Research Areas: Anthropological genetics. Ancient DNA from pre-Columbian populations focusing on the Chibchan Archaeological Area, also, in the study of modern indigenous populations from the Peruvian upper Amazon region.

Grants and Awards:

Presentations:

Research Areas: Anthropological genetics; health and nutrition; genetic epidemiology; special interest the peopling of the Pacific, and molecular studies in Southeast Asia

Grants and Awards:

• Carroll D. Clark Research Award, University of Kansas, Fall 2006

Research Areas: Anthropological genetics including molecular genetics of Aleuts, nutrition and genetic epidemiology of Mennonites, genetics of complex diseases, and localizing disease genes in admixed ethnic populations/indigenous populations. Statistical applications.

Grants and Awards:

• Carroll D. Clark Research Award, University of Kansas, Fall 2007, Spring 2008
• Outstanding Research Poster Presentation Award - University of Kansas Graduate and Research Association - Spring 2007
• Graduate Research Travel Award, KUCR, Spring 2007
• Kansas Health Institute, Summer Research Internship 2006
• Graduate School Scholarship, University of Kansas 2004/2005, Summer 2006
• Outstanding Master's student award 1997, 1998 – S.V. University - India

Recent Publications:

• G Chittoor, PE Melton and MH Crawford (in preparation) “Effects of fasting versus nonfasting on levels of serum lipids, lipoproteins, and association with body composition, age, sex of Mennonites from Henderson, Nebraska.”
• A Justice, R Rubicz, G Chittoor, RL Jantz and MH Crawford (2008). “Anthropometric Variation among Bering Sea Natives. In: The Aleutian Islands: Archaeology, Demography, and Genetics.” Edited by: MH Crawford, DL West, And DH O’Rourke. University of Utah Press. In Press.
• P Venkataramana, G Chittoor and PC Reddy (2001). “Association of body mass index, body fat distribution and fat patterning with blood pressure in two populations of Andhra Pradesh, India.” Journal of Human Ecology 12(1): 63-68.

Presentations:

• G Chittoor, PE Melton, and MH Crawford (2007) “Effects of fasting versus nonfasting on levels of serum lipids, lipoproteins, and association with body composition, age, sex of Mennonites from Henderson, Nebraska” Poster presentation given at the 32nd annual meeting of the Human Biology Association, Philadelphia, PA
• G Chittoor (2007) “Effects of fasting versus nonfasting on levels of serum lipids, lipoproteins, total cholesterol, and association with body composition, age, sex of Mennonites from Henderson, Nebraska” Poster presentation given at the 3rdAnnual Graduate Student Research Competition, University of Kansas, Lawrence. Won $100 Prize for Outstanding Graduate Research
• G Chittoor, C Huang, K Kimminau, K Murphy (2006) “Vending Machine Practices and Policies in Kansas Schools” Presented at the Kansas Public Health Conference, Topeka, KS
• Gray S, G Chittoor, and H Alinga. (2006) Food scarcity and dietary strategies in Karamoja, Uganda. Poster Presentation to be given at the 31st annual meeting of the Human Biology Association, Anchorage, Alaska

Research Areas: Chuvash Population Structure, Anthropological Genetics, Peopling of the Americas (Aleutian & Chibchan populations).

Grants and Awards:

• Carroll D. Clark Research Award, University of Kansas, Spring 2008
• Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research Travel Award Fall 2007
• Walter and Louise Buell Graduate Scholarship 2007
• MCPO Ken E. Blair Scholarship 2007
• Navy Spouses Club of America Mary Paolozzi Scholarship 2007
• Student paper award. Ethnography on Cab Drivers. Southwestern Anthropological Associations 2003
• Virgil & Clarine Gillenwater Scholarship 2003

Presentations:

• April 2001 – Education within Anthropology from a students point of view. Southwestern Anthropological Association
• April 2003 - Ethnography of Cab Drivers. Southwestern Anthropological Association
  

Research Areas: Anthropological genetics, genetic epidemiology, biological aging, quantitative methods, paleopathology, paleoanthropology, bioarchaeology, US minority populations, China and East Asia.

Grants and Awards:

• Carol D. Clark Award (Fall 2004)
• Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research Travel Award (Fall 2004)
• University of Central Florida Academic Achievement Scholarship (1996-1997)
• Florida Bright Futures Scholarship (1996-1998)

Presentations:

• L. Madrigal, A. Ritzheimer, M. Blell, A. Justice. 2003. The portrayal of human bonemarrow variation by the media: An important public role for human biologists. American Journal of Human Biology. 15:2 (272-273). Presented at the Human Biology Association Conference. Tempe, Arizona.

Research Areas: Anthropological Genetics, Retroelements and Modern Human Evolution, Molecular Genetics of Siberian and Amerindian populations, Bioinformatics and Statistics.

Grants and Awards:

• Preparing Future Faculty Fellow - University of Kansas - Spring 2008
• Outstanding Research Poster Presentation Award - University of Kansas Graduate and Research Association - Spring 2005
• Allan Hanson Excellence in Anthropological Teaching Award, University of Kansas 2003/2004
• Graduate Research Travel Award, University of Kansas, Spring 2003
• Carroll D. Clark Research Award, University of Kansas, Fall 2003, Fall 2004, Spring 2005, Fall 2007
• UM President’s Award for Outstanding Senior in Anthropology, University of Montana 1996

Recent Publications:

• Melton PE, I. Briceño, A. Gómez, J. Bernal, EJ Devor and MH Crawford (2007) "The biological relationship between Central and South American Chibchan speaking populations: evidence from mtDNA" American Journal of Physical Anthropology May;133(1):753-70 Abstract | PDF
• Taraskia L & P. Melton (2006) "Comparative analysis of Yakut mitochondrial DNA and other Asian populations" Genetika 42 (12) 1439 - 1446 In Russian Abstract
• Rubicz R, PE Melton, and MH Crawford (2006) Molecular markers in anthropological genetic studies, Chapter 6. In: Anthropological Genetics: Theory Methods and Applications (ed. MH Crawford), Cambridge University Press. Cambridge UK pp. 142-186
• Melton PE, M. Zlojutro, K Kimminau, MH Crawford (2006) "Biological Aging and Cox hazard analysis of mortality trends in a Mennonite community from south-central Kansas" American Journal of Human Biology 18(3):387-401. Abstract | PDF

Presentations:

• Melton PE, R. Duggirala, MH Crawford (2008) “The Effect of Biological Age on Survivorship in Midwestern Mennonites” Poster presented at 33rd annual meeting of Human Biology Association, Columbus, OH.
• Baldi NF, Melton PE (2008) "Historia y Dinámica de las Poblaciones Chibchas: Perspectivas desde la Antropología Genética" Oral Presentation given at 50th Anniversary of University of Kansas University of Costa Rica, San Jose, Costa Rica
• Melton, PE (2007) “The Genetic Structure of Central American Indigenous Populations” Oral presentation given at Biological Anthropology Seminar, University of Kansas, Lawrence.
• Melton PE, MJ Mosher and MH Crawford (2007) "Mitochondrial DNA diversity in six Mennonite communities from Kansas and Nebraska" Poster presesentation given at 76th annual meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists, Philadelphia, PA
• Chittoor G, PE Melton, and MH Crawford (2007) “Effects of fasting versus nonfasting on levels of serum lipids, lipoproteins, and association with body composition, age, sex of Mennonites from Henderson, Nebraska” Poster presentation given at the 32nd annual meeting of the Human Biology Association, Philadelphia, PA
• Melton, Phillip E. (2006) "Genetic Structure of Chibchan-speaking Populations of South America: Molecular Evidence." Oral Presentation given at Frontiers in Anthropological Genetics Seminar, University of Kansas, Lawrence.
• Melton PE, SS. Paphia , I. Briceno, J. Bernal, R. Devor, M. Millis and MH Crawford (2005) “Molecular perspectives on the origins of Chibchan speakers from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia” Poster presentation given 74th annual meetings of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists, Milwaukee, WI
• Melton, Phillip (2005) "Mortality trends in a Mennonite Community from Central Kansas" Poster presentation given at 1st Annual Graduate Student Research Competition, University of Kansas, Lawrence. Won 1 of 2 $500 Prizes for Outstanding Graduate Research
• Melton PE, SS. Paphia , I. Briceno, J. Bernal, R. Devor, M. Millis and MH Crawford (2004) “mtDNA variation in Chibchan speaking groups from Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, northeast Colombia” Poster presentation given at the 29th annual meeting of the Human Biology Association, Tampa FL
• Melton, PE (2004) “Mitochondrial DNA variation in Chibchan speaking populations from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, northeast Colombia” Oral presentation given to Sigma Xi Student Research Conference, University of Kansas
  

Research Areas: Anthropological genetics, Basque origins

Grants and Awards:

• William S. Pollitzer Prize 2007 American Association of Physical Anthropologists
• KU Graduate School Honors Fellowship - 1996 - 2000
• Phi Beta Kappa - 1995- Present
• Award for Outstanding Achievement in Anthropology - 1995
• OU Foundation Wrightsman Scholar - 1990-2000

Recent Publications:

• Lefevre-Witier, P, H Aireche, M Benabadji, P Darlu, K Melvin, A Sevin, and MH Crawford 2006 Genetic structure of Algerian populations. American Journal of Human Biology 18(4):492-501.Abstract | PDF
• Melvin K, McComb J, Livshits G, Kobylansky E, Butsevich V, Spitsyn V, Hanneberg M, Rubicz R, and Crawford MH. Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD): Intra-population and inter-population variation among human populations. Journal article submitted to Human Biology
• Arnaiz-Villena A, Martinez-Laso J, Moscoso J, Livshits G, Zamora J, Gomez-Casado E, Silvera-Redondo C, Melvin K, Crawford MH (2004) HLA-A, -B, -DQB1 and -DRB1 alleles in a Chuvash population from Russia Human Immunology 65 (9-10): 1061-1061 Sp. Iss. SI
• Frayer, D. W., K. Melvin. (2004). Fundamentals of Physical Anthropology Independent Study Text.
• Arnaiz-Villena A, Martinez-Laso J, Moscoso J, Livshits G, Zamora J, Gomez-Casado E, Silvera-Redondo C, Melvin K, Crawford MH (2003) HLA genes in the chuvashian populationfrom European Russia: Admixture of central European and Mediterranean populations Human Biology 75 (3): 375-392
• Rubicz R, Melvin K, and Crawford MH (2002). Genetic Evidence for the Relationship between Na-Dene and Yeniseian Speakers. Human Biology 74(6):743-760

Presentations:

• Young, K., A.G. Apraiz, R. Devor, R. Rubicz, M.H. Crawford. 2006. Basque Origins: Evidence from mtDNA. Poster presentation given at the 32nd annual meeting of the Human Biology Association, Pennsylvania.
• Melvin K, Apraiz AG, Deka R, Crawford MH (2005) STR variation in four provinces of the Basque country.Poster presentation given 74th annual meetings of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists, Milwaukee, WI
• Mosher MJ, Comuzzie A, Jett C, Melvin K, Rubicz R, Zlojutro M, Crawford M (2005) Evidence for a Sex-Specific Infulence of Adiponectic on HDL Variation: The Kansas Nutrition Project. Podium presentation to be given at the 30th annual meeting of the Human Biology Association, Wisconsin
• Apraiz AG, Melvin KJ, Zlojutro M, Roy R, Crawford MH (2004) STR variation in the Basque population. Poster presentation given at the 29th annual meeting of the Human Biology Association, Tampa, FL
• Arnaiz-Villena A, Martinez-Laso J, Moscoso J, Livshits G, Zamora J, Gomez-Casado E, Lowy E, Silvera-Redondo C, Melvin K, Martin-Villa JM, Crawford M (2003) HLA genes in the Chuvashian region population from European Russia: Admixture of Central European and Mediterranean populations.
• Melvin K, Livshits G, Crawford M (2001) Genetic diversity among the Chuvash using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Poster presented at the 26th annual meeting of the Human Biology Association, Kansas City, MO
• Melvin, K., R. Rubicz, M. Crawford.(2000). Genetic Evidence for the Relationship Between Na-Dene and Yeniseian Speakers. Paper presentation given at the Arctic Archaeology Conference, Lawrence, Kansas.
  

Research Areas: Current research includes examination of population origins in the Caribbean region utilizing mtDNA and Y-chromosome markers.

Grants and Awards:

• Sigma Xi Grants in Aid of Research (2004)

Recent Publications:

• Phillips Krawczak, C, EJ Devor, M Zlojutro, and MH Crawford 2006 mtDNA variation in the Kizhi population of Gorno Altai: A comparative study. Hum Biol. Aug;78(4):477-94. Abstract | PDF

Presentations:

• Phillips Krawczak, C, MH Crawford (2006) Origins of the Carib populations of St. Vincent incent Island, Belize, and Dominica. Poster Presentation 31st annual meeting of the Human Biology Association, Anchorage, AL
• Intrapopulation and Interpopulation Analyses of the Altai Village of Mendur-Sokkon. Genetics Program Graduate Student Seminar Series. Lawrence, KS, June 2003.
• Using mtDNA to Trace the Dispersion of Modern Humans. Genetics Program Graduate Student Seminar Series. Lawrence, KS, May 2002.
• Zygote Rescue: A Case Study Utilizing Fluorescent In-Situ Hybridization

Research Areas: Population Structure, Historical Demography, Hungarian Origins and Population, mtDNA and Y-Chromosome and their uses in Population Structure research, Ethics and Human Genetic Research, Disability Community and Genetic Reseach, Genetic Counseling.

Awards:

• Carroll D. Clark Research Award, University of Kansas, Spring 2003

Recent Publications:

• Looking to the Future: Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in the Genetics Era" Matthew J. Stowe, H. Rutherford Turnbull, III, Suzanne Schrandt and Jennifer Rack JOURNAL ON DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES, VOLUME 13, NUMBER 2, 2007

Presentations:

• March 2007 Poster Presentation at the Human Bioloogy Associiation Meeting "Historical demography of Beregdaróc, Gergelyiugornya, and Lónya: Population structure in Tiszahat, Hungary, 1760-1987. JA Rack, Department of Anthropology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS; MH Crawford, Department of Anthropology, University of
  Kansas, Lawrence, KS; T Koertvelyessy Department of Anthropology, Ohio
  University, Athens, OH; M Pap Debrecen University, Debrecen, Hungary
• September 2005 Poster Presentation at the Alliance for Full Participation 2005 Summit, “Disability perspective on the Human Genome Project: Database of disability community perspectives and laws addressing genetics issues” Jennifer A. Rack, M. Suzanne Schrandt, and Matthew J. Stowe.
• September 2005 Poster Presentation at the Alliance for Full Participation 2005 Summit, “Attitudes, Perceptions, and Disability Advocacy in the Genetic Age” Matthew J. Stowe, Rud Turnbull, M. Suzanne Schrandt, and Jennifer A. Rack.
• April 2003 Poster Presentation at the Human Biology Association Meeting; “Genetic variation of Hungarian populations: Origins and affinities” Jennifer Rack, Michael Crawford, Tibor Koertvelyessy, and Miklos Pap.
  

Research Areas: Using Mennonite populations, I wish to examine potential indicators of biological age, such as telomere length, and to correlate telomere length with other aging-related factors. Also, we will conduct a study to find genes associated with biological aging. These genes may provide information on the aging process. In addition, these genes may be linked with other age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, and cancer.

Grants and Awards:

• Madison and Lila Self Fellowship 2006-2010
• Abbott Laboratories Summer Research Internship, 2000, 2001, 2002
• Northwestern University Institute for Neuroscience Summer Fellow, 2003
• American Association for the Advancement of Science: 2005- current: Awarded a sponsored membership through the Excellence in Science Program; nominated by Dean Carlin (University of Kansas).

Recent Publications:

• Sarthy JF, Gamblin TC. Micellization Does Not Interfere With Right-Angle Laser Light Scatter Analysis of Arachidonic Acid-Induced Tau Polymerization. Analytical Biochemistry (2005). Submitted
• Shieh CC, Trumbull JD, Sarthy JF, McKenna DG, Parihar AS, Zhang XF, Faltynek CR, Gopalakrishnan M. Automated Parallel Oocyte Electrophysiology Test station (POETs): a screening platform for identification of ligand-gated ion channel modulators. Assay Drug Dev Technol. 2003 Oct;1(5):655-63

Presentations:

Research Areas:

Grants and Awards:

Research Areas:Anthropological genetics, Basque origins, evolutionary psychology and European history.

Grants and Awards:

• American Association for Anthropological Genetics (AAAG) award for best graduate student paper at the 29th annual meeting of the Human Biology Association, Tampa, FL
• Carroll D. Clark Research Award, University of Kansas. Lawrence, KS – Spring 2004

Recent Publications:

• Zlojutro, M., AG Apraiz, R. Roy, J. Palikij, MH Crawford. 2006. Autosomal STR Variation in a Basque Population: Vizcaya Province. Hum. Biol. 78.5 599-618 Abstract | PDF
• Phillips Krawczak, C, EJ Devor, M Zlojutro, and MH Crawford 2006 mtDNA variation in the Kizhi population of Gorno Altai: A comparative study. Hum Biol. Aug;78(4):477-94. Abstract | PDF
• Melton PE, M. Zlojutro, K Kimminau, MH Crawford (2006) "Biological Aging and Cox hazard analysis of mortality trends in a Mennonite community from south-central Kansas" American Journal of Human Biology 18(3):387-401. Abstract | PDF
• Zlojutro M, Rubicz R, Devor E, Spitsyn V, Wilson K, and Crawford MH (2006) Genetic Structure of the Aleuts and Circumpolar Populations Based on Mitochondrial DNA Sequences : A Synthesis. American Journal of Physical Anthropology
• Crawford, MH, P Banerjee, D Demarchi, M Zlojutro, J McComb, G Livshits, M Henneberg, MJ Mosher, M Schanfield, and JA Knowles 2005 Applications of pooled DNA samples to the assessment of population affinities: Short Tandem Repeats (STR). Human Biology 77 (6):

Presentations:

• Crawford MH, Rubicz R, Zlojutro M (2006) Origins of Aleut populations: Molecular perspectives. Podium Presentation to be given at the 75th annual meeting of American Association of Physical Anthropologists, Anchorage, AK
• Zlojutro M, Rubicz R, Crawford M (2006) The genetic structure of the Aleuts and circumarctic populations and its implications for the peopling of North
  America. Podium Presentation to be given at the 75th annual meeting of American Association of Physical Anthropologists, Anchorage, AK
• Mosher MJ, Comuzzie A, Jett C, Melvin K, Rubicz R, Zlojutro M, Crawford M (2005) Evidence for a Sex-Specific Infulence of Adiponectic on HDL Variation: The Kansas Nutrition Project. Podium presentation to be given at the 30th annual meeting of the Human Biology Association, Wisconsin
• Rubicz R, Zlojutro M, Crawford M (2005) Molecular Genetic Evidence for the Peopling of the Aleutian Islands. Podium presentation given at 37th annual meeting of the Alaska Anthropological Association, Anchorage
• Mosher MJ, Melvin K, Rubicz R, Zlojutro M, Crawford M (2004) Evidence of sex-effect in the relationship of dietary sugar to variation in plasma lipids. Podium presentation at the 3rd Nordic Epidemiology Conference, Koupio, Finland
• Rubicz R, Zlojutro M, and Crawford M (2004) The Origin of Aleut Populations and Subsequent Expansions: Molecular Perspectives. Poster presentation given at the 29th annual meeting of the Human Biology Association, Tampa, FL
• Apraiz AG, Melvin KJ, Zlojutro M, Roy R, Crawford MH (2004) STR variation in the Basque population. Poster presentation given at the 29th annual meeting of the Human Biology Association, Tampa, FL
• Zlojutro M, Sorensen M, Snodgrass JJ, Tarskia LA, Crawford MH (2004) Mitochondrial DNA variation in Yakutia: The genetic structure of an expanding population.Poster presentation given at the 29th annual meeting of the Human Biology Association, Tampa, FL
• Mosher MJ, Melvin K, Rubicz R, Zlojutro M, and Crawford M (2004) Nutrition Profiles, Serum Lipids, and Cardiovascular Disease in the Kansas Mennonites. Poster presentation given at the 29th annual meeting of the Human Biology Association, Tampa, FL
• Zlojutro M, Sorensen M, Snodgrass JJ, Tarskia LA, Crawford MH (2003) Mitochondrial DNA variation in Yakutia: The genetic structure of an expanding population. Poster Presentation given at the 28th annual meeting of the Human Biology Association, Tempe, AZ
• Apraiz AG, Zlojutro M, Roy R, Crawford MH (2003) STR variation in a Basque population: Biscay Province. Poster Presentation given at the 28th annual meeting of the Human Biology Association, Tempe, AZ
• Zlojutro M (2001) “Data mining for predictors of causes of mortality in Kansas Mennonite populations.” Presented to the executive board at the Kansas Health Institute, Topeka, KS