Pooja Swali
@poojaswali.bsky.social
Pathogen evolution using Ancient DNA 🧬💀🦠
Postdoc at @ugiatucl.bsky.social van Dorp Group UCL
Previously @crick.ac.uk 👩🏽🔬👩🏽💻
Postdoc at @ugiatucl.bsky.social van Dorp Group UCL
Previously @crick.ac.uk 👩🏽🔬👩🏽💻
Pinned
Pooja Swali
@poojaswali.bsky.social
· May 22
Excited to announce our paper on ancient Borrelia genomes is finally out! 🦠💀We document the evolutionary history of louse-borne relapsing fever, published today in @science.org with @lucyvandorp.bsky.social and @pontus-skoglund.bsky.social #aDNA 🏺🧪🧬
Main findings and paper below: 🧵⬇️
Main findings and paper below: 🧵⬇️
Reposted by Pooja Swali
UK science and technology is suffering from a lack of investment, a hostile immigration system, and fragile university finances, reports @cathleenogrady.bsky.social 🧪 #scipolicy
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
U.K. science sector is ‘bleeding to death,’ lawmakers say in report
House of Lords committee urges government to stem exodus of science and technology companies
www.science.org
November 10, 2025 at 10:08 PM
UK science and technology is suffering from a lack of investment, a hostile immigration system, and fragile university finances, reports @cathleenogrady.bsky.social 🧪 #scipolicy
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Pooja Swali
Our manuscript on bovine deep-time paleogenomics at Denisova Cave and in the broader mid-latitude Asia is online! doi.org/10.1093/gbe/... 🦬🦴🧬
Main findings in the 🧵 below ⬇️
@cpgsthlm.bsky.social @genomebiolevol.bsky.social #aDNA
Main findings in the 🧵 below ⬇️
@cpgsthlm.bsky.social @genomebiolevol.bsky.social #aDNA
Paleogenomics Reveals a Loss of Bovine Lineages in Mid-latitude Asia Over the Last 200,000 Years
Abstract. Bovines have a complex yet poorly understood evolutionary history that is characterized by admixture and diversity loss during the Late Pleistoce
doi.org
November 20, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Our manuscript on bovine deep-time paleogenomics at Denisova Cave and in the broader mid-latitude Asia is online! doi.org/10.1093/gbe/... 🦬🦴🧬
Main findings in the 🧵 below ⬇️
@cpgsthlm.bsky.social @genomebiolevol.bsky.social #aDNA
Main findings in the 🧵 below ⬇️
@cpgsthlm.bsky.social @genomebiolevol.bsky.social #aDNA
Reposted by Pooja Swali
a life changing opportunity made possible by the Nobel Prize funds awarded to John Sulston -- the @sangerinstitute.bsky.social runs the Sanger Prize scheme, open to an undergrad from any LMIC to spend 3 months here learning all about genomics. more details here www.sanger.ac.uk/about/study/...
November 20, 2025 at 5:39 PM
a life changing opportunity made possible by the Nobel Prize funds awarded to John Sulston -- the @sangerinstitute.bsky.social runs the Sanger Prize scheme, open to an undergrad from any LMIC to spend 3 months here learning all about genomics. more details here www.sanger.ac.uk/about/study/...
Reposted by Pooja Swali
Briefly, we identified three extinct mitochondrial bovine lineages in mid-latitude Asia: aurochs basal to haplogroup C, bison clade X, and a previously unknown yak-like clade X sister to all known yak diversity.
This yak X mitochondrial lineage diverged around 675,000 years ago from modern yak!
This yak X mitochondrial lineage diverged around 675,000 years ago from modern yak!
November 20, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Briefly, we identified three extinct mitochondrial bovine lineages in mid-latitude Asia: aurochs basal to haplogroup C, bison clade X, and a previously unknown yak-like clade X sister to all known yak diversity.
This yak X mitochondrial lineage diverged around 675,000 years ago from modern yak!
This yak X mitochondrial lineage diverged around 675,000 years ago from modern yak!
Reposted by Pooja Swali
What an incredible resource for those starting out in ancient DNA! Thanks once again @oskolkov.bsky.social for being our first #AaRCademy speaker
November 18, 2025 at 8:44 AM
What an incredible resource for those starting out in ancient DNA! Thanks once again @oskolkov.bsky.social for being our first #AaRCademy speaker
Reposted by Pooja Swali
New online! Insights into infectious diseases through ancient pathogen genomics
Insights into infectious diseases through ancient pathogen genomics
Nature Reviews Microbiology, Published online: 17 November 2025; doi:10.1038/s41579-025-01259-7In this Review, Kocher, Krause and Spyrou explore how ancient pathogen genomics is providing new perspectives on the history and evolution of infectious agents. They show how ancient DNA has revealed the aetiology and unfolding of historic outbreaks, pathogen evolutionary timescales, patterns of dissemination and functional evolution, and discuss existing limitations and perspectives of the field.
www.nature.com
November 17, 2025 at 9:24 PM
New online! Insights into infectious diseases through ancient pathogen genomics
Reposted by Pooja Swali
A PhD project on historical genomics in the declining red squirrel in Britain is available in my group, through the @aries-dtp.bsky.social. Use historical genomes to track the effects of decline and genetic rescue in this charismatic species. aries-dtp.ac.uk/studentships...
Historical genomics of the declining red squirrel in Britain | Aries
Dr Anders Bergström, School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia Professor Cock van Oosterhout, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia Dr Selina Brace…
aries-dtp.ac.uk
November 17, 2025 at 1:12 PM
A PhD project on historical genomics in the declining red squirrel in Britain is available in my group, through the @aries-dtp.bsky.social. Use historical genomes to track the effects of decline and genetic rescue in this charismatic species. aries-dtp.ac.uk/studentships...
Reposted by Pooja Swali
Applications are now open for the NERC TREES DLA 2026 PhD cohort. If you’re interested in conducting high-impact research in environmental science via an advertised or self-proposed project please take a look: www.trees-dla.ac.uk/news/applica.... #PhDprogramme #PhD #genomics #evolution
Applications Now Open! | TREES DLA
TREES Overview & Research ThemesTREES supports doctoral research across a broad range of themes. Applicants should align with at least one of these areas:
www.trees-dla.ac.uk
October 21, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Applications are now open for the NERC TREES DLA 2026 PhD cohort. If you’re interested in conducting high-impact research in environmental science via an advertised or self-proposed project please take a look: www.trees-dla.ac.uk/news/applica.... #PhDprogramme #PhD #genomics #evolution
Reposted by Pooja Swali
Wonderful and engaging talk by
@lucyvandorp.bsky.social
who was invited to speak on the drivers of pathogen evolution using ancient DNA at the Ancient Genomes: Perspectives on Human Biology and Medicine meeting
@gensocuk.bsky.social
🧬🦠
@lucyvandorp.bsky.social
who was invited to speak on the drivers of pathogen evolution using ancient DNA at the Ancient Genomes: Perspectives on Human Biology and Medicine meeting
@gensocuk.bsky.social
🧬🦠
November 17, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Wonderful and engaging talk by
@lucyvandorp.bsky.social
who was invited to speak on the drivers of pathogen evolution using ancient DNA at the Ancient Genomes: Perspectives on Human Biology and Medicine meeting
@gensocuk.bsky.social
🧬🦠
@lucyvandorp.bsky.social
who was invited to speak on the drivers of pathogen evolution using ancient DNA at the Ancient Genomes: Perspectives on Human Biology and Medicine meeting
@gensocuk.bsky.social
🧬🦠
Reposted by Pooja Swali
Great to have Priya Moorjani visit UGI and give a talk on inferring Neanderthal ancestry in ancient individuals, and to share a bit about her work on Indian genetics, including insights into the evolution of lactase persistence.
November 12, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Great to have Priya Moorjani visit UGI and give a talk on inferring Neanderthal ancestry in ancient individuals, and to share a bit about her work on Indian genetics, including insights into the evolution of lactase persistence.
Reposted by Pooja Swali
How does life evolve to adapt to modern cities?
Out now in Science, my PhD work with @lindymcbr.bsky.social uncovers the ancient origin of the “London Underground mosquito” – one of the most iconic examples of urban adaptation.
🧵(1/n)
@science.org
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ady4515
Out now in Science, my PhD work with @lindymcbr.bsky.social uncovers the ancient origin of the “London Underground mosquito” – one of the most iconic examples of urban adaptation.
🧵(1/n)
@science.org
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ady4515
Ancient origin of an urban underground mosquito
Understanding how life is adapting to urban environments represents an important challenge in evolutionary biology. In this work, we investigate a widely cited example of urban adaptation, Culex pipie...
www.science.org
October 25, 2025 at 4:46 AM
How does life evolve to adapt to modern cities?
Out now in Science, my PhD work with @lindymcbr.bsky.social uncovers the ancient origin of the “London Underground mosquito” – one of the most iconic examples of urban adaptation.
🧵(1/n)
@science.org
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ady4515
Out now in Science, my PhD work with @lindymcbr.bsky.social uncovers the ancient origin of the “London Underground mosquito” – one of the most iconic examples of urban adaptation.
🧵(1/n)
@science.org
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ady4515
Reposted by Pooja Swali
Great to have Dr Hrushikesh Loya give a fantastic talk on his tool Ghostbusters: A Genome-Wide Genealogical Approach to Uncovering Hidden Admixture Events in Human Evolution 👻
October 28, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Great to have Dr Hrushikesh Loya give a fantastic talk on his tool Ghostbusters: A Genome-Wide Genealogical Approach to Uncovering Hidden Admixture Events in Human Evolution 👻
Reposted by Pooja Swali
Fantastic reporting by @kakape.bsky.social on @scs22.bsky.social's work in the Arctic looking for sequenceable ancient RNA viruses. Amazing pictures (including this gem), and as always great story telling and commentary on the topic. Excited to see what they find. www.science.org/content/arti...
October 16, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Fantastic reporting by @kakape.bsky.social on @scs22.bsky.social's work in the Arctic looking for sequenceable ancient RNA viruses. Amazing pictures (including this gem), and as always great story telling and commentary on the topic. Excited to see what they find. www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Pooja Swali
Thrilled to share our preprint where we propose that S. enterica Paratyphi C entered Mexico via European conquest and then diversified locally. More evidence is needed to assert whether or not it caused Cocoliztli (a major contact-period epidemic). Comments welcome!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Ancient genomic insights into Salmonella enterica Paratyphi C in Central Mexico
Salmonella enterica is a widespread pathogen of major global health relevance, with over 2,500 serovars classified into non-typhoidal and typhoidal groups. Within the typhoidal group, S. enterica Para...
www.biorxiv.org
October 14, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Thrilled to share our preprint where we propose that S. enterica Paratyphi C entered Mexico via European conquest and then diversified locally. More evidence is needed to assert whether or not it caused Cocoliztli (a major contact-period epidemic). Comments welcome!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Pooja Swali
🦠💀🦠 Happy to share our (with @gunnar-u-neumann.bsky.social) new preprint on ancient Salmonella enterica genomes! We analysed 53 new genomes along with published ancient and modern datasets to learn about lineage replacements and host adaptation in prehistory: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Evolutionary history and recurrent host adaptation in ancient Salmonella enterica
Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica is an extremely diverse bacterial pathogen causing frequent infections and foodborne disease among human populations. More than 1500 different bacterial strains (se...
www.biorxiv.org
September 22, 2025 at 6:19 PM
🦠💀🦠 Happy to share our (with @gunnar-u-neumann.bsky.social) new preprint on ancient Salmonella enterica genomes! We analysed 53 new genomes along with published ancient and modern datasets to learn about lineage replacements and host adaptation in prehistory: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Almost 10 years after my masters here, I finally get a chance to talk at @lshtm.bsky.social for CEE's autumn symposium 🍁🧬🦠
Pooja Swali @poojaswali.bsky.social presenting her very interesting work on ancient pathogens. @ugiatucl.bsky.social
September 22, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Almost 10 years after my masters here, I finally get a chance to talk at @lshtm.bsky.social for CEE's autumn symposium 🍁🧬🦠
Reposted by Pooja Swali
I have funding for a 2-year dry-lab postdoc to join our team @humanevouu.bsky.social 🧪 (Deadline Oct 21st)
The project will utilize modern and #aDNA data from humans and sheep to study environmental adaptation (including method development and simulations).
Please share!
www.uu.se/en/about-uu/...
The project will utilize modern and #aDNA data from humans and sheep to study environmental adaptation (including method development and simulations).
Please share!
www.uu.se/en/about-uu/...
Postdoctoral position in Population Genomics - Uppsala University
Postdoctoral position in Population Genomics, Department of Organismal Biology, Uppsala University
www.uu.se
September 17, 2025 at 9:15 AM
I have funding for a 2-year dry-lab postdoc to join our team @humanevouu.bsky.social 🧪 (Deadline Oct 21st)
The project will utilize modern and #aDNA data from humans and sheep to study environmental adaptation (including method development and simulations).
Please share!
www.uu.se/en/about-uu/...
The project will utilize modern and #aDNA data from humans and sheep to study environmental adaptation (including method development and simulations).
Please share!
www.uu.se/en/about-uu/...
Reposted by Pooja Swali
Very excited to receive an ERC Starting Grant to study the earliest archaeological and biomolecular evidence of Homo sapiens in NW Europe
Watch this space for new positions in Bristol in 2026! 🎉
#HorizonEurope #ERCStG
Watch this space for new positions in Bristol in 2026! 🎉
#HorizonEurope #ERCStG
📣 The ERC Starting Grant call results are out!
Find out which early-career researchers will receive funding this year, what they will be investigating, where they will be based... plus lots of other #ERCStG facts & figures for 2025!
➡️ buff.ly/IsafuFh
#FrontierResearch 🇪🇺#EUfunded #HorizonEurope
Find out which early-career researchers will receive funding this year, what they will be investigating, where they will be based... plus lots of other #ERCStG facts & figures for 2025!
➡️ buff.ly/IsafuFh
#FrontierResearch 🇪🇺#EUfunded #HorizonEurope
September 5, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Very excited to receive an ERC Starting Grant to study the earliest archaeological and biomolecular evidence of Homo sapiens in NW Europe
Watch this space for new positions in Bristol in 2026! 🎉
#HorizonEurope #ERCStG
Watch this space for new positions in Bristol in 2026! 🎉
#HorizonEurope #ERCStG
Reposted by Pooja Swali
Check out our latest paper, a huge effort led by @benjaminguinet.bsky.social and @tvdvalk.bsky.social 🦣🔍🦠
Paper: www.cell.com/cell/abstrac...
Paper: www.cell.com/cell/abstrac...
September 3, 2025 at 6:41 AM
Check out our latest paper, a huge effort led by @benjaminguinet.bsky.social and @tvdvalk.bsky.social 🦣🔍🦠
Paper: www.cell.com/cell/abstrac...
Paper: www.cell.com/cell/abstrac...
Reposted by Pooja Swali
Centre for Ecology & Evolution autumn symposium & mixer www.lshtm.ac.uk/newsevents/e...
Centre for Ecology & Evolution autumn symposium & mixer | LSHTM
The CEE Autumn Symposium & Mixer brings together London's vibrant ecology and evolution research community. This is an excellent opportunity to hear cutting-edge research presentations, mainly by PhD
www.lshtm.ac.uk
August 29, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Centre for Ecology & Evolution autumn symposium & mixer www.lshtm.ac.uk/newsevents/e...
Come join us!! A very exciting project with a wonderful team!! 🤩🧬
Excited to say we’re hiring 😊. We’re looking for a post-doc in ancient pathogen genomics to join our friendly supportive team in London at @ugiatucl.bsky.social. Start date January 2026.
www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...
www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...
UCL – University College London
UCL is consistently ranked as one of the top ten universities in the world (QS World University Rankings 2010-2022) and is No.2 in the UK for research power (Research Excellence Framework 2021).
www.ucl.ac.uk
September 1, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Come join us!! A very exciting project with a wonderful team!! 🤩🧬
Reposted by Pooja Swali
If you like generating genomic data from unusual medical samples, past and contemporary epidemiology and advancing methods in phylo/population genetics please get in touch.
Group website: www.ucl.ac.uk/~ucbpvan/
Closing date Sept 25th 2025.
#aDNA #microbialgenomics #ISBA #popgen #UCL
Group website: www.ucl.ac.uk/~ucbpvan/
Closing date Sept 25th 2025.
#aDNA #microbialgenomics #ISBA #popgen #UCL
New preprint on the early evolution of BA.2.86
www.ucl.ac.uk
September 1, 2025 at 10:09 AM
If you like generating genomic data from unusual medical samples, past and contemporary epidemiology and advancing methods in phylo/population genetics please get in touch.
Group website: www.ucl.ac.uk/~ucbpvan/
Closing date Sept 25th 2025.
#aDNA #microbialgenomics #ISBA #popgen #UCL
Group website: www.ucl.ac.uk/~ucbpvan/
Closing date Sept 25th 2025.
#aDNA #microbialgenomics #ISBA #popgen #UCL
Reposted by Pooja Swali
Excited to say we’re hiring 😊. We’re looking for a post-doc in ancient pathogen genomics to join our friendly supportive team in London at @ugiatucl.bsky.social. Start date January 2026.
www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...
www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...
UCL – University College London
UCL is consistently ranked as one of the top ten universities in the world (QS World University Rankings 2010-2022) and is No.2 in the UK for research power (Research Excellence Framework 2021).
www.ucl.ac.uk
September 1, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Excited to say we’re hiring 😊. We’re looking for a post-doc in ancient pathogen genomics to join our friendly supportive team in London at @ugiatucl.bsky.social. Start date January 2026.
www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...
www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/...
Reposted by Pooja Swali
We were part of another viral aRNA study that was just published. In this work spearheaded by Christian Urban in the lab of Verena Schuenemann, a new protocol was assessed (good for short fragments) and a seventh 1918 flu genome was completely sequenced
bmcbiol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
bmcbiol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
An ancient influenza genome from Switzerland allows deeper insights into host adaptation during the 1918 flu pandemic in Europe - BMC Biology
Background From 1918 to 1920, the largest influenza A virus (IAV) pandemic known to date spread globally causing between 20 to 100 million deaths. Historical records have captured critical aspects of ...
bmcbiol.biomedcentral.com
July 2, 2025 at 10:20 AM
We were part of another viral aRNA study that was just published. In this work spearheaded by Christian Urban in the lab of Verena Schuenemann, a new protocol was assessed (good for short fragments) and a seventh 1918 flu genome was completely sequenced
bmcbiol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
bmcbiol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10....
Reposted by Pooja Swali
📣 Work with us! 📣
The Department of Archaeology at the University of Cambridge is looking to appoint an Assistant Professor in Zooarchaeology.
📅 Closing date: 15 September
👉 More info and how to apply: www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/assista...
The Department of Archaeology at the University of Cambridge is looking to appoint an Assistant Professor in Zooarchaeology.
📅 Closing date: 15 September
👉 More info and how to apply: www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/assista...
Assistant Professor in Zooarchaeology (Human and Animal Relations in Prehistory)
The Department of Archaeology at the University of Cambridge seeks to appoint an Assistant Professor in Zooarchaeology, to start on 1 January 2026 or as soon thereafter as possible. Subject to
www.cam.ac.uk
August 1, 2025 at 11:02 AM
📣 Work with us! 📣
The Department of Archaeology at the University of Cambridge is looking to appoint an Assistant Professor in Zooarchaeology.
📅 Closing date: 15 September
👉 More info and how to apply: www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/assista...
The Department of Archaeology at the University of Cambridge is looking to appoint an Assistant Professor in Zooarchaeology.
📅 Closing date: 15 September
👉 More info and how to apply: www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/assista...