Undergraduate Spotlight

Undergraduate Spotlight Fall 2025

Renee Kuban — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 16:43:36 +0000

Undergraduate Spotlight Fall 2025 Renee Kuban Thu, 09/18/2025 - 10:43

Emily Reardon (Anthropology, BA in Progress)

My current research is focused on understanding the differences in mortality rates between immigrant and native-born individuals in 19th century Upstate New York. Specifically, I am researching the cities of Syracuse and Rochester between 1850 and 1880. I am utilizing data transcribed from federal and state census mortality records, which I will analyze using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis focusing on place of birth and sex. If time permits, I will also analyze country-specific immigrant mortality to reveal any differences between immigrant groups and the potential reasons behind them. This research is embedded into a larger community-based project run by Dr. Eric Jones and Dr. Sharon DeWitte researching 19th century upstate New York with an emphasis on mortality, urbanization, and rural communities.

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Undergraduate Spotlight Spring 2025

Renee Kuban — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 17:57:31 +0000

Undergraduate Spotlight Spring 2025 Renee Kuban Tue, 03/18/2025 - 11:57

Mia Chaw (BA Anthropology in Progress)

Mia Chaw is a senior majoring in Anthropology and MCDB. She does ancient DNA and bioinformatics work in Dr. Fernando Villanea's lab. She is focused on the role of archaic introgressed (mostly Neanderthal or Denisovan) DNA in a dataset of ancient genomes from the Americas. She studies these ancient individuals because Indigenous American and Latino populations are underrepresented in genomics research and because Indigenous Americans alive today often have European or African DNA resultant from European colonialism. She is looking for introgressed haplotypes, alleles, and functional candidate regions to learn how Neanderthal and Denisovan DNA may have assisted the peopling of the Americas.

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Undergraduate Spotlight Fall 2024

Renee Kuban — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 20:25:47 +0000

Undergraduate Spotlight Fall 2024 Renee Kuban Tue, 09/17/2024 - 14:25

Autumn Lucas (BA in Anthropology in Progress)

My study of primate gerontology in captive primates focuses on understanding the aging process in non-human primates. By observing and analyzing the health, behavior, and cognitive changes in aging primates, my research aims to uncover parallels between primate and human aging. This work can contribute valuable insights into age-related diseases, longevity, and improving the quality of life for elderly primates in captivity. Additionally, my study could provide important implications for human aging and the development of therapies for age-associated conditions.

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Undergraduate Spotlight Spring 2024

Anonymous — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 18:41:08 +0000

Undergraduate Spotlight Spring 2024 Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 03/25/2024 - 12:41

Skylar Davidson (Anthropology Minor in Progress)

Skylar is a 4th-year student at CU ��, pursuing an Anthropology minor. After taking Primate Life History with Dr. Michelle Sauther, she developed a passion for Primatology and excitedly added an ANTH minor. In the summer of 2023, Skylar traveled abroad to Vietnam with Dr. Covert and Dr. O’Brien to study its diverse ecosystem and native primates. Being in Vietnam developed Skylar’s deep love for the endangered Pygmy Loris and she plans to pursue a Master’s and PhD in Biological Anthropology. She intends to lead conservation research for this species and find her way back to Vietnam.

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Undergraduate Student Spotlight Winter 2023

Anonymous — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 16:29:37 +0000

Undergraduate Student Spotlight Winter 2023 Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 12/20/2023 - 09:29

Sanjana Vookanti (BA Anthropology in Progress)

Hello! My name is Sanjana and I am a senior at CU! Beginning spring of 2023, I had the incredible opportunity to work with Arielle Milkman and Dr. Kathryn Goldfarb to explore smoke impacts on firefighters and wildfire communities. Throughout my time on this team, I was able to have interesting discussions regarding the accessibility of research and ways to present research findings to the public. I am extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to have these kinds of conversations!

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Undergraduate Student Spring 2023

Anonymous — Tue, 21 Mar 2023 16:40:41 +0000

Undergraduate Student Spring 2023 Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 03/21/2023 - 10:40

Em Fox (BA Anthropology in Progress)

Em’s research investigates identity and inequality in a historic cemetery in Nederland, Colorado. In addition to using data they collected about the grave markers at the Nederland Cemetery, Em is also incorporating information gathered from historic records into their research. Their work will contribute to the existing body of research on cemeteries as well as provide valuable genealogical information to the Nederland community.

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Undergraduate Student Winter 2022

Anonymous — Thu, 29 Dec 2022 16:32:09 +0000

Undergraduate Student Winter 2022 Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 12/29/2022 - 09:32

Ella Stritzel (BA Anthropology in Progress)

Ella’s research highlights a set of three Huichol gourd bowls at the CU Museum of Natural History and is investigating the connection between materiality and meaning making. They have been working with Dr. Gutierrez to identify the lacquer and decorative elements, and understand how small, individual components impact an object’s use, meaning, and role, both within their origin community and current museum setting.

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Undergraduate Spotlight Fall 2022

Anonymous — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 16:15:24 +0000

Undergraduate Spotlight Fall 2022 Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 09/22/2022 - 10:15

Connor Ball (BA Anthropology in Progress)

Connor’s research attempts to improve interpretations of archaeological lithic assemblages by establishing different potential uses of projectile points in relation to faunal, ceramic, geographic data, and oral traditions. He traveled to Santa Fe via a museum grant to examine projectile points from two archaeological sites in northern New Mexico to apply this research to this region of the Southwest. His research will help to understand subsistence and tool use in the Southwest and beyond.

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