Kirchhoff

Dr. Kirchhoff is a Professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at Marquette University, College of Health Sciences. Her research focuses on primate skeletal analysis to understand human evolution, social behavior, diet, and life histories. She integrates skeletal data with behavioral observations and demographic studies to address evolutionary questions.

Her work examines skeletal remains of primates, including critically endangered species and nocturnal animals, to study injury, illness, and social interactions. Key projects include analyzing skull shape variation in primates with different feeding adaptations and investigating baboon group dynamics in Tanzania's Gombe National Park. She collaborates with institutions like Johns Hopkins University and the Jane Goodall Institute.

Recent publications emphasize geometric morphometrics, craniodental lesions in primates, and taphonomic studies of chimpanzees. Her 2019 monograph on Gombe chimpanzee skeletons bridges skeletal analysis with evolutionary narratives. Dr. Kirchhoff advises undergraduate researchers and mentors students in biomedical sciences, pre-medical, and pre-dental programs.