News & Events

Will Taylor Awarded NSF CAREER Award & Stands Up for Archaeology in Recent NYT Article

Renee Kuban — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 19:54:00 +0000

Will Taylor Awarded NSF CAREER Award & Stands Up for Archaeology in Recent NYT Article Renee Kuban Thu, 06/05/2025 - 13:54

Professor Will Taylor awarded an NSF CAREER Award for his research project “Understanding Animal Domestication and Human-Environmental Relationships.”

Taylor’s research aims to understand animal domestication and human-environmental relationships on northeast Asian prehistory through archaeology.

His NSF CAREER project will investigate rare, well-preserved archaeological and biological assemblages recovered from archaeological field research in western Mongolia—including new finds from high mountain snow and ice features and excavation of stratified dry caves—spanning the last four millennia and beyond.

The research will be paired with a multifaceted program of museum education and outreach, building on Taylor’s past findings, providing infrastructure for the protection of cultural resources and the cultivation of international scientific cooperation while supporting early-career scientists and expanding public education in Mongolia and the United States.

The NSF CAREER support will aid Taylor and his Mongolian partners, including the Mongolian Academy of Sciences and National Museum of Mongolia, to analyze ancient animal remains, artifacts and ecofacts with cutting-edge techniques from archaeozoology, biomolecular sciences and paleoenvironmental data from the Mongolian Altai. The research team will seek to establish data-driven models for the introduction and dispersal of domestic livestock to northeast Asia; the timing and role of Mongolian cultures in the innovation of large animal transport, including the chariot, the saddle/stirrup and reindeer riding; and the relationship of key social developments to ancient environments in the eastern Steppe.

“Leveraging partnerships and expertise from scientists and institutions at home and abroad, this award will produce key scientific research on animal domestication and the human story,” Taylor noted, adding that the CAREER award will help “to build important educational tools and capacity for a future generation of scientists and scholars, along with strong international partnerships and scientific cooperations between Mongolia and the United States.”

Professor Will Taylor’s comments in The New York Times article "Archaeology Faces Deep Cuts in Federal Budget Proposal" highlight a critical issue for both science and cultural heritage. As an expert in archaeology and anthropology, Taylor underscores how drastic funding cuts could jeopardize our ability to study and preserve the past limiting discoveries, stifling innovation, and erasing irreplaceable histories.

Read the article New York Times

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Zachary Cooper Successfully Defended His PhD Dissertation

Renee Kuban — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 18:10:18 +0000

Zachary Cooper Successfully Defended His PhD Dissertation Renee Kuban Thu, 06/05/2025 - 12:10

Zachachary Cooper (Archaeology, PhD Candidate) has successfully defended his dissertation, "Northern Rio Grande Resistance to the Chaco World." His committee members were Scott Ortman (Chair), Cathy Cameron, Steve Lekson, Dimitri Nakassis (Classics), and Bruce Bernstein. During his time as a student, Zach also published three peer-reviewed articles related to his research, showcasing his dedication and expertise.

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Emily Opack Passes Her PhD Qualifying Exam

Renee Kuban — Tue, 20 May 2025 16:00:05 +0000

Emily Opack Passes Her PhD Qualifying Exam Renee Kuban Tue, 05/20/2025 - 10:00

Emily Opack (Biological Anthropology, PhD in Progress) has successfully passed her qualifying exam. Her committee consisted of Professors Matt Sponheimer, Michelle Sauther, and Fernando Villanea.

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Drew Zackary Successfully Defended His PhD Dissertation

Renee Kuban — Mon, 19 May 2025 21:07:30 +0000

Drew Zackary Successfully Defended His PhD Dissertation Renee Kuban Mon, 05/19/2025 - 15:07

Drew Zackary (Cultural Anthropology, PhD Candidate) successfully defended his dissertation,"Pathways and Assemblages: Life and Movement in Kanchenjunga." His committee members were professors Carole McGranahan (Chair), Alison Cool, Jerry Jacka, Joanna Lambert and Marty Otanez.

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Urmi Bhattacheryya Successfully Defended Her MA Paper

Renee Kuban — Thu, 15 May 2025 16:51:36 +0000

Urmi Bhattacheryya Successfully Defended Her MA Paper Renee Kuban Thu, 05/15/2025 - 10:51

Urmi Bhattacheryya (Cultural Anthropology, PhD in progress) successfully defended her MA paper, "Where Law Does Not Reach: How Marital Rape Survivors Make Meaning in Cross-cultural India." Her committee members were Gerardo Gutierrez (Chair), Matthew Sponheimer and Donna Goldstein.

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Olumide Ojediran Successfully Defended His MA Paper

Renee Kuban — Thu, 15 May 2025 15:35:01 +0000

Olumide Ojediran Successfully Defended His MA Paper Renee Kuban Thu, 05/15/2025 - 09:35

Olumide Ojediran (Archaeology, PhD in Progress) successfully defended his MA paper, "Understanding Human-Equid Relationships in the Old Oyo Empire, West Africa" His committee were Professors William Taylor (chair), Scott Ortman, and Eric Jones.

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Lauren Barrett Successfully Defended Her PhD Dissertation

Renee Kuban — Tue, 13 May 2025 18:51:20 +0000

Lauren Barrett Successfully Defended Her PhD Dissertation Renee Kuban Tue, 05/13/2025 - 12:51

Lauren Barrett (Cultural Antthopology, PhD Candidate) successfully defended her dissertation, "Everyday Energy: An Ethnography of Justice and Electrification in Colorado’s Weatherization Assistance Program." Lauren’s committee includes Professors Alison Cool (chair), Jerry Jacka, Carla Jones, Jessica Smith, and Sarah Stanford-Mcintyre.

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Austin Sibley Successfully Defended Her PhD Dissertation

Renee Kuban — Mon, 12 May 2025 17:09:05 +0000

Austin Sibley Successfully Defended Her PhD Dissertation Renee Kuban Mon, 05/12/2025 - 11:09

Austin Sibley (Cultural Anthropology, PhD Candidate) successfully defended her dissertation, titled "Love and Worry: Parenting and the Temporality of Transgender Childhood in the US." Dr. Sibley's brilliant and timely dissertation analyzes the historical emergence of transgender children and the familial and institutional resources they access to support children secure safe, healthy futures. Her doctoral defense, committee comprised of Prfessors Carla Jones (Advisor), Emmanuel David, Kathryn Goldfarb, Kira Hall, and Stef Shuster.

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Lauren Hosek Receives an 2025 CU Research & Innovation Seed Grant

Renee Kuban — Mon, 12 May 2025 16:23:55 +0000

Lauren Hosek Receives an 2025 CU Research & Innovation Seed Grant Renee Kuban Mon, 05/12/2025 - 10:23

Professor Lauren Hosek receives an 2025 CU Research & Innovation Seed Grant award.
This grant will help fund her project, Bioarchaeological Synthesis of Deviant Burials in Early Medieval Central Europe.

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Cristian Figueroa Awarded a Summer 2025 CHA Fellowship

Renee Kuban — Fri, 09 May 2025 16:50:38 +0000

Cristian Figueroa Awarded a Summer 2025 CHA Fellowship Renee Kuban Fri, 05/09/2025 - 10:50

Cristian Figueroa (Archaeology, PhD in Progress) awarded a Center for Humanities & the Arts (CHA) 2025 Graduate Summer Fellowship. The CHA Summer Graduate Fellowship provides funds to support Cristian's summer research project.

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