Middle Stone Age NSF Research Experience for Undergraduates

Fred Foster

Site Manager, 2015-2016
Rutgers University
Graduate student

I am a graduate student in the Evolutionary Anthropology program at Rutgers University, and a graduate affiliate with the Center for Human Evolutionary Studies. My research interests center on the growth and development of fossil primates, and hominins in particular. I am especially interested in how sympatric relationships between closely related species in the fossil record may be affected by different ontogenetic patterns. I received my MSc from the University College of London, where I studied the lithic raw material acquisition strategies of hominins from beds III and IV at Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania. My field experience includes work at sites in Tanzania, Kenya, and the Pacific Northwest Coast of North America, in both archaeological and forensic contexts. I am currently working through a mild addiction to salt and vinegar potato chips, which I hope to beat before the upcoming field season in Ethiopia.

Sissi Mattox

Site Manager, 2015-2016
University of Texas at Austin
Year: Senior

I am a senior graduating in December 2015 from the University of Texas majoring in Anthropology and minoring in International Business. My interests include population genetics and the ethical, legal, social, and political implications of genetic research, including the ways in which genetic ancestry studies intersect with ideas about race, ethnicity, and identity. Outside of my academics, I was the president of the Equestrian team at UT and I take an excessive number of pictures of my dachshund Lincoln.

Keri Porter

Site Manager, 2015-2016
University of Texas at Austin
Major: Anthropology
Year: Senior

I am a senior at the University of Texas majoring in Anthropology and minoring in Advertising. After graduating in the spring of 2016, I plan on taking a year off before pursuing a Ph.D. in Anthropology. After completing my education, I hope to help design educational software for anthropology using augmented reality. My interests include cannibalism in the fossil record, hominin diets, and the evolution of the skull and spine.

Sarah “Konjit” Maas

MSA REU 2015-2016
Rutgers University
Major: Evolutionary Anthropology
Year: sophomore

I am currently a sophomore majoring in Evolutionary Anthropology and minoring in Animal Science.  In addition, I currently hold a teacher’s aide position at a local preschool in my hometown of Piscataway, New Jersey.  I am the proud owner of three amazing dogs and I enjoy playing various percussion instruments in my spare time. I am very interested in learning about the habits and cultures of our ancestors in order to gain a better understanding of where we came from as a species. This will be my first experience researching in the field, and I couldn’t be more excited! I am looking forward to working alongside great mentors, as well as with the other talented students.

Serrina “Sumera” Nasrollahi

MSA REU 2015-2016
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Major: Biological Sciences
Year: sophomore

I am a sophomore currently studying in the Life Sciences Department. After graduating from high school as Valedictorian in 2014, my academic goals at UNLV are to receive a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences along with a possible minor in biological anthropology and/or psychology. I have lived in the Las Vegas Valley for my entire life and am interested in the peculiarity and beauty of all sciences. I was eager to attend the University as a Biology major hoping to learn more about the sciences and myself by putting my academic skills to the test. Being a part of the MSA Research program is an opportunity of a lifetime and I am greatly looking forward to working with the team and staff in Ethiopia to expand my scientific knowledge and experience more of the world I find so intriguing.

Jessica “Fassika” Valdes

MSA REU 2015-2016
The University of Texas at Austin
Major: Geological Sciences
Year: junior

I am a first generation college student and am fortunate to be studying Geology. Besides dedicating most of my time to school and research, I have found my passions for paleontology, Latin dancing, and CrossFit, which leads to my involvement as an officer for the Undergraduate Geological Society, Longhorn Salsa, and Texas WOD Club. I have been privileged to be a part of the following programs at UT: Summer Bridge, Gateway Scholars, McNair Scholars, the University Leadership Network, and the 2015 Cohort for Study Abroad in Beijing.

Lani “Lem Lem” Wyman

MSA REU 2015-2016
Rutgers University
Major: Anthropology and Linguistics
Year: junior

I am a junior and am currently studying abroad at Leiden University in the Netherlands. I am double majoring in anthropology and linguistics with a minor in French. I would like to eventually pursue a Ph.D. in archaeology. I have participated on one other dig in the past, and I look forward to expanding my experience in the field.