Esteban J. Parra

Esteban J. Parra is a Professor at the University of Toronto, Mississauga campus (UTM). His research focuses on molecular anthropology, human genetics, and the genetic basis of complex traits and diseases. He is currently on leave from July 2023 to December 2023.

• Education: Ph.D. in Physical Anthropology from the University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain (1993)

Research Interests: Dr. Parra’s work spans several domains: (1) elucidating the genetic architecture of pigmentation traits (skin, hair, eye color) and their evolutionary drivers; (2) analyzing population admixture in the Americas since the 15th century using genetic markers; (3) pharmacogenomics studies of genes influencing drug response (e.g., warfarin dosing); and (4) identifying genetic risk factors for type 2 diabetes, lipid concentrations, and COVID-19 severity. His research emphasizes non-European populations and challenges typological classifications of human diversity.

• Graduate Students: Includes Ph.D. students Hayley Welsh, Cristina Abbatangelo, and co-supervised advisees such as Mary Anne Panoyan (with Dr. Dan Felsky), Nina Adler (with Dr. Rayjean Hung), and Fesobi Oluwamuyiwa (with Dr. Lisa Strug).
• International Collaborations: Works with researchers in Brazil (Dr. Guilherme Suarez-Kurtz, Dr. Michel Naslavski), Mexico (Dr. Miguel Cruz), India (Prof. Manjari Jonnalagadda), and Cuba (Dr. Beatriz Marcheco).

Courses Taught: Undergraduate courses ANT202H5-Biological Anthropology: Human Variation and Adaptation and ANT436H5-Theory and Methods in Molecular Anthropology; graduate course ANT3440H-Molecular Anthropology: Theory and Practice.