{"id":4,"date":"2016-02-01T15:25:11","date_gmt":"2016-02-01T23:25:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/meehan\/?page_id=4"},"modified":"2025-08-26T12:23:20","modified_gmt":"2025-08-26T19:23:20","slug":"home","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/meehan\/","title":{"rendered":"Home"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"wsu-article-header wsu-spacing-after--small \">\r\n\t<h1 class=\"wsu-article-header__title\">\r\n\t\tWelcome to the Biocultural Anthropology Lab\t<\/h1>\r\n\t\t<\/header>\r\n\n\n<div class=\"wsu-row wsu-row--sidebar-right\" >\r\n    \n<div class=\"wsu-column wsu-spacing-top--xxmedium\"  style=\"\">\r\n\t\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Research Overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading  wsu-font-size--xxmedium\">Biocultural anthropological studies on maternal-infant health<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>My research focuses on maternal-child health, human milk composition, and the evolution of human childhood. Specifically, I am interested in understanding how evolution, culture, behavior, and biology interact and influence maternal-child health. My current research is focused on understanding relationships between 1) cannabis use during lactation, human milk composition, and child development; 2) social and environmental factors associated with human microbiomes and health; and 3) social and environmental factors associated with parental caregiving patterns. Additional projects explore SARS-CoV-2 and human milk, human milk immune factors, human cooperative childcare, and child growth and development. My research is transdisciplinary and has occurred at longitudinal research sites in sub-Saharan Africa (Central African Republic and Ethiopia), locally (WA and Idaho), nationally, and via multi-site international projects, spanning North and South America, Europe, and Africa.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n\n<div class=\"wsu-column wsu-spacing-padding-left--xxmedium\"  style=\"\">\r\n\t\n<div \n\tclass=\"wsu-people-list \"\n\tdata-component-id=\"ea52d5cf8d4d4b4f91efcb97ae5508d7\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tdata-className=\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tdata-count=\"10\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tdata-page=\"1\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tdata-nid=\"cmeehan\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tdata-classification=\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tdata-university-category=\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tdata-university-location=\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tdata-university-organization=\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tdata-tag=\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tdata-profile-order=\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tdata-display-fields=\"photo,name,title,office,email\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tdata-focus-area-label=\"Focus Area\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tdata-website-link-text=\"Website\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tdata-profile-link=\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tdata-headingTag=\"h2\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tdata-columns=\"1\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tdata-photo-size=\"medium\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tdata-photo-srcset=\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tdata-filters=\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tdata-only-show-selected-term-values=\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tdata-exclude-term-values=\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tdata-include-term-values=\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tdata-directory-filter-label=\"Filter by Area\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tdata-directory-filter-terms=\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tdata-category-filter-label=\"Filter by Category\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tdata-category-filter-terms=\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tdata-classification-filter-label=\"Filter by Classification\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tdata-classification-filter-terms=\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tdata-location-filter-label=\"Filter by Location\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tdata-location-filter-terms=\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tdata-organization-filter-label=\"Filter by Organization\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tdata-organization-filter-terms=\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tdata-search-filter-label=\"Type to search\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tdata-tag-filter-label=\"Filter by Tag\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tdata-tag-filter-terms=\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tdata-directory=\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tdata-exclude-child-directories=\"1\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tdata-show-profile=\"1\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tdata-indexProfiles=\"1\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tdata-use-custom-profile-link=\"1\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tdata-use-organization=\"1\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tdata-custom-profile-link=\"https:\/\/anthro.wsu.edu\/faculty-and-staff\/courtney-meehan\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tdata-base-url=\"https:\/\/people.wsu.edu\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\tdata-children=\"\"\n\t\t><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\r\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading  wsu-heading--style-marked\">Current Projects<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wsu-container  wsu-max-width--xlarge\" >\r\n    \n<article class=\"wsu-card wsu-card--style-horizontal-25 wsu-spacing-after--sxxsmall\">\r\n\t\t<div class=\"wsu-image-frame wsu-image--ratio-1-1\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-labs\/uploads\/sites\/1160\/2022\/02\/shutterstock_1364355605-1-scaled-e1756143910963.jpg\"\r\n\t\t\t\tsrcset=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-labs\/uploads\/sites\/1160\/2022\/02\/shutterstock_1364355605-1-scaled-e1756143910963.jpg 1657w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-labs\/uploads\/sites\/1160\/2022\/02\/shutterstock_1364355605-1-scaled-e1756143910963-396x405.jpg 396w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-labs\/uploads\/sites\/1160\/2022\/02\/shutterstock_1364355605-1-scaled-e1756143910963-792x811.jpg 792w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-labs\/uploads\/sites\/1160\/2022\/02\/shutterstock_1364355605-1-scaled-e1756143910963-768x786.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-labs\/uploads\/sites\/1160\/2022\/02\/shutterstock_1364355605-1-scaled-e1756143910963-1501x1536.jpg 1501w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-labs\/uploads\/sites\/1160\/2022\/02\/shutterstock_1364355605-1-scaled-e1756143910963-193x198.jpg 193w\"\r\n\t\t\t\tsizes=\"(max-width: 1657px) 100vw, 1657px\"\r\n\t\t\t\talt=\"A cannabis leaf.\"\r\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"object-position: 50% 50%\"\r\n\t\t\t\t\/>\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t<div class=\"wsu-card__content\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"wsu-title  wsu-font-size--large\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCannabis, Human Milk Composition, &amp; Development\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wsu-caption\">\r\n\t\t\tDespite expanding cannabis legalization and that cannabis is commonly used in the prenatal and postnatal periods, little is known about factors influencing cannabinoid concentrations in milk or in the infant. We are currently conducting a study examining\u00a0 cannabinoid pharmacokinetics in human milk and infant urine and whether concentrations are or are not associated with developmental outcomes.\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/article>\n\n<article class=\"wsu-card wsu-card--style-horizontal-25 wsu-spacing-after--sxxsmall\">\r\n\t\t<div class=\"wsu-image-frame wsu-image--ratio-1-1\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-labs\/uploads\/sites\/1160\/2020\/06\/SARS-CoV-2-scaled.jpg\"\r\n\t\t\t\tsrcset=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-labs\/uploads\/sites\/1160\/2020\/06\/SARS-CoV-2-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-labs\/uploads\/sites\/1160\/2020\/06\/SARS-CoV-2-396x342.jpg 396w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-labs\/uploads\/sites\/1160\/2020\/06\/SARS-CoV-2-792x685.jpg 792w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-labs\/uploads\/sites\/1160\/2020\/06\/SARS-CoV-2-768x664.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-labs\/uploads\/sites\/1160\/2020\/06\/SARS-CoV-2-1536x1328.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-labs\/uploads\/sites\/1160\/2020\/06\/SARS-CoV-2-2048x1771.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-labs\/uploads\/sites\/1160\/2020\/06\/SARS-CoV-2-990x856.jpg 990w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-labs\/uploads\/sites\/1160\/2020\/06\/SARS-CoV-2-1188x1027.jpg 1188w\"\r\n\t\t\t\tsizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\"\r\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Artist representation of the SARS COVID-19 virus.\"\r\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"object-position: 50% 50%\"\r\n\t\t\t\t\/>\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t<div class=\"wsu-card__content\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"wsu-title  wsu-font-size--large\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCOVID-19 and Infant Feeding\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wsu-caption\">\r\n\t\t\tWe undertook a longitudinal study on COVID-19 positive women examining breast milk composition in breastfeeding mothers and maternal-infant health outcomes in breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding dyads. Data garnered is helping to inform national and international guidance for infant feeding during this pandemic.\u00a0 If you are interested in learning more, please visit <a href=\"http:\/\/wsu.edu\/covid-19-infant-feeding\">COVID-19 &amp; Infant Feeding<\/a>.\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/article>\n\n<article class=\"wsu-card wsu-card--style-horizontal-25 wsu-spacing-after--sxxsmall\">\r\n\t\t<div class=\"wsu-image-frame wsu-image--ratio-1-1\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-labs\/uploads\/sites\/1160\/2020\/06\/your-microbiota2.jpg\"\r\n\t\t\t\tsrcset=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-labs\/uploads\/sites\/1160\/2020\/06\/your-microbiota2.jpg 739w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-labs\/uploads\/sites\/1160\/2020\/06\/your-microbiota2-396x398.jpg 396w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-labs\/uploads\/sites\/1160\/2020\/06\/your-microbiota2-198x198.jpg 198w\"\r\n\t\t\t\tsizes=\"(max-width: 739px) 100vw, 739px\"\r\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Illustration of various microbes.\"\r\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"object-position: 50% 50%\"\r\n\t\t\t\t\/>\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t<div class=\"wsu-card__content\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"wsu-title  wsu-font-size--large\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHuman Milk Composition and Maternal Infant Microbiomes\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wsu-caption\">\r\n\t\t\tWe are also studying the behavioral, genetic, and environmental factors related to human milk composition and maternal-infant microbiomes. We explore how breastmilk and maternal-infant microbiomes vary globally and how our environments and behaviors relate to microbial diversity and composition. I collaborate with an interdisciplinary team comprised of biological and cultural anthropologists, lactation physiologists, nutritionists, microbiologists, and computational biologists.\u00a0 Research has been conducted in the Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Kenya, The Gambia, Ghana, Sweden, Spain, Peru, and the United States.\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/article>\n\n<article class=\"wsu-card  wsu-card--style-horizontal-25\">\r\n\t\t<div class=\"wsu-image-frame wsu-image--ratio-1-1\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-labs\/uploads\/sites\/1160\/2016\/02\/CAR-2009-028-1.jpg\"\r\n\t\t\t\tsrcset=\"https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-labs\/uploads\/sites\/1160\/2016\/02\/CAR-2009-028-1.jpg 2304w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-labs\/uploads\/sites\/1160\/2016\/02\/CAR-2009-028-1-396x528.jpg 396w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-labs\/uploads\/sites\/1160\/2016\/02\/CAR-2009-028-1-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-labs\/uploads\/sites\/1160\/2016\/02\/CAR-2009-028-1-792x1056.jpg 792w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-labs\/uploads\/sites\/1160\/2016\/02\/CAR-2009-028-1-990x1320.jpg 990w, https:\/\/wpcdn.web.wsu.edu\/wp-labs\/uploads\/sites\/1160\/2016\/02\/CAR-2009-028-1-1188x1584.jpg 1188w\"\r\n\t\t\t\tsizes=\"(max-width: 2304px) 100vw, 2304px\"\r\n\t\t\t\talt=\"Aka grandmother and her grandchildren photographed in an African village.\"\r\n\t\t\t\tstyle=\"object-position: 50% 50%\"\r\n\t\t\t\t\/>\r\n\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t<div class=\"wsu-card__content\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"wsu-title  wsu-font-size--large\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tParental Investment and Human Cooperative Child Rearing (non-maternal caregiving)\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wsu-caption\">\r\n\t\t\tMy research on child development and human cooperative breeding is focused on understanding the role of parents and alloparents in children\u2019s social and emotional development and the relationships between cooperative breeding and human reproductive and behavioral strategies. I investigate who cares for children cross-culturally, the influence of socioecology on parental and alloparental investment, the role and influence of caregivers on children\u2019s attachment relationship, and the influence of caregivers on children\u2019s growth and nutritional status.\u00a0 This research is being carried out in both Central and East Africa among hunter-gatherers, horticulturalists and agro-pastoralists and in the US.\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t<\/article>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Current Projects<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8435,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[],"wsuwp_university_location":[],"wsuwp_university_org":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/meehan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/meehan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/meehan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/meehan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8435"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/meehan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4"}],"version-history":[{"count":57,"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/meehan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":813,"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/meehan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4\/revisions\/813"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/meehan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/meehan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/meehan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4"},{"taxonomy":"wsuwp_university_location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/meehan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wsuwp_university_location?post=4"},{"taxonomy":"wsuwp_university_org","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labs.wsu.edu\/meehan\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wsuwp_university_org?post=4"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}