Thiago Peixoto Leal

Thiago Peixoto began working as a postdoctoral researcher at the Mata Lab in April of 2021. He has a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the Universidade Federal de São João Del Rey and a master’s and PhD in Bioinformatics from the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, both of which are in Brazil. He previously spent nearly ten years working at the Human Genetic Diversity Laboratory with one of the greatest population geneticists in Brazil. They made many great achievements in the studies of Latin Americans, including mapping the admixture of Brazilian populations and inferring their admixture dynamics. They also investigated Native American populations in Peru, as well as how different African groups contributed to the formation of American populations during the African Diaspora. Thiago’s personal motivation for his work with LARGE-PD is to help improve the quality of life of many people, especially those who live in countries that do not have access to the best medical treatments and personalized medicine. As a Brazilian himself, a person whose genetic material, culture, and customs are the result of the interaction of diverse populations over time, he feels that diversity is a part of his DNA. In his free time, Thiago enjoys spending time with family, watching movies and television shows, playing games, and travelling.