Alice Yao

Alice Yao is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Chicago, with additional affiliation to the Social Sciences. Her research focuses on the impact of Han Empire's conquest on frontier regions, examining how communities in southwest China and mainland Southeast Asia adapted to imperial expansion through archaeology, material culture, and socio-political analysis.

• Education: PhD (2008) and MA from the University of Michigan; BA from the University of Chicago

Her work integrates archaeology with historical texts to explore sovereignty, political legitimacy, and cross-cultural interactions in border zones of the Han Empire (202 BC – 202 AD). Current projects include excavations at Bronze Age and Han settlements near Lake Dian, analyzing paleoenvironmental data and regional trade networks. She also collaborates on global initiatives like Landcover6k and studies genealogical narratives with Miranda Brown, focusing on lactase persistence and post-racial identity.

Key methodologies include archaeobotanical analysis, elemental composition studies of artifacts, and multi-proxy climate records. She actively engages in fieldwork, publishing in top journals like PLOS ONE, Antiquity, and American Anthropologist. Her teaching and research are conducted from Haskell 318 office at the University of Chicago, with office hours available via sign-up.