Tracing human history through DNA: keynote by Anna-Sapfo Malaspinas

We are pleased to announce that Anna-Sapfo Malaspinas (University of Lausanne, Switzerland) will deliver a keynote lecture at ECCB 2026.

Her talk, titled “Tracing human migrations with ancient DNA”, will take place on Wednesday at 9:00.

Anna-Sapfo Malaspinas is an evolutionary geneticist whose research bridges theoretical population genetics and large-scale genomic data analysis. Her work focuses on understanding the genetic diversity and evolutionary history of human populations, with a particular emphasis on Africa. By combining innovative computational methods with ancient DNA data, she and her team investigate key evolutionary processes such as genetic drift, natural selection, and migration.

At the SIB Evolutionary Genomics Group, she develops analytical frameworks to interpret both modern and ancient genomic data, enabling researchers to better quantify and date major events in human history, including migration patterns and adaptations.

Her keynote will offer valuable insights into how ancient DNA is reshaping our understanding of human evolution and the movements that have shaped populations across the globe.