About the AAAG


Founded in 1994, the American Association of Anthropological Genetics (AAAG) is an educational and scientific organization whose mission is to:

1)  Promote the study of anthropological genetics, as this field is broadly defined;

2)  Facilitate communication between individuals engaged in the study of anthropological genetics; and

3)  Foster cooperation among anthropological geneticists.

AAAG meetings are in conjunction with the annual meetings of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists and the Human Biology Association.

You may download a copy of the AAAG bylaws here.

The official publication of the AAAG is Human Biology.

News and Announcements


If you have job opportunity, workshop, anthropological genetics resource, or another item of interest to AAAG members that you'd like to list on our site, please contact us!

2012 AAAG Student Prize
 GRACIELA CABANA - April19, 2012
Congratulations to Carrie Veilleux and Aaron Sams for each winning a 2012 AAAG student prize award. Carrie Veilleux of the University of Texas at Austin (with Edward E. Louis and Deborah A. Bolnick) presented “Genetic evidence of widespread differential selection for color vision among nocturnal lemurs.” Aaron Sams of the University of Wisconsin-Madison presented “Natural selection and celiac disease.” Each prize winner received a $200 cash prize and a one-year subscription to the journal Human Biology. The AAAG once again thanks Human Biology’s publisher Wayne State University Press for donating journal subscriptions. For details, please see this page.

Statistical Genetics Training Opportunity Announced
 BRIDGET ALGEE-HEWITT- April 16, 2012
The University of Washington announces openings for the 17th Summer Institute in Statistical Genetics on July 9-27, 2012. The brochure is available for download here.

Genetics-related PhD scholarship available
 DIANE WARREN - March 20, 2012
Dr. Chris Turbill is looking for applicants for a PhD scholarship to work on a project using telomere loss in a mouse model to detect a physiological cost of life history trade-offs. The student will work with Dr. Turbill at the Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment in the University of Western Sydney, and also in collaboration with Professor Rob Brooks at the University of New South Wales. Please see the pdf flier for more details.  The deadline for application is April 30, 2012.  

Postdoc Opportunity at the University of Oregon
 GRACIELA CABANA - February 28, 2012
The Department of Anthropology and the Institute of Ecology and Evolution (IE2) at the University of Oregon invite applications for a post-doctoral researcher to study the relationships among genetics, environmental change, demography, and disease transmission in wild non-human primates. More information can be found here.

AAAG Networking Events at our April meeting in Portland, OR
ELLEN QUILLEN - February 17, 2012
The AAAG outreach committee is pleased to announce two new networking events at the American Association of Physical Anthropologists’ annual meeting in Portland, Oregon.  On Thursday, April 12, from 4pm to 5:30 pm, AAAG will be hosting a members-only speed networking event to facilitate interactions between members who may be looking for a new position, interested in collaborating, or simply wanting to meet their fellow members.  Due to limited space and to maximize interactions between participants, prior registration is required and will be limited to only 40 participants.  You can register for free at this site. 

On Friday, April 13, immediately following the AAAG business meeting, Human Biology will be co-hosting a cocktail hour from 8-9pm.  Everyone interested in anthropological genetics is welcome.  This promises a relaxing opportunity to catch up with other members and to meet with some of the many new members who have joined since last year’s meeting.  We look forward to seeing you at one or both of these events in April.

2012 AAAG symposium update
DEBORAH BOLNICK - January 20, 2012
The schedule of papers to be presented at our 2012 AAAG symposium, "Innovation, Challenges, & New Directions in Genetic Research with Indigenous Populations," is now available. The symposium will take place on April 12 in conjunction with the AAPA annual meeting in Portland, OR. General information on our meetings is here. 

Welcome to our new members, and membership renewal reminder
GRACIELA CABANA - January 18, 2012
The AAAG extends a warm welcome to our new members, and a welcome back to our members who just renewed their membership.  Membership in the AAAG is by calendar year (January 1 - December 31), so be sure to renew your membership soon. Membership information is here. 

2012 AAAG symposium and business meeting
DIANE WARREN - January 18, 2012
The 2012 AAAG symposium, "Innovation, Challenges, & New Directions in Genetic Research with Indigenous Populations," will take place on Thursday, April 12th from 8 a.m. to noon in Portland, OR in conjunction with the annual meeting of the AAPA. The AAAG business meeting will take place the evening of Friday, April 13th.  Information on these and other associated AAAG events is forthcoming. Please see the AAPA web site for general information on the meeting.  

Application of Genomics to Anthropological Research (AGAR) workshop
DIANE WARREN - January 18, 2012
The AAAG Education Committee in collaboration with the Texas Biomedical Research Institute held the Application of Genomics to Anthropological Research (AGAR) Workshop in San Antonio, TX from January 9th - January 10th, 2012. Very big thanks to all of the organizers, attendees and sponsors for a great workshop! The workshop provided students and scholars interested in evolutionary anthropology with a thorough introduction into the theory and application of state-of-the-art genomic research. It was also a great networking opportunity. The AAAG looks forward to future workshops.  We'll keep everyone posted. 

AGAR workshop group photo
AGAR workshop participants
(image links to much larger version)

New Human Biology subscription rates for 2012
DIANE WARREN - October 10, 2011
AAAG members can subscribe to Human Biology at a discount. There will be a slight increase in the Human Biology subscription and international shipping rates for 2012. The new rate schedule is now reflected on our membership page. Unless you request otherwise, Wayne State University Press and AAAG are now applying subscription requests to the 2012 volume. 

Electronic subscriptions to Human Biology are now available
DM WARREN - APRIL 17, 2011
We encourage our members to subscribe to and to submit manuscripts to our official journal, Human Biology.  Wayne State University Press recently implemented electronic subscriptions to the journal.  Electronic subscriptions include access to back issues.  AAAG member discounts are available for both electronic and print subscriptions to the journal.  For information on subscribing to the journal as a part of your membership, please see this page.  Current members can add a journal subscription to their membership or change from a print to an electronic subscription by emailing the AAAG Secretary Treasurer. 
AAAG 2008 Symposium
2008 AAAG Annual Symposium Participants