Human Biology

Connie J. Mulligan, University of Florida, USA

Dr. Connie Mulligan is a Professor of Anthropology and the Genetics Institute at the University of Florida. She is a molecular anthropologist and takes an interdisciplinary approach to human health and evolution, with a particular focus on the impact of childhood adversity and the basis of racial health disparities. Her research integrates molecular genetic data with sociocultural factors to better understand resulting health outcomes. Currently, she is investigating DNA methylation and gut microbiome diversity as possible mechanisms to mediate the impact of maternal stress on infant health outcomes and disease susceptibility. Her research has been funded by the National Science Foundation for 20 years.

Graciela Cabana, University of Tennessee, USA

Graciela S. Cabana is Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Her work explores the intersections of society, culture, and genomics in past and present human communities. Her research interests include science and technology studies as it applies to genomics, ancient DNA studies in bioarchaeological and historical contexts, as well as the current social and ethical impact of genetics and genomics.

Yinqiu Cui, Jilin University, China

Yinqiu Cui is a full professor at the School of Life Sciences and holds a Research Group Leader position at Research Center for Chinese Frontier Archaeology in Jilin University. She received her PhD degree in Molecular Biology from Jilin University (Changchun, China) in 2002. Her research has focused on revealing prehistoric or historic population migration by means of ancient DNA evidence. She and her research team in Jilin University have obtained genomic data from human skeleton remains covering a wide range of time and space in Northern China. She also works on various human pathogens such as Yersinia pestis, Salmonella enterica or Hepatitis B virus to gain insights into the evolution of mechanisms of pathogenicity and host adaptation. She has published more than 60 articles in peer-reviewed journals, including Nature, Nature Communications, Current Biology, and Plos Pathogens.

Heather L. Norton, University of Cincinnati, USA

Heather Norton is a molecular anthropologist whose research focuses on understanding the evolution of complex traits in humans. She approaches this work using phenotypic, genetic, and evolutionary perspectives, with an emphasis on the human pigmentation phenotype. She received her Ph.D. in Anthropology from The Pennsylvania State University and joined the Anthropology Department at the University of Cincinnati in 2010.

In her research Dr. Norton uses quantitative methods to characterize phenotypic variation in skin, hair, and iris pigmentation in diverse populations. She has worked to characterize genetic variants associated with this phenotypic variation and to place their frequency and distribution in the context of relevant population history. Dr. Norton is also interested in understanding the evolution of human skin pigmentation variation—specifically how the pigmentary phenotype has changed as humans expanded throughout Africa and into a diverse range of environments.

Charles Roseman, University of Illinois, USA

Megan Fry, University of Florida, USA

Megan Fry is a bioarchaeology PhD. candidate at the Department of Anthropology of the University of Florida. Under the supervision of Dr. John Krigbaum, her dissertation uses a multitude of methods, including osteological, stable isotope (Sr, Pb, C, N, and O), and funerary data to understand the relationship between identity, personhood, and social inequality. Additionally, she has undertaken certificate degrees in Historic Preservation and Museum Studies where her research focuses on the African Diaspora. Working with descendant communities, she assists in heritage conservation of at-risk sites as a form of restorative justice. She was a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow from 2020-2023.