Santiago Diaz Torres, PhD

• Biostatistics
• Genomics
• GWAS

Santiago Diaz Torres recently completed his PhD in statistical genetics at The University of Queensland (January 24, 2025). He holds an academic background in biology and biostatistics (BSc, MPhil). His long-term goal is to become a leading professional who employs genetics and genomics to generate novel, clinically relevant insights into the biology of complex neurodegenerative disorders. He is particularly interested in developing personalized medicine approaches for conditions such as glaucoma, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. During his PhD, he authored over 15 publications in prestigious journals such as Brain, The Lancet eBioMedicine, Nature Communications, and Nature Genetics, among others.

He was nominated for the Dean’s Award at the Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, where both external examiners ranked his thesis in the top 10% of its field. He was also awarded the 2024 Publication of the Year by the Population Health Department at Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR Berghofer) and, in 2021, received the People’s Choice Award at the QIMR Berghofer ECR Symposium. Beyond his research contributions, Santiago has actively mentored junior researchers, including supervising an award-winning bachelor’s thesis. His commitment to translational research secured him seed funding from the CSIRO On Prime program. He has been invited to present his work at prestigious national and international conferences, including the American Society of Human Genetics, reflecting his growing influence in the field. He has also been personally invited to present his research at specialized labs in renowned institutions such as the WEHI Research Institute and the Centre for Ophthalmology Sciences at the University of Western Australia.