Courses I Teach

In addition to the courses listed above, I routinely do Independent Studies (ANTH 199) and Interships (178) with undergraduate and graduate (ANTH 299) students.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS 

Graduate: I am currently looking for graduate students to assist on my project on the "Development of the Face in Down syndrome." If you are interested in working on topics related to the relationship between the genotype and craniofacial phenotype using quantitative data from experimental animal models, please feel free to e-mail me and also take a look at our graduate program in anthropology.  

Undergraduate: I am always looking for research assistants to help with data management and quantitative analyses. If you are interested in gaining some research experience, please get in touch.

Education and Training

• Postdoctoral Researcher - Department. of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, 2017

• Marie-Curie Research Scholar - Paleoanthropology, University of Tuebingen, Germany, 2012

• PhD in Evolutionary Anthropology - Department of Human Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology and University of Tuebingen, 2010

• MSc in Human Evolution and Behavior, University College London, 2004

• BA in Anthropology & Women’s Studies, Department Anthropology, Knox College, 2002

Publications

To view my CV, please click here. 

To view my current publications, please click here. 

Research Interests

Evolutionary-developmental biology, skeletal biology, craniofacial evolution, genotype-phenotype relationship and 3D geometric morphometrics. Dr. Nandini Singh is a biological anthropologist, with a specialty in human and non-human ape skull development and evolution. 

I use an interdisciplinary approach to address questions concerning the developmental mechanisms that drive morphological evolution in hominoids. I combine evolutionary concepts such as morphological integration and heterochrony with biomedical research to investigate key developmental pathways that are implicated in the formation and patterning of the mammalian skull, and which when disrupted, cause severe midfacial and forebrain anomalies. Such an approach is important for understanding the underlying mechanisms that contribute to genotypic and phenotypic variation at both the individual and species level, including in traits associated with craniofacial anomalies.  

I am also interested, and currently working on, the effects of selection on cranial morphology as it relates to the process of domestication. I use advanced imaging, 3D geometric morphometrics and multivariate statistical techniques to quantify and analyze morphological data generated through experimental manipulation of model organisms.

CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS

1. Co-evolution of morphology and behavior

   • The objective of this research is to determine the effects of selected behaviors, such as tameness and/or defensive aggression, on craniofacial morphology as it relates to domestication and self-domestication. 

2. Trisomy 21 and the face

   • This project focuses on understanding the genetic basis of craniofacial anomalies associated with Down sydnrome.