Human Origins Program Team

Paleoanthropology is inherently interdisciplinary, with scientists specializing in a wide variety of research topics.

Meet the Smithsonian's Human Origins Program scientific team, and learn about the research projects and other activities that we're involved in.

Rick Potts

Director, Paleoanthropologist

Paleoanthropologist Rick Potts is the director of the Smithsonian’s Human Origins Program and curator of anthropology at the National Museum of Natural History.

Jennifer Clark Museum Specialist Jenny's official title is Museum Specialist, but she’s really a generalist; she does lab management, administration, logistics, photography, illustration, and research.	Briana Pobiner Education and Outreach Specialist and Paleoanthropologist Briana's research centers on the evolution of human meat-eating, but has included topics as diverse as cannibalism in the Cook Islands and chimpanzee carnivory.
Matt Tocheri Database Specialist and Physical Anthropologist Matt’s main research interests surround the evolutionary history and functional morphology of the human and great ape family, the Hominidae.	Anna K. ("Kay") Behrensmeyer Paleobiologist/Geologist Kay is a Research Curator in the NMNH Department of Paleobiology, co-directs the Evolution of Terrestrial Ecosystems Program, and studies geological context at Olorgesailie.
Bill Melson Geologist Emeritus Bill is a Senior Scientist Emeritus at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History within the Division of Petrology and Volcanology.	Bernard Wood Adjunct Senior Scientist Bernard is the Director of the George Washington University's Hominid Paleobiology Graduate program and of the Center for the Advanced Study of Hominid Paleobiology.
Alison Brooks Research Associate Alison is a paleoanthropologist and Paleolithic archaeologist who has worked at numerous localities in Africa and in northern China.	Julio Mercader Research Associate Julio is an active fieldworker and has conducted survey and excavation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, the Ivory Coast and Mozambique.
Michael Petraglia Research Associate Mike has conducted archaeological research in the Indian subcontinent, and more recently in the Arabian peninsula.	Brian G. Richmond Research Associate Brian's research focuses on functional anatomy and human evolution, especially the origin and evolution of human gait and the functional anatomy of the hand.
John Yellen Research Associate John's research focuses on the processes which led to the emergence of behaviorally modern humans.	Zelalem Assefa Research Collaborator Zelalem’s research interest include the later prehistory of the horn of Africa and the applications of geospatial information sciences in archaeological investigations.
Christian Tryon Research Collaborator Christian's research explores the behavioral evolution of Middle and Later Pleistocene hominins and the origin of Homo sapiens.	Robin Teague Post-Doctoral Fellow Robin’s research focuses on the ecological conditions faced by early hominins as they dispersed into East Asia around 1.8 million years ago.
Connie Bertka Dr. Connie Bertka, Ph.D. (Co-Chair) Unitarian Universalist	Jim Miller Dr. James B. Miller, Ph.D. (Co-Chair) Presbyterian
Francisca Cho Prof. Francisca Cho, Ph.D. Buddhist	Elliot Dorff Dr. Elliot Dorff, Rabbi, Ph.D. Conservative Judaism
Betty Holley Rev. Betty W. Holley, Ph.D. African Methodist Episcopal	Nancy Howell Prof. Nancy Howell, Ph.D. United Methodist
Randy Isaac Dr. Randall Isaac, Ph.D. Protestant/Evangelical	Juan Martínez Dr. Juan Martínez, Ph.D. Mennonite Brethren
Wes McCoy Dr. R. Wesley McCoy, Ph.D. Presbyterian	Mustansir Mir Dr. Mustansir Mir, Ph.D. Muslim
Wentzel van Huyssteen Dr. J. Wentzel Van Huyssteen, Ph.D. Dutch Reformed Church (Presbyterian)	Joe Watkins Dr. Joe Watkins, Ph.D.
Tom Weinandy Fr. Thomas Weinandy, OFM, Cap., Ph.D. Roman Catholic	Fred Edwords Mr. Fred Edwords Humanist
Ravi Ravindra Dr. Ravi Ravindra, PhD Hindu	Kate McGrath 3D Database Contractor Kate’s research interests include the developmental history and functional morphology of primate dental and skeletal anatomy.
E. Grace Veatch 3D Database Contractor Grace’s interests focus on the evolution of human bipedalism, craniofacial biomechanics, taxonomy and the dispersal of early Homo.	Emily Goble Peter Buck Postdoctoral Fellow Emily Goble's research focuses on mammalian shifts in taxonomy and abundance that correspond with known global climate change in the Pliocene.
Caitlin Schrein Predoctoral Fellow Caitlin's research focuses on the functional morphology of ape skulls and the effects of teaching and learning about human evolution in schools.

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Members of the Human Origins Program team describe what they do and how much they enjoy their work.

Human Origins Program Team

Human Origins Program Team

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