Anna Penna

Postdoctoral Fellow - Evolution and Paleobiology (EPA)
Email a.c.penna@nhm.uio.no
Username
Visiting address Sars gate 1 Colletts hus 0562 Oslo
Postal address Postboks 1172 Blindern 0318 Oslo

Academic interests

I am an evolutionary biologist and anthropologist. My research program integrates genomics, evolutionary quantitative genetics, and phylogenetics to understand the mechanisms driving biodiversity patterns, with a particular focus on primates as a model system. Through innovative applications of historical DNA analysis and advanced computational methods, I investigate fundamental questions in evolutionary biology while also contributing to a better understanding of cryptic species diversity and conservation efforts.

Background

EDUCATION

  • 2023 Ph.D., Evolutionary Anthropology. University of Texas at San Antonio, USA.
  • 2020 M.A., Environmental Anthropology. University of Texas at San Antonio, USA.
  • 2016 M.Sc., Genetics and Evolutionary Biology. University of São Paulo, Brazil.
  • 2013 B.Sc., Biology (with honors). University of São Paulo, Brazil.

POSITIONS

  • 2026—2029 Postdoctoral Researcher. Museum of Natural History, University of Oslo, Norway.
  • 2024—2026 Postdoctoral Researcher. Division of Biodiversity and Evolution. Department of Biology. Lunds Universitet, Sweden.
  • 2024—2027 Research Associate. Division of Mammals, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, USA.
  • 2021—2023 Predoctoral Researcher. Department of Anthropology. National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, USA.
  • 2017—2021 Teaching Assistant. Department of Anthropology. University of Texas at San Antonio, USA.
  • 2013—2016 Master’s Researcher. Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology. Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil.
  • 2007—2013 Undergraduate Researcher (Honors). Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil.

 

Publications

  • 2026 Machado, F. A., Penna, A., Melo, D., Costa, B.A., Zahn, T.M., Pavan, A.C., Porto, A., Sebastião, H., Rossoni, D.M., Marroig, G. and Hubbe, A. Invasion of new adaptive zones retains telltale signs of directional selection at macroevolutionary scales in mammals. bioRxiv, 2025-12. https://doi.org/10.64898/2025.12.21.695821 
  • 2025 Penna, A., Clark, L. T., Salis, A. T., Macey, S. K., Blair, M. E. Applications of museum collections and genomics to biodiversity conservation. Lessons in Conservation, 14(1): 107–147. https://doi.org/10.5531/cbc.linc.14.1.7 
  • 2025 Penna, A., Wallace, M., Clark, L. T., Krupa, L. S., Macey, S. K., Pozzi, L., Blair, M. E. Designing a conservation genomics project incorporating DNA from museum specimens. Lessons in Conservation, 14(1): 160–176. https://doi.org/10.5531/cbc.linc.14.1.9 
  • 2025 Clark, L. T., Salis, A. T., Penna, A., Wallace, M., Krupa, L. S., Blair, M. E. The application of conservation museomics approaches to the protection of the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus). Lessons in Conservation, 14(1): 148–159. https://doi.org/10.5531/cbc.linc.14.1.8 
  • 2024 Penna, A., E. Blair, M., Lui, H.L., Peters, Kistler, L., Pozzi, L. Unlocking the potential of natural history collections to support galago evolutionary research and conservation. International Journal of Primatology 45, 1375–1403. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-024-00429-3 
  • 2024 Penna, A. and Pozzi, L. Hidden in the dark: A review of galagid systematics and phylogenetics. International Journal of Primatology 45, 1375–1403. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-024-00429-3 
  • 2024 Samartino, S., Christie, D., Penna, A., Ting, N., Wikberg, E. Social network dynamics and gut microbiota composition during alpha male challenges in Colobus vellerosus. Primates 65, 299–309. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10329-024-01132-w 
  • 2023 Machado, F. A., Mongle, C. S., Slater, G., Penna, A., Wisniewski, A, Sofin, A, Dutra, V, and Uyeda, J. C. Developmental rules of primate dental evolution align microevolution with macroevolution. Nature Ecology and Evolution 7, 1729–1739. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-023-02167-w 
  • 2022 Penna, A., Dillon, R.*, Bearder, S.K., Karlsson, J., Perkin, A., and Pozzi, L. Phylogeography and lineage boundaries in the small-eared greater galago, Otolemur garnettii (Primates; Galagidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 198 (1), 131-148. https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac079  *Editor's choice paper!
  • 2022 Pozzi, L. and Penna, A. Rocks And Clocks Revised. New Promises And Challenges In Dating The Primate Tree Of Life. Evolutionary Anthropology 21940 https://doi.org/10.1002/evan.21940 
  • 2022 Penna, A., Herrera, Pozzi, L. Evolutionary deja-vus: Why did size reduction evolve multiple times within primates?. American Journal of Physical Anthropology. 177:S73, 142-143 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/26927691/2022/177/S73 
  • 2020 Pozzi, L., Penna, A., Bearder, S.K., Karlsson, J., Perkin, A., and Disotell, T. Cryptic diversity and species boundaries within the Paragalago zanzibaricus species complex. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 150, 106887. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2020.106887 
  • 2019 Penna, A., Pozzi, L. The Evolution of Body Size in Strepsirrhine Primates. Am. J. of Phys. Anth. 168:188 https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.23802 
  • 2018 Prates, I., Penna, A., Rodrigues, M.T., Carnaval, A. Local adaptation in mainland anole lizards: Integrating population history and genome-environment associations. Ecology and Evolution, 8(23), 11932-11944. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.4650 
  • 2017 Penna, A., Melo, D., Bernardi, S., Oyarzabal, M. I., & Marroig, G. The evolution of phenotypic integration: How directional selection reshapes covariation in mice. Evolution, 71(10), 2370-2380. https://doi.org/10.1111/evo.13304  *Evolution's top-10 most downloaded paper of 2017-2018!
  • 2016 Penna, A. and Marroig, G. Lemuriformes (Primates: Strepsirrhini) cranial morphological evolution. University of Sao Paulo, USP Thesis and Dissertations Digital Library. doi:10.11606/D.41.2016.tde-02122016-094047
Published Aug. 7, 2026 1:05 PM - Last modified Aug. 12, 2026 1:32 PM

Research groups