Research in the Department spans a broad spectrum of cutting-edge genetics, encompassing global genomics, evolution of complex traits, single-cell multiomics, precision gene editing, and mechanisms of epigenetic inheritance, among others.
Our faculty, trainees, and staff are united by an enduring curiosity about the fundamental principles of life and a relentless drive to uncover the genetic underpinnings of health and disease.
Scientific discovery in the Department is deeply collaborative by design. Faculty partner across disciplines with leading experts in medicine, computational biology, engineering, and public health to tackle the most complex questions in genetics.
Our labs combine advanced technologies with biological insights to accelerate the translation of genetic knowledge in precision medicine, enhance genomic diagnostics, and train future leaders in genomic science.
Welcome to the Department of Genetics at the Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM) at the University of Pennsylvania. Our 35 primary faculty members conduct cutting-edge research across a broad spectrum of genetics and genomics, including human genetics, evolutionary and population genetics, epigenetics, functional genomics, experimental model systems, RNA biology, and computational and statistical genomics. Our research ranges from fundamental biological discovery to genomic medicine and translational therapeutics. As the central hub for genetics and genomics research on campus, the Department maintains strong collaborations with clinical departments and numerous Centers and Institutes across PSOM and the University. We also provide administrative oversight for several core facilities that support research laboratories throughout the School of Medicine and affiliated institutions. Additionally, the Department plays a vital role in educating medical and graduate students, as well as training the next generation of genomic scientists.
Congratulations to the Penn Genetics Summer Interns - Christian Hernandez, Helia Darabi, Devynn Adams and Sophie Shapiro - for their outstanding poster presentations at the 2025 SUIP Symposium. A heartfelt thank you to the Research…
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A new study published in Nature shows that scientists can now accurately piece together more than 99% of the human genome by studying the DNA of just 65 people from around the world. This breakthrough…
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When he’s not developing statistical and computational tools, Barry Slaff, a PhD student in Penn’s Computer and Information Science Program supervised by Yoseph Barash, is carving through water with precision and passion. This summer, he…
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