Kyle Wiley

Dr. Kyle Wiley is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology & Anthropology at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), part of the College of Liberal Arts. His research focuses on the biosocial determinants of maternal and child health disparities, particularly examining how social, political, and traumatic stressors influence pregnancy outcomes and infant development in the U.S. and Brazil. He holds a Ph.D. and M.Phil. in Anthropology from Yale University (2020 and 2015, respectively), and a dual B.S./B.A. in Anthropology and Music from the University of Arizona (2013).

Dr. Wiley's work has been supported by grants from the National Science Foundation, Wenner-Gren Foundation, and National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. His research employs interdisciplinary methods, including epigenetic analysis, hormonal biomarkers, and microbiome studies, to explore mechanisms linking social stressors to health outcomes. Key topics include maternal mental health, intergenerational trauma effects, and the role of caregiving relationships in infant development.

Recent studies investigate how sociopolitical stressors affect Latina mothers’ psychological well-being and infant gut microbiome composition. His work also explores the impact of prenatal stress during the COVID-19 pandemic on infant social-emotional development. Dr. Wiley teaches courses in biological anthropology, maternal health, and research methods at UTEP.

Key awards include the NIH/NIMHD National Research Service Award (2020-2023), Wenner-Gren Dissertation Fieldwork Grant, and Yale MacMillan Center Fellowship.