Natasha Arora

I’m intrigued by the diversity of life forms and how this diversity has been shaped by evolutionary forces. Currently I am exploring patterns of genomic diversity in humans and our pathogens. In 2012 I became fascinated by the mysteries surrounding the little cork-screw-shaped bacterium that causes syphilis. This sexually transmitted disease on the rise is riddled by questions on its origin and spread. While I continue to investigate syphilis strains around the globe using genomic tools, I have more recently started applying these to examine the diversity in human populations. This new project is being carried out at the Zurich Institute of Forensic Medicine. Another area that I’m especially passionate about is the evolutionary study of great apes, as this helps us tackle questions on who we are, and what makes us humans. I was able to merge some of my interests for my doctoral degree, which focused on the effects of the environment and dispersal on the population genetic structure of orang-utans.

While I’m pretty much always pondering on these exciting evolutionary questions, I also enjoy hiking in the Swiss Alps, doing yoga and cooking with the wisdom of Ayurveda, swimming in warm oceans and travelling to Southeast Asia.

Education and professional positions