Grad Student Directory

Research Interests

Advisor: Dr. Viktoria M. Oelze

Co-Advisor: Dr. Paul L. Koch

Trace metal stable isotope analysis (Fe, Cu, Zn, Sr), growth and development, physiology, metabolism, primate reproductive ecology & senescence, female survivorship & longevity

Biography, Education and Training

I graduated summa cum laude from Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ in 2019 with a Bachelors of Science in Evolutionary Anthropology and a minor in Criminology. I joined the Graduate Program at University of California, Santa Cruz in the Fall of 2019, and received my Masters of Art in Anthropology in 2021. I am currently a Ph.D. candidate working on my dissertation. 

Rent Burden: 48.5% (what’s this?)

Graduate Students at UC Santa Cruz face severe rent burden, often spending over 50% of our income on housing. We are precarious, but we are indispensable. I stand in solidarity with the COLA campaign. 

Honors, Awards and Grants

2023-2024       UCSC Social Sciences Division, Spring Quarter Dissertation Writing Fellowship ($9,750)

2023-2024       P.E.O. Scholar Award ($20,000)

2023-2024      NSF-BA-DDIRG, Co-PI ($24,670)

                        • “Reconstructing metabolism and physiology through analysis of transition metal isotopes”

2023-2024      L.S.B Leakey Foundation Research Grant, PI ($14,257)

                        • “The application of transition metals to hominid physiology and behavior”

2022-2023       Lambda Alpha Graduate Research Grant, Santa Cruz, CA ($2,000) 

                        • “The application of transition metals to hominid physiology and behavior” 

2020-2021        ARC Graduate Research Grant, UCSC Archaeological Research Center, Santa Cruz, CA ($850) 

                        • “Heavy metal stable isotopes (Fe, Cu, Zn) and their applications in biological anthropology” 

2017-2018        Bigel Endowment in Anthropology, Anthropology Department, Rutgers University, NJ ($1,250)

                        • “Fe, Cu Fractionation as an indicator of sex in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)”

2017-2018       Aresty Undergraduate Research Fellowship, Anthropology Department, Rutgers University, NJ ($750)

                        •  “Fe, Cu Fractionation as an indicator of sex in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)”

2018-2019       Barry C. Lembersky Undergraduate Research Award,  Center for Human Evolutionary Studies ($500)

                         •  “Fe, Cu Fractionation as an indicator of sex in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)”

2018–2019       Bigel Endowment in Anthropology, Anthropology Department, Rutgers University, NJ ($1,000) 

                         •  “Fe, Cu Fractionation as an indicator of sex in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)” 

Selected Publications

Boucher, R.D, Alavi, S.E., de Jong, H.N., Godfrey, L.V., Vogel, E.R. 2021. Stable isotope evidence (Fe, Cu) suggests that sex, but not aging is recorded in rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) bone. American Journal of Physical Anthropology.

Teaching Interests

Introduction to Biological Anthropology, History & Theory of Biological Anthropology, Introduction to Archaeology, Forensic Anthropology, Human Skeletal Biology, Archaeological Field Methods, Archaeological Research Design, Stable Isotope Ecology, Evolution of Human Diet