MS Human Biology Faculty

Areas of Expertise


human anatomy, comparative anatomy, human variation, geometric morphometrics, growth and development, and human evolution

Background


Before joining UIndy, Dr. Amandine Eriksen was a Postdoctoral Research Associate at the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, training in current methods of teaching human anatomy to allied health professional and medical students. Her research explores the patterns and causes of asymmetry in the primate skeleton and how stress impacts bone growth. Using advanced technology, including a 3D scanner, Dr. Eriksen utilizes three-dimensional methods (geometric morphometrics) to study how early life stress and biomechanical stress impact primates, including humans, gorillas, and monkeys. Understanding how much stress living primates experience allows her to work toward (1) helping improve conservation efforts of endangered species and (2) better reconstructing what happened in the past among our recent and distant ancestors. Check out more of Dr. Eriksen’s work and photos

Research Interests

skeletal asymmetry, geometric morphometrics, primate comparative anatomy, human variation, and growth and development 

Education


• PhD, Biological Anthropology, University at Buffalo-SUNY

• MS, Human Biology, University of Indianapolis

• BS, Anthropology & Archaeology, Mercyhurst University

Favorite thing about UIndy


Having the opportunity to work with both undergraduate and graduate students!

Areas of Expertise

molecular and forensic anthropology

Background

Dr. Latham has supervised numerous research projects with undergraduate and graduate students investigating the transfer of DNA to objects and how that can impact criminal investigations, as well as projects focused on human skeletal identification. She has conducted fieldwork with UIndy students in Santiago, Chile and the south Texas Borderlands in addition to taking students to participate in forensic archeology investigations across the state of Indiana. Dr. Latham recently co-edited a book entitled New Perspectives in Forensic Human Skeletal Identification, which compiles new and novel identification methods used in the field of forensic anthropology. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and a Board-Certified Forensic Anthropologist (D-ABFA). She currently serves as a Consulting Forensic Anthropologist for police, coroners and pathologists in the Midwestern United States and has delivered numerous lectures for state and local agencies around the country. Dr. Latham also serves as a DNA Expert in the U.S. Court System.

Research Interests

human identification; forensic anthropology; population genetics; skeletal DNA; transfer DNA

Education

• PhD, Anthropology, Temple University
• MA, Anthropology, Temple University
• MS, Human Biology, University of Indianapolis
• BS, Biology, University of North Texas

Fun fact

My favorite food is nachos.

Favorite thing about UIndy

The people!

Areas of Expertise

skeletal biology; forensic anthropology; human taphonomy; osteoarcheology; skeletal age estimation; biostatistics; historic cemeteries

Background

Dr. Nawrocki has taught full-time at the University of Indianapolis since 1991, where he is currently a tenured professor of biology and anthropology, serves as the Director of Osteology at the Archeology & Forensics Laboratory, and is also the Director of the Master of Science in Human Biology program. One of only 60 board-certified forensic anthropologists in North America, Dr. Nawrocki has served as a consultant on hundreds of human remains cases in Indiana and Illinois and has delivered numerous lectures at educational seminars around the country. In 1999, Dr. Nawrocki was named "Teacher of the Year" at the University of Indianapolis, where he also received the Booker Teaching Award for the Sciences in 1993. Dr. Nawrocki has authored several books and has published in journals including the Journal of Forensic Sciences and Florida Anthropologists.

Research Interests

analysis and identification of human skeletons; environmental processes affecting buried and scattered bones (taphonomy); evidence recovery from outdoor crime scenes (forensic archeology)

Education

• PhD, Anthropology, State University of New York at Binghamton
• MA, Anthropology, State University of New York at Binghamton
• BA, Anthropology & Psychology, University of Maine at Orono

Fun fact

In his spare time, Dr. Nawrocki plays guitar in his church band and enjoys birding and hiking with his family.