Nicholas Holowka

Nicholas Holowka is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology at The Pennsylvania State University, located in the College of the Liberal Arts. His research focuses on the evolution of the human musculoskeletal system, particularly how evolutionary adaptations influence modern health and disease. He combines laboratory techniques like motion analysis, electromyography, and respirometry with fieldwork in natural environments.

His research interests include biological anthropology, functional morphology, and movement biomechanics, with a focus on primate locomotion and musculoskeletal disorders. Current projects investigate foot and ankle adaptations in humans and kinematic strategies among indigenous populations in Malaysia and Bolivia.

Recent publications explore foot mechanics in bipedalism, footwear effects on running, and the impact of urbanization on knee cartilage growth. His work bridges evolutionary biology with applied health science, emphasizing how ancestral traits influence modern human biology.

No scientific awards are explicitly listed. Courses taught include ANTH 297 (Anthropology of Sports) and ANTH 403 (Evolution of Human Walking).