Group Leader
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alina Urnikytė is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, a Senior Researcher, and Head of the Population Genomics Laboratory. She has been a member of the Vilnius University academic community since 2009, dedicating her research to human genomics, from uncovering the genetic history of human populations to developing innovative approaches for personalized medicine.
She obtained her Bachelor's degree in Biotechnology from the University of Vic (Spain) and earned her PhD in Medicine at Vilnius University in 2018 with a dissertation focused on the genetic origins and population history of Lithuanians. In 2023, she completed a postdoctoral research project entitled "The Impact of Natural Selection on Infectious Diseases in the Lithuanian Population."
Her research interests include human population genomics, epigenomics, translational genomics, and the discovery of biomarkers for complex diseases and pregnancy-related complications. Under her leadership, the Population Genomics Laboratory applies advanced genomic, epigenomic, transcriptomic, and microbiome research technologies to better understand the molecular mechanisms of disease, identify novel biomarkers, and contribute to the development of early diagnostic and personalized medicine approaches. In addition to fundamental research on human evolution and population genomics, the laboratory conducts studies on pregnancy complications, congenital heart defects, obesity, sports genomics, and other areas of biomedical research.
International research experience has played an important role in shaping her scientific career and leadership. She has undertaken research visits at Pompeu Fabra University (Spain), the Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre, the University of Szczecin (Poland), the University of Pisa (Italy), and the University of Coimbra (Portugal), fostering international collaborations and expanding expertise in advanced genomic technologies.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alina Urnikytė is actively involved in teaching, supervising undergraduate, master's and doctoral students, and promoting science to the wider public. She believes that the most meaningful scientific discoveries emerge where trust, respect, shared purpose, and strong teamwork inspire people to create lasting value for society.