Abigail Winslow Bigham

Abigail Winslow Bigham is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of California Los Angeles, affiliated with the College of Letters and Science. Her research investigates human adaptation to extreme environments, with a focus on genetic and epigenetic mechanisms in high-altitude populations like Andean and Tibetan communities. She employs genomic and physiological approaches to study hypoxia responses.

Research Interests: Dr. Bigham specializes in evolutionary genetics, examining how natural selection shapes human traits in high-altitude environments. Her work spans:

• Genetic signatures of hypoxia adaptation in indigenous populations
• Epigenetic regulation of oxygen-sensitive pathways
• Physiological genomics of aerobic capacity
• Comparative studies of Andean vs. Tibetan adaptation strategies

Publication Trends: Her recent articles (2019-2025) demonstrate a consistent focus on high-altitude genomics, with emerging themes in epigenetic acclimatization, dietary adaptation, and comparative physiology across diverse populations. Over 80% of publications involve international collaborations.

Scientific Awards: No awards mentioned in source materials.

Academic Contributions: While specific students and grants aren't detailed, her profile indicates extensive collaboration through multi-institutional research teams studying altitude physiology and evolutionary genetics.