Daniela Tejada Martinez

Daniela Tejada Martinez is a Researcher at Yale University, currently part of the Human Evolutionary Genomics Laboratory led by Prof. Serena Tucci. She holds a PhD in Ecology and Evolution from Universidad Austral de Chile (Chile) and a BSc from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (Colombia). Prior to Yale, she was a Postdoctoral Researcher at Thomas Jefferson University and a Research Assistant at the University of Liverpool's Integrative Genomics of Ageing Group.

Her research bridges evolutionary biology and medicine, focusing on molecular mechanisms underlying longevity, disease resistance (especially cancer), and species adaptation. Key areas include tumor suppressor genes, cellular senescence, and comparative genomics. She employs computational biology to study human evolution, archaic hominin introgression, and demographic history.

Her work reveals how large-bodied, long-lived species like whales combat cancer through genetic adaptations. She also investigates capuchin monkeys' genomic basis for ecological flexibility and large brains using innovative methods like fecalFACS. Recent articles highlight transposon roles in stem cells and enhancer-driven lifespan adaptations in great apes.

Her research has contributed to understanding cancer resistance mechanisms, evolutionary genomics of aging, and primate adaptation. Daniela’s studies often integrate multi-disciplinary approaches, linking molecular biology, computational analysis, and evolutionary theory to address fundamental biological questions.