Priya Moorjani

Priya Moorjani is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of California, Berkeley. Her research integrates computational and statistical methods to study human genetics and evolutionary biology, focusing on genetic variation's evolutionary origins and applications to human history and disease. She leads the Moorjani Lab, which investigates mutation rate evolution across primates, admixture events in human populations, and leveraging evolutionary insights for disease gene discovery. Her work combines method development with large-scale genomic data analysis.

Key research themes include reconstructing human evolutionary history using ancient and modern genetic data, understanding the impact of founder events and admixture on disease risk, and measuring mutation rates in primates. The lab has made significant contributions to studies of South Asian population history, Neanderthal/Denisovan introgression, and the genomic basis of human adaptation.

Notable awards include the NSF CAREER Award (2023) and Novo Nordisk Foundation grants (2022–2024). She advises students such as Jesseon Chang (Master’s recipient) and collaborates on projects funded by major grants. The lab is committed to fostering diversity and inclusion in science, aligning with initiatives like Black Lives Matter.