Kenneth Chiou

Kenneth Chiou is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), within the College of Arts and Sciences. His research focuses on the intersection of sociality, ecology, genomics, and health in primates. He holds a B.A. in Anthropology from New York University, and M.A. and Ph.D. in Physical Anthropology from Washington University in St. Louis.

Chiou's work investigates how social experiences, environmental stimuli, and genome evolution influence health and aging in primates. His research employs a multidisciplinary approach, combining field observations, lab experiments, and computational analysis. Key topics include the biological underpinnings of health disparities, evolutionary mechanisms shaping physiology, and the role of social bonds in primate societies. He has conducted fieldwork in diverse locations such as Puerto Rico, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Zambia, and across the U.S.

His studies often integrate genomics with ecological and behavioral data, addressing questions like how social environments modulate immune responses and how genetic variation contributes to aging. Notable projects include analyzing microbiome diversity in wild primates and studying SIV infection impacts on gene expression in macaques.

Chiou collaborates across disciplines, bridging evolutionary biology, anthropology, neuroscience, and geroscience. His lab focuses on creating comprehensive genomic and transcriptomic resources for primates, including single-cell atlases of the rhesus macaque brain. He emphasizes translational research with implications for human health and aging.