I'm a biological anthropologist specializing in anthropological genetics. I'm especially interested in the relationship between biological variation, cultural practices, and the environment.

My primary research area is anthropological genetics. In my research, I use statistical genetics methods to investigate the genetic and environmental factors that influence human variation, including variation in disease risk. My current research is focused on the genetic and environmental factors that underlie type 2 diabetes risk in American Indians, a population that is disproportionately affected by this disease. Other aspects of human variation that I have investigated include human handedness, and risk factors for cardiovascular disease.  Most of my genetics research uses data from families, and methods that can be applied to investigations of a variety of normal and disease traits.

In addition to my human variation research, I use faunal skeletal biology and paleopathology to examine the prehistory of human-animal interactions. My research in this area includes the use and treatment of domestic dogs in the prehistoric and early historic American Southeast, Midsouth, and Midwest.

My research profile describes my research interests in more detail.

Education

B.A., Anthropology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN (1988)
M.A., Anthropology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN (1994)
Ph.D., Anthropology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN (2004). Dissertation: Skeletal biology and paleopathology of domestic dogs from prehistoric Alabama, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee.
Postdoctoral Research: Department of Genetics, Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research, San Antonio, TX (2004 - 2006)