Laura MacLatchy

Laura MacLatchy is a Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Michigan, specializing in biological anthropology with a focus on primate locomotion, vertebrate paleontology, and Miocene hominoid evolution. Her research spans both modern and fossil primates, examining postcranial functional morphology and bone biomechanics across species and habitats.

• Ph.D., Harvard University (1995)

Her work integrates field research in Uganda and Ecuador with laboratory analyses in 422 West Hall. Key courses taught include ANTHRBIO 201 (How Humans Evolved), ANTHRBIO 371 (Techniques in Biological Anthropology), and ANTHRBIO 465 (Primate Functional Anatomy).

Recent publications highlight interdisciplinary approaches combining isotopic analysis, skeletal biomechanics, and paleoenvironmental reconstruction. Research trends indicate a focus on locomotor evolution, dietary isotopic signals in primates, and Miocene habitat dynamics. Notable methodologies include μCT imaging, histological sectioning, and comparative cross-sectional bone analysis.

Current projects analyze locomotor ontogeny in hominoids, trabecular bone structure in primates, and environmental drivers of Miocene primate diversification. She maintains active fieldwork in East Africa and collaborates on faunal and isotopic studies of early Miocene sites.

Her lab (422 West Hall) investigates skeletal correlates of locomotion, dietary transitions in primates, and paleoenvironmental indicators through fossil analysis. She has contributed to NSF-funded research on doctoral dissertation improvement and locomotor adaptation in primates.