From groundbreaking genomic studies on African elephants to prestigious national honors, members of the Department of Anthropology continue to advance research and field discovery across the globe. Here is a look at the latest faculty accomplishments, student milestones, and department updates.
Renowned University of Oregon archaeologist Mel Aikens (pictured) died April 23 at the age of 87. The department received a formal letter of condolence from the Shaanxi Academy of Archaeology in China, alongside memories shared by Museum of Natural and Cultural History (MNCH) Director Todd Braje.
Honors & Faculty Milestones
Lynn Stephen Elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Lynn Stephen was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences as part of its 2026 class of 250 members recognized across academia, the arts, journalism, and public policy. Stephen was elected within the Anthropology and Archaeology section and will attend the formal induction ceremony in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in October.
In May, Stephen presented alongside Ramon Resendiz at the Latin American Studies Association Congress in Paris during the session "The Limits and Possibilities of Cross-border Collaborative Research on Latinidades and Indigeneities."
Research Publications & Grants
Human Biology & The Shuar Health and Life History Project
Josh Snodgrass and colleagues published a 20-year retrospective examining the practical, ethical, and methodological lessons of long-term human biology fieldwork:
Snodgrass, J.J., et al. "Navigating practical, political, and ethical challenges of long-term human biology field research: The Shuar Health and Life History Project." American Journal of Human Biology. DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.70262
The paper serves as the flagship contribution to an 11-paper special issue of the American Journal of Human Biology dedicated to the Shuar Project, guest-edited by Larry Sugiyama and UO doctoral alumni Sam Urlacher and Theresa Gildner.
Primatology & Primate Microbiomes
Bonobo Gut Microbiotas: Frances White and Nelson Ting co-authored a new study in the American Journal of Primatology analyzing how social structures and diet drive variation in wild bonobo gut microbiomes (Read in AJP).
O'Day Fellowship: Doctoral student Sedona Epstein and undergraduate Chase Crandall received a UO O’Day Fellowship in Biological Sciences to conduct joint research on the Columbus Zoo bonobo population this summer.
Genomics & Conservation Biology
Nelson Ting and biology doctoral student Savanah Bird co-authored the largest genomic analysis of African elephants to date, published in Nature Communications (DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-71262-w). The findings, detailing ancient population mixing and modern conservation threats, were featured in Mongabay and Discover Magazine.
Additionally, a study on elephant hybridization in western Uganda led by doctoral alumna Claire Goodfellow—co-authored by Ting, Bird, and former postdoctoral researcher Caitlin Wells—was accepted for publication in Oryx.
Graduate Research Grants
Dee Jolly received a Center for the Study of Women in Society (CSWS) Graduate Research Grant to support dissertation pilot research examining how gendered stress becomes physiologically embodied as chronic pain and inflammation among transgender and nonbinary populations in the U.S.
Conferences & Media Spotlights
SAA Conference Features & Tributes
At the recent Society for American Archaeology (SAA) meeting in San Francisco:
Jon Erlandson Tribute: Scott Fitzpatrick, MNCH Executive Director Todd Braje, and Smithsonian Curator Torben Rick co-chaired a dedicated symposium honoring Professor Emeritus Jon Erlandson’s legacy in coastal archaeology and historical ecology.
20th Anniversary of JICA: Fitzpatrick hosted a board meeting and celebration marking two decades of The Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology (JICA), which he co-founded with Erlandson in 2005.
Southeast Asian Archaeology: UO graduate students Tiyas Bhattacharyya and Zachary Dierks co-chaired a conference session on current Southeast Asian archaeology, featuring paper presentations by UO undergraduates Marly Howell and Gabby Shaffer.
Student Awards & Media Coverage
Asian Studies Research Award: Undergraduate Gabby Shaffer co-won the Asian Studies Award on May 7 for her research presentation on earthenware ceramic vessels and rim forms from Prasat Baset, Cambodia.
Oldest Hide Artifact: Research led by Katelyn McDonough was highlighted by UO News, detailing how a 12,000-year-old bison hide artifact underscores the scientific value of museum collections and archaeological field schools.