Federica Di Palma

Professor Federica Di Palma is a distinguished scientist with a remarkable track record in the fields of genomics, data science, and biodiversity preservation . With over 20 years of experience, she has earned international recognition for her contributions and leadership in advancing scientific research and promoting sustainable development. Federica Di Palma remains a Professorial Fellow in Biodiversity in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of East Anglia, and she is the Chief Scientific Officer and Vice President of Research and Innovation at Genome British Columbia where she continues to make significant strides in promoting genomic research and understanding its importance in achieving better patient care and environmental sustainability.
==Education and Early Career==
Federica Di Palma completed her Bachelor's degree in Cell and Molecular Biology at the University of Essex. She continued her academic journey by earning a Ph.D. in Immunogenetics from the Institute for Animal Health and the University of Reading, United Kingdom. During her postdoctoral research at NIH in the National Institute of deafness and other communication disorders, she made significant strides in identifying genes responsible for deafness syndromes in both mice and humans, leading to her receiving the fellow's award for Research Excellence (FARE) in Biomedical Research at the National Institute of Deafness and Communication Disorders (NIH).
==Research Activities==
Federica Di Palmas’ research endeavours are dedicated to delivering an integrated and multidisciplinary research program aimed at understanding the profound impact of evolutionary pressures on the diversity of vertebrate species, with significant implications for health and disease. Her research has been significantly enabled by cutting-edge genomic technologies and data-intensive methodologies, addressing the modern scientific challenges posed by data scale and complexity. Her research is inherently multidisciplinary, uniting concepts and methods from genomics, bioinformatics, genetics, evolutionary biology, and ecology . Notably, she has authored some of the most influential papers in the field illuminating the intricacies of vertebrate evolution, with a special emphasis on understanding the regulation of genes to drive the evolution of traits.. Her research efforts have also extended to improving aquaculture in East Africa through the preservation of native Tilapia species, positively impacting food security and socio-economic issues in disadvantaged regions of Asia and Africa .
==Leadership Roles==
Professor Di Palma's career has been marked by leadership roles at prominent research institutions and initiatives. She served as Assistant Director of the Vertebrate Biology group at the Broad Institute , where she successfully led the development, planning, and analysis of major mammalian genome sequencing projects funded by National Human Genome Institute, as well as additional vertebrate projects involving some of the most charismatic examples of evolution in the wild, such as the Caribbean anole lizard , the cichlids of East African lakes , and the three-spine stickleback . 
At the Earlham Institute (aka The Genome Analysis Center), Professor Di Palma assumed the position of Director of Science , where she provided invaluable scientific leadership and oversight. During her tenure, she develop the Institute Scientific Strategy and led the Institute's UKRI-BBSRC core strategic program in food security and spearheaded various research programs focused on the application of computational and molecular biology technologies to the understanding of living systems.
Furthermore, Federica Di Palma established the international network BRIDGE Colombia and the UKRI-funded GROW Colombia project , both of which are instrumental in advancing research infrastructures and enabling socioeconomic development in Colombia. These projects also emphasize biodiversity preservation as a means to achieve sustainability and peace , aligning with her passion for exploring and conserving biodiversity around the world.
==Contributions to the Misión de Sabios==
Professor Di Palma's expertise and exceptional work led to her appointment as part of the Misión de Sabios (Mission of Wise) , a group of 43 leading scientists, academics, and intellectuals from around the world. The mission is tasked with recommending proposals in education, science, technology, and innovation policy to contribute to Colombia's National Development Plan and align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
As part of the group, Professor Di Palma serves on a sub-group focused on biotechnology, the environment, and the bioeconomy. Her contributions are poised to enhance Colombia's global leadership in bioscience research, leveraging the country's rich natural resources for significant scientific progress.
Her work extends beyond academia, as she actively engages and advises government and non-governmental organizations in various countries . Professor Di Palma firmly believes that collective impact, collaboration, and knowledge sharing are pivotal in advancing scientific progress and its positive influence on society 
Category:Alumni of the University of Essex
[Category:Scientists]]
Category:Professors
Category:Research
Category:Vice presidents