Kirstin N. Sterner is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Oregon, where she also serves as Associated Faculty in the Institute of Ecology and Evolution. She co-directs the Molecular Anthropology Lab and is a key member of the University of Oregon Molecular Anthropology Group, which serves as an intellectual home for research, training, and outreach in ecological, evolutionary, and functional genetics/genomics in humans and non-human primates. Dr. Sterner's educational background includes: B.A. from New York University (2001) M.A. from New York University (2005) Ph.D. in Anthropology from New York University (2009) Postdoctoral Fellowship at Wayne State University School of Medicine (2009-2011) As a molecular anthropologist, Dr. Sterner's research focuses on understanding the genetic basis of distinctive human and non-human primate traits. She employs both within and between species perspectives, using a combination of genomics (broadly defined to include transcriptomics and epigenomics) and molecular cell biology to connect primate genotypes and phenotypes to address larger questions about primate evolution, biology, health and disease. Her work spans several key areas: the evolution of primate immune responses, epigenetics of aging and age-related diseases, muscle fiber type and the evolution of bipedalism, and human brain development and evolution. She is particularly interested in the role regulatory variation plays in human traits and diseases and how evolution has shaped these regions of the genome. Dr. Sterner's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on aging research using primate models, particularly examining epigenetic changes associated with aging. Her work also investigates the genetic basis of skeletal muscle adaptations related to human bipedal locomotion, immune responses to viral infections in primates, and the molecular underpinnings of human brain evolution. These studies often combine genomic approaches with experimental validation to connect genetic variants to phenotypic outcomes. Dr. Sterner's research has been supported by prestigious funding sources including the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, Leakey Foundation, Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research, and the American Association of University Women. In terms of advising, Dr. Sterner has mentored numerous graduate and undergraduate students. Her current PhD candidates include Samantha Queeno, who researches the genetic mechanisms underlying myofiber development and hominin endurance locomotion, and Tanner Anderson, who studies molecular signatures of aging in the primate brain. Former students include Elisabeth A. Goldman (PhD 2022), Noah D. Simons (PhD 2018), and several others who have gone on to successful careers in academia, healthcare, and industry. Dr. Sterner co-directs the Molecular Anthropology Lab located in Pacific Hall 10A. The lab is part of the University of Oregon Molecular Anthropology Group, which provides an intellectual home for research, training, and outreach in ecological, evolutionary, and functional genetics/genomics in humans and non-human primates. The lab actively pursues research in primate immunity, adaptation to viral infection, aging, and human brain evolution.
