Dr. Tomàs Marquès-Bonet leads the Comparative Genomics group at the UPF with a dual appointment at CNAG. Recognized with awards like EMBO Young Investigator (2013), HHMI International Early Career Scientist (2015), and the Premi Ciutat de Barcelona (2024), his research uses primate genomics to reveal human-specific genetic features. He has received and ERC Starting Grant and an ERC Consolidator Grant and he is now a panelist for Life Sciences in the ERC.  He has published over 200 papers, including some of them in Science and Nature with leadership, and has led efforts to sequence half of the world’s primate species, culminating in a landmark Science Special Issue (2023). His discoveries include genetic introgression among great apes, insights into genomic diversity, and epigenetic regulation. Former Director of IBE (2016–2020) and founder of the Cryozoo, he was recently selected a member of the Royal Academy of Sciences (2024).

What makes us human? This fundamental question drives our research, which focuses on uncovering the genetic and molecular features unique to our species. We analyze genome variants, epigenomes, and transcriptomes of humans and great apes to better understand human-specific traits. Additionally, our work extends to conservation genomics and biodiversity, leveraging genomic tools to study, preserve, and protect endangered primates and their habitats.