Diyendo Massilani
Biography
Research & Publications
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Appointments
Biography
Diyendo started his scientific journey studying the chemical composition of local medicinal herbs in the laboratory of Pharmacology and Ethnology of the University of Health Sciences in Gabon (Central Africa) under the supervision of Pr. Blandine Akendengué. There, he obtained a Technical Degree of Medical Sciences in 2007.
He then went to study in Sorbonne University in Paris (France) and received a Bachelor of Life Sciences in 2010 and a Master of Molecular and Cellular Biology - specialty Genetics in 2012.
Fascinated by the idea of studying evolution using DNA from archaeological fossils, he joined the Epigenomics and Palaeogenomics lab of the Jacques Monod Institute in Paris. Under the supervision of Dr. Eva-Maria Geigl and Dr. Thierry Grange, he optimized methods for ancient DNA extraction and Next Generation Sequencing and developed hybridization-based enrichment approaches for targeted sequencing. He applied his methods to study Bovids Evolution and Cattle Domestication and obtained a PhD in Genomics in 2016 from the Paris Cité University.
In 2017, Diyendo joined the department of Evolutionary Genetics of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig (Germany) to work on archaic and early modern human population history with Dr. Matthias Meyer and Pr. Svante Pääbo. In addition, he worked on methods to optimize the retrieval of ancient DNA from sediment and pioneered the technique of local sampling approach using undisturbed blocks of resin-impregnated sediment.
Diyendo joined the Yale Department of Genetics as an Assistant Professor in July 2022.
The Massilani Lab investigate the evolutionary history of modern and extinct human populations using ancient DNA. The lab focuses on the retrieval and sequencing of DNA from archaeological materials to study the peopling of the world, the history of human health and their adaptation to different environments and lifestyle conditions.
Education & Training
- ASUniversity of Health Sciences, Pharmacology and Ethnology (2027)
- Postdoctoral fellowMax Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (2022)
- PhDParis Cité University, Genomics (2016)
- MSSorbone University, Molecular and Cellular Biology (2012)
- BSSorbonne University , Life Science (2010)
Honors & Recognition
Award | Awarding Organization | Date |
---|---|---|
Kingsley Fellow | Yale University School of Medicine | 2024 |
Professional Service
Organization | Role | Date |
---|---|---|
YSM Genetics Department Seminar Committee | Member | 2024 - Present |
YSM Genetics - Human Genetics Search Committee | Member | 2022 - 2023 |
Max Planck Institute of Evolutionary Anthropology | Guest Researcher affiliate at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig (Germany) | 2022 - 2025 |