Diversity in Human Aging and Evolutionary History

Humans exhibit a fascinating range of diversity across multiple dimensions, including genetics, phenotype, and culture. My work seeks to gain insight into complex biological and socio-cultural phenomena by studying a broader range of this diversity than has historically been considered in the field of human genetics. In my research, I analyze multiple kinds of molecular data to delve into the underlying drivers and consequences of human variation. I will present two case studies from my prior research that illustrate how this inclusive and integrative approach has shed light on the spread of farming throughout the world, and on the molecular changes associated with aging. The results of this work highlight that increasing inclusion of underrepresented groups in genetic research is not only necessary for addressing disparities, it also facilitates novel discoveries and lines of inquiry in the field.

I am an evolutionary geneticist interested in investigating population history and mechanisms of phenotypic variation, particularly in humans. My research combines data and approaches from population genetics, quantitative genetics, epigenetics, and anthropology. I am currently a postdoctoral associate in Dr. Amy Goldberg’s lab at Duke University studying human demographic history during the Holocene and building epidemiological-evolutionary genetic models of Plasmodium vivax. Previously, I was a postdoctoral scholar at the University of Southern California in Dr. Nicholas Mancuso’s lab, where I developed fine-mapping methods for pinpointing the genetic drivers of complex traits. I received my PhD in 2019 from Stony Brook University where I worked in Dr. Brenna Henn’s lab to investigate epigenetic aging and the demographic consequences of agricultural transitions.