Melanie Martin

Melanie Martin is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Washington, College of Arts & Sciences. She holds a PhD from the University of California Santa Barbara and a BA from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras. Her primary research focuses on biocultural influences on growth, development, and reproduction in Indigenous communities, particularly the Qom in Argentina and the Tsimane in Bolivia. She is Co-Director of the Chaco Area Reproductive Ecology (CARE) Program and Co-PI of the Biodemography Lab at UW's Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology. Her work bridges biological and medical anthropology with global health concerns, emphasizing community-based participatory research methods.

Her teaching portfolio includes courses like 'Applied Human Growth & Development' (distance learning), 'Biocultural Perspectives of Childcare & Development', and 'Evolutionary Biology of Women'. She has held postdoctoral positions at Yale University and extensive research affiliations across institutions including CSSS and CSDE at UW. Notable awards include the 2023 Human Biology Association Early Career Award and the 2024 UW Outstanding Undergraduate Research Mentor Award.

Dr. Martin’s research grants span topics from postpartum health disparities to long-term effects of war on aging. She has published over 20 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, with recent work examining sleep patterns during pandemics and antibody dynamics in breastfeeding mothers. Her advising activities include mentoring graduate students in interdisciplinary programs and undergraduates in field research projects, contributing to over 30 student presentations at academic conferences.

Professional service includes leadership roles in academic organizations like the Human Biology Association and roles on faculty search committees at UW. Community outreach involves work with Seattle Public Schools and Skype a Scientist, promoting science education. Her work has been featured in outlets like The Atlantic, NPR, and BBC Mundo, highlighting her ability to translate complex anthropological research into accessible public discourse.