Professor and Chief Forensic Anthropologist
Department of Biology, Geology and Environmental Sciences
Biography
Dr. Kuba is a biological anthropologist, focusing on the study of the human skeleton (osteology), who loves expanding student knowledge and skills in Anthropology. She is a consultant on forensic and archaeological cases and strives to involve her students in as much of her work as possible. Dr. Kuba regularly gives talks, directs workshops, and provides expert advice to area schools, novelists, television writers, and members of the community. In 2013, she received the PennWest California President's Distinguished Merit Award for Service.
Courses
- Introduction to Anthropology
- Human Osteology
- Introduction to Forensic Anthropology
- Medical Anthropology
- Research Methods and Lab in Physical Anthropology
- Advanced Seminar in Forensic Anthropology
- Introduction to Forensic Sciences
- Research Methods in Justice Studies
- Seminar in Physical Anthropology
- Senior Seminar in Anthropology
- Human Origins
Publications/Research Interests
Dr. Kuba's research interests are in forensic anthropology, taphonomy, biological variation, nonmetric trait analysis, dental anthropology, British postmedieval archaeology, and paleopathology. Her background also includes human gross anatomy and archaeological DNA analysis.
Student Research Projects
Dr. Kuba incorporates as much hands-on experience in the lab as possible. Students actively collect data and analyze results as part of individual and group projects and are encouraged to present at university-based and regional conferences. Students also are involved in projects within the community and play a critical role in workshops and talks with area schools.
Service Learning Projects
- Judge, Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science
- On call with local police to analyze human remains in forensic investigations
- Collaborative archaeology project with Elizabeth Forward Middle School
- Community archaeology projects
- B.S.: Anthropology, Mercyhurst College
- M.S.: Human Biology, University of Indianapolis
- Ph.D.: Anthropology, Arizona State University
- Post-baccalaureate Certification: Forensic Science, Duquesne University