Tina Lasisi, PhD
Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan
Anthropology | Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
I lead a research lab where we study the evolution and genetic basis of human phenotypic variation, with a focus on pigmentation and hair. You can learn more about our research here.
Featured On
The central question in my research and science communication work is:
“Why do we look different?”
Difference is not a bad thing! In fact, from a biological perspective, it’s easy to see why we should celebrate these endless forms most beautiful.
However, a brief glimpse into history (or even the news) shows that many people tend to interpret differences between humans as a matter of hierarchy. So, it's understandable why discussions about human differences can seem controversial.
My goal is to challenge this narrative by encouraging people to be curious about (rather than afraid of) the fascinating nature of human biological diversity.