Manolis Kellis studied  Electrical Engineering & Computer Science at MIT, where he now teaches as adjunct Professor. He works at the famous Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory and teaches “Computational Biology: Genomes, Networks, Evolution (6.895/6.085)”.

His research looks into better comprehending human genes using algorithms and analysis techniques that allow for accurate comparisons to other living species’ genes, looking for “evolutionary fingerprints”, basically common features in different ways specific DNA chains develops through time.  His article “Finding Evolution’s Signatures” constitutes a shorter summary of his research efforts.

The story of his family moving abroad starts in 1989 when his father, John Kellis (Kamvyseli), decides to move to France, without even speaking a foreign language. In a previous interview his wife mentioned: “we went abroad with MacGaiver’s English.” After almost 9 years, his family earned a page in the Guinness book for having their three children Panagiotis, Maria and Manolis, admitted to MIT with only a couple of months time difference.