Dr Anahit Hovhannisyan

CONTACT DETAILS:

E-mail : hovhanna [at] tcd [dot] ie
Tel : +353-(0)1-896-1265
Fax : +353-(0)1-679-8558

MODERN DNA LABORATORY ADDRESS:

Molecular Population Genetics
Smurfit Institute of Genetics
Trinity College Dublin
Dublin 2
Ireland

ANCIENT DNA LABORATORY ADDRESS (for archaeological samples):

Archaeological Genetics
Smurfit Institute of Genetics
Trinity College Dublin
Dublin 2
Ireland

RESEARCH INTEREST:

My research area is in evolutionary and population genomics. In particular, I am interested in studying evolutionary processes that have shaped the genetic composition and genetic diversity of populations while leveraging the genomics data from both modern and ancient samples. One of my main research topics is the reconstruction of the demographic history and study of the genetic makeup of Armenians, a population historically inhabiting the region in West Asia known as the Armenian Highland. This area has played a key role in the major historical and prehistorical migrations. My current project is focused on applying a powerful ancient genomics approach to study selection and origins of disease-causing genetic variants in the Armenian Highland. I am also actively involved in the archaeological excavations in Armenia.

EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE:

2022 - present: Postdoc, Marie Curie Fellow at the Trinity College Dublin, Ireland

2016 - present: Researcher, Laboratory of Evolutionary Genomics, Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB), National Academy of Sciences (NAS RA), Armenia

2019 - present: Lecturer, Practical Course on Population Genetics, Russian-Armenian University, Yerevan, Armenia

2012 - 2016: Junior researcher, Laboratory of Evolutionary Genomics, IMB NAS RA

2011 - 2012: Senior assistant, Laboratory of Evolutionary Genomics, IMB NAS RA

EDUCATION & QUALIFICATIONS:

2017 - present: Visiting postdoc at the Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, UK. Supervisor: Prof. Andrea Manica

2015: Visiting PhD student at the Estonian Biocentre, Tartu, Estonia. Supervisor: Prof. Richard Villems

2012 - 2016: PhD in Genetics, National Academy of Sciences of Armenia.
Thesis: “Reconstruction of human Neolithic migrations in the Armenian Highland based on genetic data”.
Supervisor: Prof. Levon Yepiskoposyan

2007 - 2012: BA (Hons) and MA in Bioengineering & Bioinformatics, Department of Medicine and Biology, Russian-Armenian University

OTHER MERITS:
2018 - present: National Contact Point (NCP) for the European Commission`s Joint Research Centre (JRC) in Armenia
2017 - 2018: PI for the grant from the Armenian National Science and Education Fund (ANSEF). Project title: Genetic structure of Armenian population based on mtDNA and genome-wide data.
2015: DoRa 5 scholarship winner, Tartu, Estonia
2012: Third place winner, “Imagine Cup Armenia” Project. Competition by Microsoft Company, Yerevan, Armenia
2010: Best Student, Russian-Armenian University, Yerevan, Armenia