Faculty Appointments
Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences
Education
Ph.D., Ecology, Duke University, Durham, North CarolinaB.S., Ecology & Evolution, University of California, Los Angeles, California
Research Description
In the Lea lab, we use evolutionary, anthropological, and genomic approaches to understand (i) how environmental experiences “get under the skin” to influence health and (ii) why some individuals exhibit sensitivity while others exhibit resilience to the same environmental challenge.
We do this work in partnership with small-scale, subsistence-level populations in Kenya, Bolivia, and Malaysia. We complement these field-based studies with work in model systems (immortalized cell lines and non-human primates).
We are located at Vanderbilt University in the Department of Biological Sciences. We are also affiliated with the Vanderbilt Genetics Institute and the Vanderbilt Evolutionary Studies Initiative.
We do this work in partnership with small-scale, subsistence-level populations in Kenya, Bolivia, and Malaysia. We complement these field-based studies with work in model systems (immortalized cell lines and non-human primates).
We are located at Vanderbilt University in the Department of Biological Sciences. We are also affiliated with the Vanderbilt Genetics Institute and the Vanderbilt Evolutionary Studies Initiative.
Research Keywords
Human genomics and epigenomics, evolutionary medicine, gene regulation, environmental determinants of health, developmental origins of health