Advisor is a title given to distinguished scholars whose research and expertise are related to anthropological sciences and research of the Institute for Anthropological Research. The title assumes no financial obligations and is on a voluntary basis. Advisor has an advisory role, and as such may suggest guidelines related to new scientific projects, research and collaborations, and further development of the Institute and of anthropological research in Croatia.

Advisor of the Institute for Anthropological Research has a right to be recognized and presented as such, can use the infrastructure of the Institute related to scientific research, and may collaborate on current scientific projects of the Institute.

Twelve advisors have been named:

  1. Lawrence M. Schell, Ph. D., for the area of ENVIRONMENT (Center for the Elimination of Minority Health Disparities, Department of Anthropology, University at Albany, USA)
    • Dr Schell’s research focuses on interrelationship between biology and culture and biological responses to contemporary urban environments. The focus of research is on adaptation process and physical growth and development of children. Additional theme of his work is the role of socio-cultural factors in health.
  1. Ellen W. Demerath, Ph. D., for the area of EARLY DEVELOPMENT (Center for Neurobehavioral Development, School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, USA)
    • Dr Demerath researches genetics of developmental timing and body composition, and relationships between age at menarche and age at menopause with health risk. She also focuses on maternal obesity and its influence on offspring body composition, growth, and developmental timing.
  1. Stephen McGarvey, Ph. D., M.P.H., for the area of NUTRITION (International Health Institute, Brown University, USA)
    • Dr McGarvey is concerned with issues of human population biology and international health, specifically modernization-related induced socio-economic and behavioral changes, genetic and environmental influences on obesity and cardiovascular disease risk factor, tropical parasitology and child nutritional status and health.
  1. Noel Cameron, Ph. D., for the area of STUDY DESIGN, HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT (School of Sports, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, UK)
    • Dr Cameron’s main research areas are growth and development of children, with particular reference to those living in developing and/or transitional economies. Current research interests include the epidemiological transition in childhood and adolescence and the determinants of risk factors for the the metabolic syndrome.
  1. Mathieu Roelants, Ph. D., for the area of STATISTICS (Department of Youth Health Care, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium)
    • Dr Roelants’ main research interest is in the field of biostatistics. He deals with topics of infants and adolescents, body height and weight, body mass index and influence of socioeconomic factors.
  1. Ranjan Deka, Ph. D., in the area of GENETICS and EPIGENETICS (Center for Genome Information, Department of Environmental Health, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, USA)
    • Dr Deka’s primary research interest is in the area of genetics of complex diseases. He studies genetic variation, epidemiology and genetics of complex diseases in diverse populations. A part of his laboratory work is identification of susceptibility genes predisposed to common and complex diseases.
  1. James C. M. Ahern, Ph. D., in the area of PALEOANTHROPOLOGY (Department of Anthropology, University of Wyoming, USA)
    • Dr Ahern’s research interest is in the field of biological anthropology and human evolution. He deals specifically with modern human origins and fossil remains of neandertals and australopitecines.
  1. Academician Richard Villems, in the area of POPULATION ORIGIN and STRUCTURE(Department of Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu and Estonian Biocentre, Tartu, Estonia)
    • Academician Richard Villems focuses his research on a world-wide variation of haploid genomes – on maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and paternally inherited Y chromosome.
  1. Davide Barbieri, Ph. D., in the area of DATA MINING & SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT(Department of Biology and Evolution, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy)
    • Dr Barbieri has extensive experience in information technologies, data mining and business intelligence systems and their application in both private sector and public administration. Apart from this, he actively participates in research and teaching in data analysis and biomechanics.
  1. Igor Rudan, Ph. D., in the area of PUBLIC HEALTH (Centre for Population Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK)
    • Dr Rudan researches global health and genetic epidemiology. In the area of global health he led large international projects that helped to reduce global mortality from paediatric infectious diseases, particularly childhood pneumonia and neonatal sepsis. Genetic epidemiology projects include analyses of genetic architecture of complex quantitative biological traits that underlie common diseases of public health importance.
  1. Leslie Sue Lieberman, Ph.D., in the area of OBESITY (University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA)
    • Dr Lieberman specializes in biomedical anthropology. Her research interests include nutritional anthropology, obesity, diabetes, women’s health and child growth and development.
  1. Linda Bennett, Ph.D., in the area of SOCIO-CULTURAL and MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY(Department of Anthropology, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Memphis, USA)
    • Dr. Bennett’s research focus is on alcoholism and drug-related problems; cross-cultural dynamics of treatment; applied clinical research; culture and family; family and community rituals and routines; ethnic identity, socialization, and culture change; European ethnic groups in the U.S. (Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes); Europe, especially the former Yugoslavia (Croatia and Serbia); and Native Americans.