Sonja Vernes

Sonja Vernes is a Professor at the University of St Andrews, leading the Neurogenetics of Vocal Communication Research Group. She is affiliated with the School of Biology, the Institute of Behavioural and Neural Sciences, and the Centre for Social Learning & Cognitive Evolution. Her work explores the neurogenetic mechanisms underlying vocal communication in mammals, particularly focusing on bats as models for studying human speech and language evolution. She also holds an external position at the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics.

Her research integrates clinical genetics, omics approaches, and behavioral studies to uncover the genetic basis of vocal learning and speech disorders. Notable projects include the Bat1K genome sequencing consortium and the BATSPEAK initiative funded by the European Research Council. She has secured grants from UKRI, BBSRC, and others, totaling over £1.2M. Recent work includes sequencing bat genomes to study longevity, immunity, and vocal behavior.

Key contributions include pioneering bat models for vocal learning studies and linking genes to neurobiological circuits. Her lab collaborates globally, with projects published in journals like Wellcome Open Research and Acta Chiropterologica. She advises postgraduate students and leads interdisciplinary teams in genomics, neuroscience, and evolutionary biology.