Tracking Traits

Penn State’s Forensics alumna Sam Muller interviews anthropologist Sagan Friant about her research on human-environment interactions and their impacts on human health, particularly in Nigeria. Much of Friant's work centers on the emergence of new zoonotic diseases, which originate in animals and can be transmitted to humans. Sam MullerPenn State Forensics alumna, Class of 2022Sagan FriantAssistant Professor of Anthropology, Penn State

Penn State undergrad Thomas Sontag  interviews associate professor of anthropology Laura Weyrich  about her research on  the history of our microbiomes and explains why it holds relevance to contemporary medicine.Thomas SontagUndergraduate student at Penn State double majoring in Microbiology and GermanLaura WeyrichAssociate Professor of Anthropology at Penn State

Penn State undergrad Emma Sieminski  interviews Biology and Entomology professor, former Director of the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, and current Senior VP of Research, Andrew Read about his research on the ecology and evolution of infectious disease. Emma Sieminski Undergraduate student at Penn State majoring in Forensic ScienceAndrew ReadEvan Pugh Professor of Biology and Entomology, Senior Vice President of Research at Penn State

Penn State undergrad Thomas Sontag interviews associate professor Asher Rosinger about his research, which explores how people in different parts of the world meet their water needs.Thomas SontagUndergraduate student at Penn State double majoring in Microbiology and GermanAsher RosingerAssociate Professor of Biobehavioral Health at Penn State

Penn State undergrad Emma Sieminski interviews professor Jennifer Wagner about her research at the interface of emerging science and law. Emma SieminskiUndergraduate Forensic Science  student at Penn StateJennifer WagnerAssistant Professor of Law, Policy and Engineering at Penn State

Penn State undergraduate Tom Sontag interviews professor Seth Bordenstein  about his pioneering research in the burgeoning field of microbiomesThomas SontagUndergraduate student at Penn State double majoring in Microbiology and GermanSeth BordensteinProfessor of Biology and Entomology, Huck Chair in Microbiome Sciences, and director of the One Health Microbiome Center at Penn State

Penn State undergraduate Kassi Bradburn interviews professor David Almeida about his novel, decades-long research into the role daily stressors play in the lives of people across the lifespan. Kassi BradburnUndergraduate student at Penn State, double majoring in Forensic Science and Biobehavioral Health with a minor in ChemistryDavid AlmeidaProfessor of Human Development and Family Studies at Penn State

Penn State undergraduate Hannah Marchok interviews professor Pete Hatemi about his pioneering, interdisciplinary  research investigations into the role narcissism plays in contemporary American politics. Hannah Marchok Undergraduate Biobehavioral Health student at Penn State with a minor in Global Health.Pete Hatemi Distinguished Professor of Political Science, Microbiology and Biochemistry at Penn  State. 

Penn State undergraduate Alexis Capel interviews professor Jenae Neiderhiser about her long-term, interdisciplinary  research investigations into the interplay between genetic and environmental factors that shape the personalities of children as they grow into adolescence. By focusing on the development of adopted children and twins raised in different situations, Dr. Neiderhiser (an adopted person herself) is able to observe how these different factors play out. Alexis CapelUndergraduate Biological Anthropology student at Penn State. Jenae NeiderhiserDistinguished Professor of Psychology and Human Development and Family Studies at Penn State. 

Penn State undergraduate Kassi  Bradburn  interviews assistant professor of biology  Emily Davenport about her unique approach to researching the complex relationship that human beings have with our microbiomes. Her lab uses high-throughput sequencing technologies and novel computational and statistical techniques to approach this material from a genomic perspective. HOST:Kassie Bradburn, Penn State undergraduate  student double majoring in Forensic Science – Biology Option and Biobehavioral Health with a minor in Chemistry.GUEST:Emily Davenport, Assistant Professor of Biology at Penn State working to understand the complex relationship humans have with our microbiomes. Her lab uses