Archaeology

The Department Of Anthropology Is Pleased to Announce The Following Graduate Positions:

PhD Track Starch granule analysis for
detecting plant domestication

Dr. Lisbeth Louderback, Assistant Professor of Anthropology at University of Utah and Curator of Archaeology at the Natural History Museum of Utah, is searching for a PhD candidate to fill a four-year, fully-funded, graduate research and teaching position. Years 1 and 2 are a research assistant (RA) position, part of a NSF-funded project that focuses on developing starch granule analysis for detecting plant domestication. Years 3 and 4 will be a teaching assistant (TA) position in the Anthropology Department at the University of Utah. Both positions include tuition waivers and student benefits.

The position will begin August 2019. Interested candidates are encouraged to contact Dr. Louderback for additional information (e-mail: lisbeth.louderback@anthro.utah.edu).

Call For Students to establish new lab for incoming faculty member, Dr. Tim Webster.

Our lab, opening in January 2019, uses genomic data and computational methods to understand primate evolution, ecology, and behavior. We are particularly interested in the processes responsible for generating and maintaining biological diversity. In particular, we explore (1) macroevolutionary processes, especially speciation, adaptation, and sex chromosome evolution, (2) modern and historical aspects of behavioral ecology and social organization, and (3) within-organism patterns of somatic variation related to development and disease. This involves both the development of software and methods, as well as the analysis of large, population genomic datasets. This work also spans variety of species, with current projects investigating humans, chimpanzees, macaques, lemurs, and tortoises. (email: Dr. Tim Webster).

PhD Track Faunal Analysis in Southern Africa

The Department of Anthropology is seeking applications from prospective graduate students interested in the history of human impacts on African ecosystems, with a methodological focus on zooarchaeology, paleoecology, and vertebrate taphonomy. The successful applicant will work with Dr. Tyler Faith (Department of Anthropology; Natural History Museum of Utah) on an NSF-funded project exploring the history of human and climatic influences on ecosystem change in southern Africa over the last one million years. This project will provide three years of student funding, with the Department of Anthropology providing up to three additional years of support. Applications must be submitted no later than December 29, 2018. Interested candidates are encouraged to contact Dr. Faith for additional information (e-mail: jfaith@nhmu.utah.edu).

What is Anthropology?

Anthropology is the comparative, evolutionary and historical study of humankind. Our department takes a theoretically driven, empirically-informed approach to this study, and has special expertise in archaeology, genetics, behavioral ecology, demography, hunter-gatherers, and evolutionary approaches to human and nonhuman primate behavior. Our regional expertise is strongest in Africa, Australia, New Guinea, Latin America and western North America. We have a small but influential faculty, three of whom (Hawkes, O'Connell, Wiessner) are members of the National Academy of Sciences. Many faculty members do research that crosses disciplinary and sub-disciplinary lines, and we encourage students to do the same.

Anthropology News

Scientists at NHMU complete harvest of Solanum jamesii (Four Corners Potato)

Four Corners Potato

Researchers Bruce Pavlic and Lisbeth Louderback shared their modern harvest of an ancient food source utilized by ancient Utah populations as far back as 11,000 years ago. See the full news story here.

Anthropology Faculty Dr. Tyler Faith Was Recently Published in Science
Anthropology Faculty Member Dr. Tyler Faith Published new findings in Science. These findings potentially exonerate early humans as the driving force behind the mass extinction of ancient African megafauna.
Anthropology Collections
Exciting news from the Natural History Museum: thanks to the very hard work of our Collections & Research staff, our Anthropology collections are now searchable through their website!
DiPaolo Receives Bar Award
Congratulations to Marianna DiPaolo, Associate Professor of Anthropology who will be receiving a Utah Bar Association Award on November 10th for her work on the Committee on Model Jury Instructions-Civil. She has been an active member of the Committee since it began 14 years ago.

Job Opportunities

Post Doctoral Fellow
Department of Anthropology,
University of Utah

This NSF-funded postdoctoral position focuses on fertility and economic decision-making and is part of the Risk-Sensitive Decision Making among Maya Farmers: Subsistence Diversification in Response to Novel Environments project. This project builds on longitudinal life history research in a small-scale society.

This job posting can be found Here

Anthropology Events

CSBS Events

Alumni, Emeriti and Friends

Congratulations Jim O'Connell, receiver the the Great Basin Anthropological Association's Lifetime Achievement Award!

Spotlight: Parry Mead Murray

Parry is a third-generation grape grower in Napa Valley, Calif. The family property, known as "Mead Ranch," is 1300 acres – 590 acres are in grapes, 30 acres for home sites and roads and the rest under a conservation easement with the Napa County Land Trust.
Read more...

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