Emília Santos

Dr. Emília Santos is an Assistant Professor and NERC Independent Research Fellow in the Department of Zoology at the University of Cambridge. Her research focuses on the genetic and developmental mechanisms underlying morphological diversity in Lake Malawi cichlid fishes, integrating evolutionary biology, genetics, and developmental biology.

• Research themes include pigmentation pattern evolution, neural crest cell development, and adaptive radiation.
• Utilizes genome editing tools (CRISPR, Tol2 transgenesis) and comparative genomics to link cellular biology to macroevolutionary patterns.
• Investigates whether micro- and macroevolutionary processes share common genetic pathways.

Her recent work examines transposable element dynamics, visual system adaptation, and neural crest divergence across cichlid species. She leads the Cichlid Eco-evo-devo Group, accepting PhD applications.

Scientific Awards:

• NERC Independent Research Fellowship

Contact: es754@cam.ac.uk, Room 2.01, Downing St, Cambridge CB2 3EJ.