Anthropology
VU Graduate Student Explores Ancient Oral Microbiomes
Jun. 24, 2024—By Neomi Chen, Evolutionary Studies undergraduate communications assistant As Katie McCormack meticulously extracted calcified dental plaque from ancient Peruvian teeth, she felt the weight of centuries of history in her hands. This intricate work, part of her groundbreaking research in the Jada Benn Torres Lab, aims to unravel the secrets of ancient oral health. With...
Researchers Root US Maternal Health Disparities in the Social Environment
Oct. 15, 2023—By: Andy Flick, Evolutionary Studies scientific coordinator Monica Keith, assistant professor of Anthropology, recently published insights into the complex factors contributing to maternal hypertension and health disparities in a paper titled, “Social Determinant Pathways to Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy Among Nulliparous U.S. Women” in the journal Women’s Health Issues. This research, based on an analysis...
Vanderbilt Anthropologist Discovers Lasting Effects from Disasters in Bangladesh
Jan. 26, 2023—By: Andy Flick, Evolutionary Studies scientific coordinator Monica Keith, Assistant Professor of Anthropology, recently co-authored a paper addressing severe climate events in Bangladesh and their lasting effects on human health outcomes. Working with Shodagor fishing families in Matlab, the team found that body mass decreased following the flood of 2017 and did not recover by...