Current Members
KIRSTIN N. STERNER (she/her/hers)
email: ksterner@uoregon.edu
twitter: @KNSterner
KIRSTIN is an Associate Professor in Anthropology, and she is interested in how genes and environment interact to shape primate traits. Specifically, she combines an evolutionary framework with functional genomics to address why humans are more vulnerable to certain types of disease, what genomic regions underly distinctive human traits, and how environmental factors shape biological age in primates. She is also actively involved in science education and outreach, particularly in regard to increasing diversity in STEM and communicating the role of genetics in society. Read more about Kirstin here…
SAMANTHA QUEENO (she/her/hers)
email: squeeno@uoregon.edu
twitter: @SamanthaQueeno
SAM is a PhD candidate in Anthropology. She is interested in human evolutionary genomics and the evolution of adaptive phenotypes; specifically those traits that distinguish humans from other primates. Her dissertation research is on the genetic mechanisms underlying myofiber development and the evolution of hominin endurance locomotion. She received the 2019 AAAG Outstanding Trainee Presentation in Anthropological Genetics Award and her research is funded by an NSF-DDRIG and a Leakey Foundation Grant. Sam is also passionate about science outreach and student engagement, and has been a part of the UO COVID-19 Monitoring and Assessment Program.
TANNER ANDERSON (he/him/his)
email: tander10@uoregon.edu
twitter: @tannerandrsn
TANNER is a PhD candidate in Anthropology. He is interested in evolutionary genomics, brain development and evolution, evolutionary medicine, and molecular features that distinguish humans from other primates. His dissertation research is on the molecular signatures of aging in the primate brain and is funded by an NSF-DDRIG. Tanner is also passionate about STEM education and outreach and hopes to integrate this into his dissertation research.
Past Members
GEETA EICK was a Research Associate in the Sterner Lab from 2015-2018 when she led our work in functional genomics. She is now a registered nurse and health care professional.
ELISABETH A. GOLDMAN earned her doctorate in Anthropology from the UO in 2022 advised by Kirstin Sterner. Her dissertation focused on molecular signatures of aging in primates. She is now a Computational Biologist at the Oregon Health and Science University Knight Cancer Institute. Read more about Elisabeth here…
NOAH D. SIMONS earned his doctorate in Anthropology from the UO in 2018 co-advised by Nelson Ting and Kirstin Sterner. His dissertation was part of the Kibale EcoHealth Project and focused on the evolution of gene regulation in red colobus monkeys. He is now a Bioinformatics Scientist at the Providence Cancer Institute. Read more about Noah here…
ENRIQUE GOMEZ earned his B.S. in Biology (Anthropology minor) from the UO in 2019 and was a member of the Sterner Lab. His research was on host-virus relationships as well as the evolution of centromere-related genes. Enrique is now a PhD student at Washington University working with Dr. Emily Wroblewski.
FRANKLIN (FRANK) LEWIS earned his B.S. in Biology (Anthropology minor) from the UO Clark Honors College in 2019. He was a member of the Sterner Lab and a senior writer for the UO’s daily newspaper (Daily Emerald). His honor’s thesis research was on the genetic regulation of skeletal muscle fiber type across primates. He is now a Genetic Counseling Assistant and a passionate science journalist/communicator.
TYLER FORDING earned his B.S. in Anthropology and Biology from the UO in 2015 and was a member of the Sterner Lab. He went on to complete his M.Sc. in the UO Bioinformatics and Genomics Masters Program, and he is now a Product Manager at Kickstarter.
KELSIE MCVEETY earned her B.A. in Anthropology from the UO in 2015 and was a member of the Sterner Lab. She went on to earn her M.S from the University of Michigan and is now a Genetic Counselor.
DEVAN PENNINGTON earned her B.A. in Anthropology from the UO in 2015 and was a member of the Sterner Lab. She currently teaches pre-school in Eugene.
