Purdue announces new head of the Department of Biological Sciences
05-19-2025
Purdue University College of Science has named Professor Peristera Paschou as the next head of the Department of Biological Sciences
Professor Peristera Paschou, a researcher focusing on genomics and neurosciences, has been named as the new head of the Department of Biological Sciences. Paschou currently serves as professor and interim head of biological sciences and previously served as associate dean in the College of Science. She is a member of the leadership team of the Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience.
“Following a national search, we identified Professor Peristera Paschou as the best candidate to serve as the next head of the Department of Biological Sciences,” said Lucy Flesch, Frederick L. Hovde Dean of the College of Science. “I extend my sincere thanks to the search committee for their thoughtful and thorough work throughout this process. Professor Paschou’s record of leadership within the college and her commitment to interdisciplinary research make her exceptionally well-suited to lead the department into its next chapter of excellence.”
Paschou’s research bridges genomics, data science, and neuroscience. Her lab investigates the genetic basis of complex neurodevelopmental disorders such as Tourette Syndrome, OCD, ADHD and autism, as well as neurodegeneration, and global human genetic variation and evolution. She has led international consortia and large-scale studies supported by the NIH, NSF and European Union, and currently co-chairs the ENIGMA-Tourette Syndrome Working Group, uniting global experts in genetics, neuroimaging and data science.
As department head, Paschou will lead 46 faculty members, 159 graduate students and more than 1,100 undergraduate students. The Department of Biological Sciences contributes to Purdue's strategic initiatives, such One Health, and is home to pioneering research across cellular and molecular biology, neuroscience, microbiology, structural biology and ecology. The department is home to baccalaureate degrees in 10 major areas of study and supports graduate student research across 6 research topic concentrations. These concentrations inform both fundamental questions and complex problems across diverse areas of interest from cancer models to host-pathogen interactions to behavioral ecology.
Paschou received her PhD from the University of Athens, with training at the University of Oxford and the Pasteur Institute in Paris. She completed her postdoctoral work and clinical genetics training at Yale University, earning certification from the American Board of Medical Genetics. She has held visiting positions at institutions including UCSF, UCLA and the NIH. At Purdue, she was named a Showalter Faculty Scholar in 2019, one of the university’s highest faculty honors.
“I am honored to serve as the next head of Biological Sciences,” Paschou said. “This department is home to exceptional faculty and students driving innovation across biological scales, from atoms to ecosystems. I am excited to build on our strong foundation, expand research excellence, and support a collaborative environment where we drive discovery at scale.”
She added, “Biology today is a data-rich, interdisciplinary science on the cusp of a revolution. Whether we’re decoding the genome or unraveling brain circuits, our work has the power to transform lives. I look forward to working together as we pursue the next giant leaps in science.”
About the College of Science
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