interested in population genetics, human evolution, and global health. Before coming to Chicago, she was at Harvard University and the Broad Institute working on projects in viral genomics and outbreak response in Western Africa. Bridget’s project is geared towards understanding the demography and selection landscape among global hunter-gatherer populations. Outside of the lab, you’ll probably find her trying out new bars/restaurants in Chicago. She also enjoys pilates, music, football (go Liverpool!), and F1.
Nagarjuna Pasupuleti
Research Affiliate
Email: nagarjuna.ambu[AT]gmail.com
Nagarjuna is a research affiliate, based in India. He completed his Masters in Biotechnology from Bharathiar University, India, and has since worked in several research institutes in India such as the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CSIR-CCMB), Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (DST-BSIP) and Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR-CDRI). His research interests include population and evolutionary genetics and microbiome studies, particularly the role of gut microbiota in human health and disease. His current project involves working with communities across India to develop microbiome projects. When not in the field or the lab, Nagarjuna enjoys learning new languages, travelling and trekking.
Jose Antonio Urban (Toño)
PhD student (Human Genetics)
Email: jaurban[AT]uchicago.edu
Toño is a fourth-year Human Genetics PhD student and received support from a Fulbright-Garcia Robles during the first three years of his PhD. Before coming to Chicago, Toño did a BS in genomic sciences and a masters at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Mexico. During his Masters, Toño analyzed the population structure of yeasts involved in the fermentation of agave in Mexico. He is interested in studying the evolutionary history of human populations and is working on projects involving the human genetic histories of Sri Lankan population. In his free time, Toño enjoys watching real football, the NFL, series,movies, and reading!
Esha Bandyopadhay
PhD Student (Human Genetics)
Email: eshab5[AT]uchicago.edu
Esha is a Ph.D. student in Human Genetics interested in population genetics. She completed her B.Tech (2015) and M.Tech (2017) in Genetic Engineering from SRM University, India. As a part of her M.Tech thesis work, she spent six months at the Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom. Esha's project focuses on the human genetic history of the Indian Himalayas and Northeast India. Besides genetics, she enjoys trying out new restaurants, painting, photography, traveling and reading [Psst: She is a huge Sherlock fan!]
Natividad Lupiáñez-Corpas
Lab technician
Email: nlupianezcorpas[AT]uchicago.edu
Natividad is a Research Technician interested in ancient DNA, Anthropology and Zooarchaeology. She completed her undergraduate degree in Biochemistry and earned a Master’s in Physical and Forensic Anthropology (University of Granada). During her Master’s, she undertook an Erasmus+ Internship at the University of Leuven that gave her the opportunity to start working on an ancient DNA project. After working as a Project Manager, she returned to the field of Palaeogenomics, mainly working with faunal samples (CSIC). At Genscape, she heads daily upkeep of the ancient and modern laboratories and supports various research projects. When not in the lab nor trying to survive Chicago’s freezing climate, she enjoys spending time with her dog, traveling and visiting museums.
Shreya Ramachandran
PhD Student (Human Genetics)
Email: shreya23[AT]uchicago.edu
Shreya is a PhD student in Human Genetics interested in the microbes that live in, on, and around us. Before coming to Chicago, she graduated from Stanford University with her BS (2016) and MS (2017) in Biology and spent a year on a Fulbright fellowship in Maria Avila's lab in Querétaro, Mexico. Shreya's projects focus on investigating pathogen evolution using ancient DNA and gut microbiome transitions in South Asian populations. When she's not thinking about bacteria, she likes reading, baking, and solving crossword puzzles (sometimes competitively).
David Witonsky
Bioinformatician
Email: wito[AT]uchicago.edu
David is a bioinformatician and genetic data analyst who has worked in the Department of Human Genetics at the University of Chicago for over 15 years. During these years, he has worked closely with the labs of Anna Di Rienzo, John Novembre, and Sonia Kupfer developing and applying a diverse array of statistical and computational methods in research directed towards uncovering the mechanisms giving rise to phenotypic diversity in modern humans. Much of this work has focused on the genetic adaptation of humans to the unique stresses of high altitude environments. In his spare time, David likes to relieve his own stress by running and playing the piano.
