Amy Boddy, PhD.
Co-Director
Amy is a human biologist and evolutionary theorist with an interest in applying evolutionary and ecological theory to human health and disease. Her work is multidisciplinary and uses a combination of genomics, comparative biology, and evolutionary theory to understand life history trade-offs between survival and reproduction across different levels of biological organization. Active research topics include (1) Comparative oncology and the evolution of cancer defenses across the tree of life; (2) Life history trade-offs in cancer, with a focus on early life adversity and cancer outcomes, and (3) Maternal-fetal conflict in maternal health, including studies on microchimerism and maternal tolerance during pregnancy, the immunology of breastfeeding, and maternal health and behavior postpartum.
For more information, visit: https://boddylab.com/
Kristine Joy Chua, PhD.
Co-Director
Kristine Joy Chua is a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Anthropology at UCSB and will be joining the Department of Anthropology at the University of Notre Dame in January 2025. She earned her Ph.D. in Biological Anthropology from UCLA. Her research integrates evolutionary and biocultural anthropology perspectives to understand human pregnancy and maternal-fetal stress biology among pregnant Filipina women in Ilocos Norte, Philippines and Filipina American women in Southern California.
For more information, visit: https://anthropology.nd.edu/people/faculty/kristine-joy-chua/
Cristiano Parmeggiani
Graduate Researcher
Cristiano is pursuing a PhD in biological anthropology at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He has a background in both the humanities and the evolutionary sciences. His current interests lie in the fields of evolutionary medicine, and he is currently working at the forefront of microchimeric research, and on the evolutionary mechanisms behind cancer.
Steve Dinnogen
Biobehavioral Health Laboratory Manager
Steve is the lab manager for the Biobehavioral Health Laboratory at UCSB and has over two decades of experience in biotechnology. He obtained a BS in Pharmacology from UCSB and a MS in Biotechnology from CSUCI. He brings a breadth of work experience, spanning from research roles to navigating highly regulated FDA environments. He has diverse experience on an array of platforms and a high proficiency in assay development which allows him to provide valuable troubleshooting skills to the Boddy Lab Microchimerism Team.
Amelia Jones
Clinical Research Coordinator, Cottage Hospital
Amelia Jones is a clinical research coordinator based in Santa Barbara, CA. She manages investigational studies in the areas of pulmonology/critical care, neurology, cardiology, orthopedics, and women’s/reproductive health with the aim to contribute to the generation of new knowledge that will improve not only the care that sick patients receive, but also the wellness and fulfillment of the people of all walks of life. Amelia has a background in sociology, linguistics, and speech-language pathology. Learning and working in these areas has led her to develop a wide scope of knowledge and skills applicable to both the clinical and professional world. Arguably more importantly, this experience has also fostered in her an interest and consideration for interpersonal relationships, different forms of ability and communication, and human emotions and behaviors.
Brynn Shapiro
Undergraduate Intern & Social Media Coodinator
Brynn is currently an undergraduate student in UC Santa Barbara's Anthropology Department. She loves learning about evolutionary processes and genetics. Her current research interests focus on maternal-fetal health, specifically, exploring preterm birth through a comparative evolutionary lens. Brynn plans to continue conducting women's health research and pursue a career as a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner.
