Marcos Araújo Castro e Silva, Ph.D.
Unravelling the genetic history of Indigenous American and descendant Populations
I am a postdoctoral researcher at the Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (IBE), CSIC–Universitat Pompeu Fabra, in Barcelona and a recipient of the “la Caixa” Postdoctoral Junior Leader Fellowship, which I will begin in December 2026. My research combines population genetics, anthropological genetics, archaeogenetics, and bioinformatics to investigate the evolutionary history and genetic diversity of Indigenous and descendant populations across the Americas, both past and present.
I investigate how migration, admixture, population growth or collapse, and adaptation have shaped human genetic diversity over time. My work aims to uncover the deep and recent population histories of the Americas while contributing to a more inclusive understanding of global human diversity through the study of historically underrepresented populations.
Currently, I am particularly interested in how ancient demographic and evolutionary processes have shaped the genetic diversity of Indigenous populations in the Americas. I have also been investigating the genetic history of non-indigenous Latin American populations, which are characterized by complex admixture. More rencently, I have been exploring how these processes have influenced the phenotypic diversity of modern-day populations, including patterns of natural selection and medically relevant variation.
To address these questions, I integrate large-scale genomic datasets from both living and ancient individuals with population genetic theory, statistical and demographic modeling, and computational approaches, to reconstruct human population history and explore the evolutionary forces shaping human diversity.
Publications
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2026The evolutionary history and unique genetic diversity of Indigenous AmericansNature · 653, 134–145
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2025Demographic insights into paternal genetic diversity and regional substructure in the Spanish RomaBMC Genomics · 26, 1012
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2025Carrying APOL1 G1 allele is associated with cardiovascular complications during COVID−19 in an admixed populationHum. Genomics · 19, 105
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2025Admixture’s impact on Brazilian population evolution and healthScience · 388, 6748
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2025The genetic footprint of the European Roma diaspora: evidence from the Balkans to the Iberian PeninsulaHum. Genet. · 144, 463–479
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2023Indigenous people from Amazon show genetic signatures of pathogen-driven selectionScience Advances · 9, 10
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2023A multidisciplinary overview on the Tupi‐speaking people expansionAJBA · 186(1), e24876
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2022A genomic perspective on South American human historyGMB · 45 (3 Suppl 1)
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2022Population Histories and Genomic Diversity of South American NativesMBE · 39(1), msab339
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2021Deep genetic affinity between coastal Pacific and Amazonian natives evidenced by Australasian ancestryPNAS · 118(14), e2025739118
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2020Genomic insight into the origins and dispersal of the Brazilian coastal nativesPNAS · 117(5), 2372-2377
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2018The Zinc-Finger Thylakoid-Membrane Protein FIP Is Involved With Abiotic Stress Response in Arabidopsis thalianaFront. Plant Sci., · 9:504
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2015NIK1-mediated translation suppression functions as a plant antiviral immunity mechanismNature · 520, 679–682
CV
Postdoctoral Junior Leader
Institut de Biologia Evolutiva, CSIC-UPF · Barcelona, Spain
Postdoctoral Researcher
Institut de Biologia Evolutiva, CSIC-UPF · Barcelona, Spain
Innovation Research Fellow
Fundação Faculdade de Medicina · São Paulo, Brazil
Technical Training Fellow
Universidade de São Paulo · São Paulo, Brazil
PhD student/Researcher
Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo · São Paulo, Brazil
MSc student/Researcher
Universidade de São Paulo · Piracicaba, São Paulo (State), Brazil
Scientific initiation fellow
Universidade Federal de Viçosa · Viçosa, Minas Gerais (State), Brazil
PhD in Biology (Genetics)
Universidade de São Paulo · São Paulo, Brazil
Supervisor: Prof. Tábita Hunemeier
MSc in Genetics and Plant Breeding
Universidade de São Paulo · Piracicaba, São Paulo (State), Brazil
Supervisor: Prof. Marcio de Castro Silva-Filho
BSc in Biological Sciences
Universidade Federal de Viçosa · Viçosa, Minas Gerais (State), Brazil
Supervisor: Prof. Elizabeth Pacheco Batista Fontes
Focus on Peer Review (3.5 hours)
Nature Masterclasses on-demand course
EMBO virtual Practical Course Population genomics: background and tools (60 hours)
European Molecular Biology Organization, EMBO/EMBL
PhD summer course in analyses of genotyping and sequencing data in medical and population genetics (140 hours)
University of Copenhagen · Copenhagen, Denmark
Cover feature in Nature (May 7, 2026 issue)
For the paper “The evolutionary history and unique genetic diversity of Indigenous Americans”
Seal of Excellence - MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2025”
For my project proposal “Deep Population History of Admixed Americans submitted under the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions call HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF-01-01”
Young Investigator Attendance Award for the SMBE conference 2025
By the Society for Molecular Biology & Evolution
Wiley Top Viewed Article
For the paper “A multidisciplinary overview on the Tupi-speaking people expansion”, by the American Journal of Biological Anthropology”
MBE Honorable Mentions - Best Graduate Student Paper
For the paper “Population Histories and Genomic Diversity of South American Natives”, by the Society for Molecular Biology & Evolution
Young Geneticist Award “Francisco Mauro Salzano”
By the Sociedade Brasileira de Genética - SBG
USP Highlight Thesis Award 11th Edition
By the University of São Paulo - USP
CAPES Thesis Award
By the Brazilian national funding agency (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES)
American Society of Human Genetics' Trainee Paper Spotlight
For the paper “Genomic insight into the origins and dispersal of the Brazilian coastal natives”, by the American Society of Human Genetics - ASHG
Votes of praise for academic performance
Coordinating Committee of the Biological Sciences Course at the Universidade Federal de Viçosa - UFV
“la Caixa“ Postdoctoral Junior Leader Fellowship (Retaining)
Project: Deep Ancestries in Admixed Latin American Genomes
Funding: ”la Caixa” Foundation (ID 100010434)
Institution: Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Spain
Total funding amount: EUR 320,100
Postdoctoral Fellowship - Juan de la Cierva-Formación (JCI-F)
Project: Indigenous American Genome Project
Funding: Agencia Estatal de Investigación - AEI (Spain) (JDC2022-049175-I)
Institution: Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Spain
Total funding amount: EUR 67,400
Postdoctoral Fellowship - EUTOPIA-SIF Marie Sklodowska-Curie COFUND
Project: The impact of demography, admixture, and evolution on the health of Brazilian populations
Funding: European Union Horizon 2020 programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 945380
Institution: Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Spain
Total funding amount: EUR 95,160
Innovation Research Fellowship - FFM
Project: Establishment of a Reference Genome of the Brazilian Population
Funding: Fundação Faculdade de Medicina - FFM (Convênio 888379/2019 - Projeto Genoma Biociências)
Institution: Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
Total funding amount: BRL 12,300
Technical Training Fellowship (TT5) - FAPESP
Project: Detection of Natural Selection Patterns in Native American Population by Machine Learning
Funding: Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo - FAPESP (FAPESP/2021/12238-8)
Institution: Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
Total funding amount: BRL 31,060.8
PhD scholarship - FAPESP
Project: Diversity and Evolution of Brazilian Populations
Funding: Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo - FAPESP (FAPESP/2018/01371-6)
Institution: Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
Total funding amount: BRL 96,499.2
PhD scholarship - CNPq
Project: Genetic Structure and Ancestry of Brazilian Admixed Populations
Funding: Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq (140155/2017-1)
Institution: Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
Total funding amount: BRL 50,600
MSc scholarship - CNPq
Project: Convergent evolution of Arabidopsis thaliana FtsH5 protease and its putative negative regulator FIP (FtsH5 interacting protein)
Funding: Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq (130634/2013-1)
Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura “Luiz de Queiroz” - Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
Total funding amount: BRL 36,000
Scientific Initiation Scholarship - CNPq
Project: Transcriptional expression analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana immune system genes related to response against geminivirus
Funding: Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq (160335/2012-4)
Institution: Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Brazil
Total funding amount: BRL 4,800
Giacomo Francesco Ena
Degree: PhD (defended with cum laude honors)
Project: Fine-scale genetic structure of Roma in Iberia
Institution: Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Spain
Research projects & lines of investigation
My research spans interconnected themes in human population genomics, anthropological genetics, and archaeogenetics:
Deep Ancestries in Admixed Latin American Genomes
This project integrates large-scale genomic resources of living and ancient populations to investigate the impact of deep demographic and evolutionary history on modern Latin American populations.
Indigenous American Genomic Diversity Project
A collaborative international effort designed to map the origins and genetic diversity of Indigenous populations through whole-genome sequencing.
"DNA do Brasil" Project
A research initiative using whole-genome sequencing data to characterize genetic diversity in Brazilian populations and its health implications.
Genomic Origins of European Roma
In collaboration with David Comas, I co-supervised a PhD student investigating the origins, genetic structure, and demography of Iberian and European Romani populations.
Teaching
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2025Population genomics of modern humansClass to master students · Teacher (2 hours)Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
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2025Bioinformatics (20428)Undergraduate course · Teaching assistant (20 hours)Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
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2025“Brief introduction to population structure and history inference from genetic data”Workshop · Tutor (2 hours)Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
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2025Population genomics of modern humansClass · Teacher (2 hours)Master in Prehistoric Archeology/UAB, Barcelona, Spain
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2025“Avances en Genómica y Metagenómica: De la Microbiota Oral a las Poblaciones Nativas Americanas”Workshop · Tutor (2 hours)Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
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2019“First Native American Studies” WorkshopWorkshop · Tutor (2 hours)Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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2017Evolutionary Biology (BIO0103)Undergraduate course · Teaching Improvement Program (120 hours)Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
Blog posts
Occasional notes on current research and thoughts.
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September 2020Lendo a história do Brasil nos genomas brasileiros
O contato com os europeus e a colonização do assim chamado Novo Mundo levou ao extermínio em massa dos nativos americanos e ao ocultamento da maior parte da sua história, principalmente do período pré-contato. Estudos tem conseguido recuperar antigas migrações nativas brasileiras, bem como aspectos da história pós-contato dessas populações usando dados genômicos.
News & Press Coverage
Our research has been featured in international and national media outlets, science magazines, and educational platforms.
EurekAlert! (AAAS) — Unraveling the genomic roots of Indigenous peoples, Mapping the genome of the Brazilian population with implications for healthcare, Genetic adaptations help Amazonian populations resist Chagas infection
Science News — Ancient South Americans arrived in three waves—and had some surprising ancestry, Massive DNA sequencing effort reveals how colonization shaped Brazil's genetic diversity, Earliest South American migrants had Indigenous Australian, Melanesian ancestry
Live Science — DNA study of nearly 200 Indigenous genomes reveals unknown Asian 'ghost' population contributed to American ancestry, 1st Americans had Indigenous Australian genes
Science Alert — The Genetic Signal of Ancient Australians in South America Goes Deeper Than We Knew
Science Magazine — Exploring Spanish Roma's Genetic Diversity and Structure
Daily Mail — First humans who crossed the Bering Strait some 15,000 years ago had indigenous Australian DNA that is now found in the bloodline of South America tribes, study finds
The Scientist — The Peopling of South America
Smithsonian Magazine — A New Big Database of DNA From Indigenous Americans Shakes Up Scientists' Theories About Human Settlement of South America, Why Did Ancient Indigenous Groups in Brazil Hunt Sharks?
The Medical News — New genetic database sheds light on Brazil's ancestry and disease risks
El País — De Asia a América: la genética desvela nuevos detalles de la migración más larga de la humanidad
Deutsche Welle — Colonización redujo la diversidad indígena a una fracción
La Vanguardia — La genética revela la extraordinaria historia de la población de Brasil, Los gitanos de la Península tienen diferencias genéticas respecto a los del resto de Europa
Catalan News — Genetic distinctions between Iberian Romas and other European Roma people found
Pesquisa FAPESP — Indígenas sul-americanos são diversos e descendem de terceira onda migratória, O brasileiro é ainda mais miscigenado do que você pensa, Defesa natural contra Chagas, Filhos de Ypykuéra, Os últimos Tupiniquim
National Geographic Brasil — Indígenas da Amazônia possuem gene que protege contra a doença de Chagas, diz novo estudo
BBC Brasil — As descobertas sobre origem e história dos povos indígenas da América do Sul reveladas pela genética, O recém-descoberto gene que protege povos amazônicos da doença de Chagas e pode inspirar tratamentos
Galileu — Nativos da América do Sul têm influência genética de povos da Oceania
Folha de São Paulo — DNA de indígenas mostra elo com Oceania e três ondas de migração, Indígenas da América do Sul descendem, em parte, de povos do Pacífico, reforça novo estudo, A partir do DNA, cientistas mapeiam 2.000 anos de rotas migratórias dos índios no Brasil
Globo — Estudo revela evolução e diversidade genética únicas dos indígenas americanos, DNA indica que tupiniquins são descendentes do grupo indígena que Cabral encontrou
CBN Vitória Rádio — Índios de Aracruz são descendentes diretos dos primeiros Tupiniquins
Blog Arqueologia e Pré-História — Evidência genética australo-melanésia em grupos nativos da américa do sul
Revista Planeta — Genética conta história do colapso populacional de indígenas no Brasil, Genes de povos da Ásia e da Oceania estão em índios da América do Sul
YouTube — Stefan Milo: Why do Amazonian people have some Australasian DNA? | Ancient Americas: The Tupinambá: From the Amazon to the Coast
Podcasts — Anthropology.net: The Long Walk South: Tracing the Longest Migration in Human History | Principio de Incertidumbre (Canal Extremadura): Lo que el ADN indígena revela sobre América
English:
- Genetic history of the Indigenous peoples of the Americas
- Ancient Beringian
Portuguese:
- Estudos genéticos em brasileiros
- História genética dos povos indígenas da América
- Primeiras migrações humanas
- História do estado de São Paulo
- Rio de Janeiro (estado)
- Zona da Mata
Contact
Office
Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (IBE)
CSIC – Universitat Pompeu Fabra
PRBB Building, 7th floor · Dr. Aiguader, 88
08003 · Barcelona, Spain