Dr. Tanvi Honap (Colorado State University) will be lecturing on how ancient DNA can elucidate microbial evolution across deep timescales. Through collaborative research projects conducted in partnership with stakeholder and descendant communities, she reconstructs microbial communities and pathogen genomes from ancient individuals from diverse geographical and temporal contexts. By contextualizing findings within an anthropological framework, she examines how major biocultural transitions, such as the Neolithic Revolution, European Contact, and Industrialization, shaped the genetic landscape of human-associated microbes. These insights not only enhance our understanding of past diseases but also provide a broader perspective on the long-term interactions between humans and their microbes.