• Read our Yearbook of Biological Anthropology paper about how researchers should be applying evolutionary quantitative genetics to questions about multi-trait evolution in primates
• Read about Dr. Auerbach's collaborative research on pelvic evolutionary genetics in Science Advances
• The Evolutionary Biology of the Human Pelvis IS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE
• Read Dr. Auerbach's PLoS Blog contribution about evolutionary medicine.

Welcome to my homepage! I am a Professor who works in biological anthropology, evolutionary biology, and anatomy in the Department of Anthropology at The University of Tennessee in Knoxville. I am also an adjunct professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. I study variation and evolution by examining the skeletons of primates (especially humans) and other mammals.

My research interests focus on the application of quantitative genetics and functional anatomy to model & understand the evolution of traits in mammals, especially primates and Australian marsupials. My work focuses on morphological variation, including: modeling the evolution of trait complexes; assessing variation in body size, form, & proportions; applying functional anatomy to skeletal variation; measuring asymmetry in the skeleton; & using morphological integration to understand evolutionary potential. I examine these properties in relation to environmental factors, namely climate, biomechanics, and subsistence, within the context of quantitative evolutionary models of population structure & natural selection.

I have also extensively studied variation among a global sample of humans from archaeological and medical contexts. That research used morphological traits to build an understanding of the ways in which environments shaped humans. Coupled with archaeological data, I have especially focused on models of human interactions with mosaic landscapes of the Americas, as well as other regions.

In addition to research, I curate the Department of Anthropology's Oak Ridge pedigreed small primate skeletal collection (tamarin and marmoset skeletons). Contact me (see below) to inquire about access to these.

Please explore this site using the navigation links above (under my name) and the quick links to the right. Under PUBLICATIONS are some PDF copies of and all supplemental materials - including high-resolution versions of figures - from my peer-reviewed papers and books. A list of the courses I instruct and related materials (including syllabi) are available under COURSES. Additional links to my research laboratory (the OVAL), my former & current graduate students, and research projects may be found in the RESEARCH section. You may contact me by mail, email, or phone:

Dr. Benjamin M. Auerbach
Department of Anthropology
The University of Tennessee
Strong Hall
1621 Cumberland Avenue
Knoxville, Tennessee 37996
E-mail: auerbach@utk.edu
Telephone: (+1) 865-974-4408