Mathematical Genomics ECL Research Unit Retreat, 27–28 April 2026

On 27 - 28 April, the Mathematical Genomics ECL Research Unit went on a two-day retreat to SUURI-COOL Kyoto. With two new members joining in April, the retreat was a great chance for everyone to get together outside our usual work environment.

Our unit started in late 2024 and over the past year and a half, we have grown to six members: Leo Speidel, Unit Leader, Lucas Sort and Aina Colomer i Vilaplana, both postdocs who joined last year, Tomoko Iwanami who is our most valued assistant, and most recently, we welcomed two additional members to our unit, postdoctoral scientist Alba Nieto Heredia and PhD student Satsuki Hirasawa.

As a team, our expertise lies in modelling how our genomes are inherited through generations and using statistical inference to uncover the stories hidden within them. Our DNA can tell detailed stories about human history and prehistory, including migration, adaptation, and the origins of modern humans, while also uncovering the biological processes that shape evolution and influence human health today. We decipher these from the genomes of many thousands of present-day people, as well as from DNA sequenced from ancient human bone. The signatures left in our DNA are often subtle but preserve the stories of ordinary people not necessarily recorded in history books.

At the retreat, we explored topics beyond our usual day-to-day activities. We organised three sessions: first, a mock Kakenhi grant exercise where each of us pitched a potential research idea; second, a series of practical tutorials on techniques we use in our day-to-day work, including figure design (Aina), AI tools in VS Code (Alba), LaTeX (Lucas), ancient DNA sequencing (Satsuki), and the many quirks of administration (Tomoko); and finally, a deep dive into Japanese history, spanning from prehistoric Japan, the rise of early states, through the world of Heian-period court culture, and all the way up to the Edo period. Attached is a photo of us at Byodo-in Temple in Uji, Kyoto, one of the oldest surviving temple complexes of the Heian period in Japan, already celebrated in classical literature written more than 1,000 years ago.