Magnus Nordborg

Magnus Nordborg is the Scientific Director at the Gregor Mendel Institute (GMI) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, hosted at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna. He leads a prominent research group focused on population genetics and evolutionary genomics, particularly in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, but also extending to other systems such as Aquilegia and African green monkeys.

His academic journey began with a BSc in Biology and Mathematics from Lund University, Sweden, followed by a PhD in Biology from Stanford University. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Chicago and held faculty positions at Lund University and the University of Southern California before joining GMI in 2009.

Dr. Nordborg’s research is centered on understanding the mechanisms of evolution and adaptation. His lab employs a powerful combination of computational, statistical, and empirical methods to analyze genomic data. Key research areas include the genetics of adaptation, speciation, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), polyploidy, and epigenetics. His work on the 1001 Genomes Project has been pivotal in making A. thaliana a premier system for studying natural genetic variation.

The recent publications highlight a consistent focus on the genetic and epigenetic basis of adaptation and variation in plants. There is a strong trend towards developing and applying advanced computational methods for analyzing complex genomic data, studying gene regulation, transposable elements, and the impact of structural variation. His work bridges fundamental evolutionary questions with cutting-edge genomic technologies.

• European Research Council, Advanced Investigator Grant Award, 2011
• European Research Council, Advanced Investigator Grant Award, 2018
• European Molecular Biology Organization, Member, 2015

Dr. Nordborg has supervised numerous PhD and Master’s students and has been instrumental in securing major research funding, including two prestigious ERC Advanced Grants. His research is conducted within a vibrant team at the GMI, which includes PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and technical staff from diverse scientific backgrounds. The lab fosters a collaborative environment that encourages conceptual thinking and independent data analysis. The GMI provides state-of-the-art scientific facilities to support this research.