Monica H. Ahsan
University of Missouri | Department of Anthropology
EDUCATION
In progress PhD, University of Missouri, biological anthropology
"Genetics of metabolic syndrome, ancestry, and selection in a Caribbean village"
Advisor: Gregory E. Blomquist
2012-2014 MA, University of Missouri, biological anthropology
"Genetic and maternal effects on neonatal survival in the western lowland gorilla"
Advisor: Gregory E. Blomquist
2009-2012 BS, Texas State University, summa cum laude
Anthropology major, biology minor
PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
Starkweather KE, Ahsan MH. Child growth and parenting strategies in the Shodagor. Manuscript in preparation.
Ahsan MH, Bain JC, Blomquist GE, Flinn MV. Heritable anthropometrics and child growth in a Caribbean village. Manuscript in preparation.
Ahsan MH, Bain JC, Flinn MV. 2016. Heritable traits and their impacts on child health in a Caribbean village. Poster. Presented at the 85th annual American Association of Physical Anthropology meetings. Atlanta, GA.
Ahsan MH. 2016. Integrating genetics and anthropology to understand health, disease, and life histories.MU Life Sciences Seminar.
Ahsan MH, Blomquist GE. 2015. Modeling variation in early life mortality in the western lowland gorilla: genetic, maternal and other effects. American Journal of Primatology77:666–678.
Ahsan MH, Blomquist GE. 2015. Survival of the infants: An analysis of early life mortality in captive western lowland gorillas. Invited podium. Presented atthe 27th annual Human Behavior and Evolution Society conference. Symposium: Insights into social behavior and life history traits from comparative nonhuman primate data. Columbia, MO.
Ahsan MH, Blomquist GE. 2014. Heritability and maternal effects of neonatal survival in the western lowland gorilla. Poster. Presented at Missouri Life Sciences Week.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2016-present Graduate Instructor, University of Missouri
Department of Anthropology, Instructor for General Anthropology (Anthro 1000)
2012-present Graduate Research Assistant, University of Missouri
Life Sciences Fellow, Director: Mark Hannink
2012-2013 Lab Assistant, University of Missouri
Eggert Lab, Director: Lori S. Eggert
Investigating Borean loris taxonomy through ancient DNA
Taylor Lab, Director: Jerry F. Taylor
Exploring bovine traits through GWAS
2011-2012 Biology and Chemistry Tutor, Texas State University
Student Learning Assistance Center- Tutor for biology and chemistry majors
2011 Data Analysis Intern, Texas Biomedical Research Institute- Genetics Department
Comuzzie Lab, Director: Anthony Comuzzie
Projects:
1) Analysis of cardiac data for the Oman Family Study- Hypertension in an Omani Population
2) Serum processing and data compiling for the Baboon Program Project- the Genetics of Uric Acid Variation
3) Analyses of weight correlations for Diet and Genotype in Primate Atherosclerosis- High Fat/High Cholesterol Diet Effects
4) Health analyses for Metabolic Profiling in Baboons- Correlations with Heart, Kidney, and Liver Fat
SKILLS
Laboratory
DNA extractions from tissue, PCR, serum processing, chemical assays, cranial and otherosteological measurements
Computational
Proficient in R, SAS, Systat, PEDSYS, SOLAR, and Excel; some Perl script
Statistical Methods
Bayesian modeling, mixed models, quantitative genetics, pedigree analysis, GWAS, phylogenetic reconstructions, multivariate analyses, comparative methods
SCHOLARSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS
2012-2016 Life Sciences Fellowship, University of Missouri
2009-2012 Texas State Achievement Scholarship, Texas State University
2009-2012 Top 10% Scholarship, Texas State University
2010-2011 University Honors Scholarship, Texas State University
HONORS AND AWARDS
2012 Outstanding Undergraduate in Anthropology, Texas State University
2009-2012 Dean's List, Texas State University
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
2014-present American Association of Physical Anthropologists
2011-present Lambda Alpha Honor Society
REFERENCES
Available upon request
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