Tracking Traits

Penn State undergraduate Hannah Marchok  interviews postdoctoral researcher Dr. Tina Lasisi about her her efforts to fill in gaps in our understanding of human hair morphology, as well as possible explanations for the evolution of different hair types, and the importance of approaching biological anthropology from a more inclusive standpoint. 

HOST:
Hannah Marchock, Penn State undergraduate  student majoring in Biobehavioral Health with a minor in Global Health

GUEST:
Dr. Tina Lasisi, postdoctoral researcher, University of Southern California

Penn State undergraduate Alexis Capel interviews Dr. Eric Plutzer, Professor of Political Science and Sociology, about his continuing research on the teaching of evolution and climate change in public schools across the United States.

HOST:
Alexis Capel , Penn State Undergraduate Student, Biological Anthropology

GUEST:
Dr. Eric Plutzer, Penn State Professor of Political Science and Sociology

Get ready, listeners! Our research conversations about human evolution and diversity continue, with a new slate of guests covering a wide range of fascinating topics.

From the challenges of teaching science in US public schools to the effects of stress on our health as we age to the links between genetics and personality, we'll present conversations that are sure to tickle your curiosity bone. 

If you haven't already subscribed, you'll want to do it now so you won't miss a single episode!

Penn State undergraduate Amy Mook interviews Dr. David Puts, Associate Professor of Anthropology about his research. Puts’ Behavioral Endocrinology and Evolution Lab focuses on the evolutionary and neuroendocrine bases of human sexuality and sex differences.

HOST:
Samantha Muller, Penn State Undergraduate Student, Forensic Science, minor in Anthropology

GUEST:
Dr. David Puts, Associate Professor of Anthropology

Recent Penn State graduate Amy Mook interviews Dr. Marta Tomaszkiewicz, Assistant Research Professor of Biology about her innovative research on male infertility.  Marta is particularly interested in understanding the potential of using RNA information and RNA-based technologies to answer important biological questions. She is currently testing the hypothesis that variation in ampliconic gene expression can explain differences in semen characteristics between fertile and infertile men. Her work can be followed at: https://twitter.com/amplicomics

HOST:
Amy Mook, Penn State Alum, Genetics and Developmental Biology

GUEST:
Dr. Marta Tomaszkiewicz, Assistant Research Professor of Biology 

Penn State undergraduate student Samantha Muller interviews Postdoctoral Fellow in Physiology Tony Wolf about his research on variance in cardiovascular responses to thermal stressors. Tony is particularly interested in understanding the various factors underlying population disparities in cardiovascular function that lead to increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Among these factors are skin pigmentation and socioeconomic background.

HOST:
Samantha Muller, Penn State undergraduate student in Forensic Science, with a minor in Anthropology; member of the MicroARCH Lab 

GUEST:
Dr. S. Tony Wolf, Postdoctoral Fellow, Penn State Physiology 

Penn State undergraduate student Hannah Marchok interviews Assistant Professor of Geography, African Studies, and Anthropology Bronwen Powell about her research into factors that may drive dietary practices across different groups of people in different regions of East Africa. Powell also shares her passion for wild foods, international collaborations, and inter-disciplinary approaches to dietary behavior change.

HOST:
Hannah Marchok, Penn State Biobehavioral Health, with a minor in Global Health; member of the Shriver Lab hair team

GUEST:
Dr. Bronwen Powell, Assistant Professor of Geography, African Studies, and Anthropology

Penn State undergraduate student Samantha Muller interviews PhD student Natalia Grube about her research exploring the potential of the tapeworm as a proxy to more accurately pinpoint humanity's adoption of meat eating and cooking with fire. Their conversation also covers Natalia's passion for youth outreach, the importance of  diverse collaborations, and strategies to improve scientific literacy nationally.

HOST:
Samantha Muller, Penn State Forensic Science undergrad, with a minor in Anthropology; member of the microARCH Lab

GUEST:
Natalia Grube, Penn State graduate student in Biology, member of the Anthropological Lab

Recent Penn State graduate Amy Mook interviews Nina Jablonski about her ground-breaking research into the evolution of skin pigmentation, and the promise of that research to help to heal the damage inflicted over generations through misguided racist constructs perpetuated by the scientific establishment of the past.   

HOST:
Amy Mook, 2020 graduate of Penn State’s Genetics and Developmental Biology program

GUESTS:
Dr. Nina Jablonski, Evan Pugh Professor of Anthropology, Penn State 
Co-director of the Center for Human Evolution and Diversity

Undergraduate student Hannah Marchok interviews Dr. Mark Shriver about his work tracking down what he calls "superficial" physical traits that distinguish people from one another - and about his life as a research scientist.

Host:
Hannah Marchok, Penn State Biobehavioral Health major, minoring in Global Health

Guest:
Dr. Mark Shriver, Professor of Biological Anthropology, Penn State University
Co-director of the Center for Human Evolution and Diversity