Julie K. Wesp

Julie K. Wesp is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at North Carolina State University, affiliated with the Science, Technology, and Society Program. Her research focuses on bioarchaeology, exploring how social, cultural, and environmental factors shaped daily life in pre-European and colonial Mesoamerica. She analyzes skeletal remains to reconstruct identities, labor practices, and health conditions, often integrating historical and genetic data.

Education

• B.A. Latin American Studies and Anthropology, University of Miami (2007)
• M.A. Anthropology, University of California, Berkeley (2009)
• Ph.D. Anthropology with Designated Emphasis in Women, Gender, and Sexuality, University of California, Berkeley (2014)

Research Interests

Her work emphasizes colonial Mexico and Colombia, investigating labor patterns, health impacts of social change, and the African diaspora's role in colonial societies. Key projects include analysis of skeletal remains from the Hospital Real San José de los Naturales and the San Ignacio Church in Bogotá, Colombia. She employs interdisciplinary methods to address gender and ethnicity in bioarchaeology.

Publications Trends

Dr. Wesp’s publications highlight bioarchaeological studies of colonial urban life, viral and bacterial genomic origins, and the intersection of labor and identity. Recent works examine the transatlantic slave trade’s epidemiological impacts and the diversity of Afro-descendant communities in Mexico City.

Awards

• Postdoctoral Research Fellowship from UC MEXUS/CONACYT (2017)

Advising & Grants

Her research is supported by collaborative grants with Mexican and Colombian institutions. She actively engages in public outreach through podcasts and educational initiatives like Letters to a Pre-Scientist.

Labs & Collaborations

Collaborates with Mexican and Colombian teams on projects such as the San Ignacio Church Archaeological Project and the HSJN skeletal collection analysis. Affiliated with NC State’s Science, Technology, and Society Program.