Silvia Paracchini FRSE is a Professor of Neurogenetics and Genomics at the University of St Andrews. Her research focuses on the genetics of neurodevelopmental traits such as dyslexia and human handedness.[1]

Education

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As an undergraduate, Paracchini studied Biological Sciences at the University of Pavia, Italy. During this time she undertook an ERASMUS scholarship project at the Technical University of Denmark.[2] She obtained her DPhil in Human Genetics from the University of Oxford in 2003.

Career and research

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After obtaining her doctorate, Paracchini held a post-doctoral research position with the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics from 2003 to 2011.[3][4] In 2011, she was awarded a Royal Society University Research Fellowship.[5] Her research group at the University of St Andrews School of Medicine explores the genetic underpinnings of human behavioral traits like handedness, and neurodevelopment disorders like dyslexia by combining large genetic screenings for quantitative measures followed by gene function characterization.[1] She also contributed to the largest study of human handedness in the world giving the best estimate of 10.6% for left-handedness.[6]

Honours and prizes

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In 2019, Paracchini featured in the Royal Society of Edinburgh's Women in Science in Scotland exhibition, which celebrated some of Scotland’s leading female scientists.[11]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Neurogenetics. Silvia Paracchini research group". Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  2. ^ "Being a woman in science: Changed times? – University of Edinburgh's Science Magazine". 27 April 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  3. ^ "Dr. Silvia Paracchini - AcademiaNet". www.academia-net.org. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  4. ^ "Dyslexia gene is carried by 15% of population". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  5. ^ a b "Silvia Paracchini | Royal Society". royalsociety.org. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  6. ^ Papadatou-Pastou M, Ntolka E, Schmitz J, Martin M, Munafo MR, Ocklenburg O, Paracchini S (2020). "Human handedness: A meta-analysis". Psychol Bull. 146 (6): 481–524. doi:10.1037/bul0000229. hdl:1983/f9605b8a-435a-4851-a329-948707b4e88d. PMID 32237881. S2CID 214768754.
  7. ^ "European Society of Human Genetics: Young Investigator Award Winners". www.eshg.org. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  8. ^ "YAS Members - Silvia Paracchini". www.youngacademyofscotland.org.uk. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  9. ^ "Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology - University of St Andrews". risweb.st-andrews.ac.uk. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
  10. ^ RSE The Royal Society of Edinburgh Directory 2019/2020. Edinburgh: The RSE Scotland Foundation. p. 47,203. ISSN 1476-4334.
  11. ^ "Women in Science Exhibition". The Royal Society of Edinburgh. 15 April 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2019.