Evolutionary Anthropology

Evolutionary anthropology focuses on understanding human biology and behavior within the framework of evolution and examines the interface between biology and culture.

Research in this area addresses such questions as: What were the evolutionary, environmental and cultural forces that resolved a diversity of hominin species into one? How diverse (biologically) are modern humans and primates, and how have they adapted to the environments in which they live? How have various diseases coevolved with humans and other primates? How do cultural changes and biological relationships among people affect patterns of disease transmission? What are the genetic and environmental susceptibility factors of various diseases? At ASU, 15 faculty members and over 40 graduate students are actively engaged in examining these questions.

ASU faculty are at the vanguard internationally for research in evolutionary anthropology. Our research intersects with other disciplines and spans a broad range of topics. Among these, two major research foci are human origins, and health and disease. Our interdisciplinary approach includes research in the laboratory and in the field, engaging students in a variety of learning environments. Because much of our research is field based, we also link to communities around the globe and work to develop conservation policies, understanding of disease, and training with these indigenous peoples. In addition, at ASU, we have extensive collections of primate and hominin fossil casts, modern human skeletal remains, the largest extant collection of dental casts, and the Ragsdale Pathology Collection.

For a list of affiliated faculty, please see the Graduate Faculty page and select the appropriate degree from the drop-down menu.

See also:
The Institute of Human Origins 
The Center for Bioarchaeological Research  
Becoming Human Website   
Field Schools