Featured Research Areas
We carry out research on the evolution of primates, human growth and development, and anatomical variation in modern humans. Select the icons below to learn more.
Primate Evolution
Skulls and teeth can tell us a great deal about the diets and behaviors of fossil organisms. We aim to understand general processes that influence primate evolution by studying how genes influence the shapes of teeth and skulls of living primates.
Growth and Development
We use existing images including X-rays and CT scans to study how the human skull grows and apply these findings to inform and improve orthodontic and medical diagnosis and treatment.
Anatomical Variation
While working in the anatomy lab, we regularly find examples of human anatomy that are not exactly what you might find in a textbook. These variants often motivate projects on the impacts of variation on human function and health.
Team
Our Team
Anna Hardin, PhD is the principal investigator of the Hardin Lab. She studies how genes and development contribute to variation in the shape of human and non-human primate teeth and skulls. She is especially interested in the evolutionary consequences of genetic and developmental covariation.