Dr. Crespo's Students

Current Students

MEGAN DUNCANSON (BA in Anthropology, Minor in Biology, UofL): Megan is conducting experimental in vitro protocols to study how activated (primed) human immune cells can change their inflammatory response against oral pathogens (P. gingivalis) and periosteal pathogens (S. aureus); and ultimately, extrapolate the results to osteopathological reconstructions. In summary, her current research pursues experimental data to reconstruct a systemic skeletal inflammatory index (SINDEX). She is currently working on her final thesis for the MA (Department of Anthropology, UofL). In 2017 and 2018, she presented her preliminary data at the AAPA (New Orleans, LA; and Austin, TX)



HALEIGH MITCHELL (BA in Biology, Minor in Anthropology; UofL): Haleigh is continuing Jacob White's lab work on the cross-immunity TB and leprosy project, where she is working on the role of different mycobacterial species on the inflammatory shift, and its potential impact on cross protection against leprosy. She is currently finishing her BA in Biology. In 2017 and 2018, she presented her preliminary data at the AAPA (New Orleans, LA; and Austin, TX)

hALEIGH AT aapa 2017

Former Students (but....still around)

CHRIS KLAES (Graduate Student - MA in Anthropology; UofL): Chris conducted his research on how different chronic infections could shift systemic inflammation and how could be detect the inflammatory shift using bone markers. He helped developing different experimental protocols to start culturing bone cells and immune cells (osteo-immunology "crosstalk"). He presented his research progress at the Paleopathology Association annual meeting (Calgary, Canada, 2014); and at the American Association of Physical Anthropologists annual meeting (St. Louis, MO, 2015). He is co-author in our recent publication at the AJPA. He is currently working full time as Research Assistant at Dr. Silvia Uriarte's lab (Department of Medicine, UofL) on neutrophil-oral pathogen interaction.

    Chris Klaes webpage

    KRYSTA WILHAM (Graduate Student - MA in Anthropology; UofL): Krysta finished her thesis in December 2016, where she studied an archaic population from Kentucky (Indian Knoll) exploring different osteological markers to identify systemic inflammation and reconstruct a systemic skeletal inflammatory index (SINDEX). She presented her final data at AAPA 2017 (New Orleans, LA)

     

     




















    CORI DENNISON (BA in Anthropology, Minor in Biology; UofL): Cori helped developing different in vitro protocols in the lab to test the potential immunological interaction between plague (bubonic plague) and leprosy. Recently, she presented her research progress at the American Association of Physical Anthropologists annual meeting (St. Louis, MO) Undergraduate Symposium).

    JACOB WHITE (2013-15) (BA in Anthropology, University of Louisville) - Research Interests: Jacob worked on in vitro testing the leprosy-tuberculosis cross immunity hypothesis. He brought together experimental analysis with bioarchaeological data to propose an new ecological and immunological approach. He presented his research at the American Association of Physical Anthropologists annual meetings (Calgary, Canada, 2014) Undergraduate Symposium; and St Louis, MO, 2015). In 2016, he completed his MA in Paleopathology at Durham, UK (Mentor: Dr. Charlotte Roberts)

    Jacob at the UofL Symposium 2015


















    NICHOLAS SHORT (2011-13) (BA in Anthropology, University of Louisville) - Research Interests: biological anthropology, evolutionary immunology, infectious diseases, experimental biology, and Darwinian medicine.  Currently, he is enrolled in the Biology Ph.D. Program at the University of Louisville (Mentor: Dr. Paul Ewald)

    KARA KEETON (2011-13) (BA in Anthropology and MPH, University of Louisville) - Research Interests: biological anthropology, public health, human immunology, infectious diseases. Currently, she is working as associate health scientist at Cardno ChemRisk(Chicago, IL).

    At AAPA/PPA meetings.....

    2019

    With all UofL students (Anthropology) and colleague (KM). Left front to right front: Codi, Megan, Kathryn Marklein (Visiting Assistant Professor), Hannah, Paola, Nikki, Cassidy, and FC, during dinner at the AAPA meeting (Cleveland, OH).

    2018

    With Megan Duncason and Haleigh Mitchell during the poster session at the AAPA meeting (Austin, TX) where both presented their current research.

    2017

    Dinner with UofL students at AAPA - New Orleans 2017. From right (back) to left: Neha Angal; Megan Duncason; Haleigh Mitchell; Nick Short; Mallory Cox; Krysta Wilham; Jacob White; and (yes) the eternal student: Fabian Crespo.

    2016

     

    Dinner with UofL students at AAPA - Atlanta 2016. From right to left: Cori Dennison; Megan Duncanson; Chris Klaes; Roxanne Leiter; Neha Angal; Nick Short; Austin Warren; Fabian Crespo (well, an eternal student...) and Mallory Cox.

    2015

    Of course!....selfie at the AAPA - St. Louis 2015, with all my students including Nick Short (now working with Dr. Paul Ewald); Chris Klaes, Cori Dennison; Megan Duncanson; and Jacob White. Also, Neha Angal and Roxanne Leiter (two of our graduate students working with Dr. Christopher Tillquist)