2023 LSA Collegiate Fellow (Anthropology)
About
Tina Lasisi's primary focus is on understanding the diversity of human appearance, particularly hair and skin variation. Her research lies at the intersection of human biology, biometric technology, dermatology, and aims to understand the broader implications of human variation across diverse populations. In her previous interdisciplinary collaborations, Dr. Lasisi has investigated the evolutionary advantages of curly hair and developed standardized methodologies for studying hair curvature and cross-sectional shape. Her ongoing work features strong interdisciplinary elements, bringing together experts from population genetics, computer science, dermatology, forensics, and more.
Building on this foundation, Dr. Lasisi's laboratory will continue to delve into the complexities of human appearance, concentrating on several main areas: 1) developing innovative imaging and measurement tools for hair morphology, skin pigmentation, and biometric applications such as facial recognition, 2) investigating hormonal, genetic, and epigenetic mechanisms shaping the diversity of hair and skin traits, while exploring their relevance in forensic contexts, and 3) examining how hair and skin variation influence biomarkers associated with fertility and overall health.