Preferred pronouns: she/her/hers

Anne Riley Smith is interested in social justice of disability in the sciences and in higher education. Her dissertation examines systemic ableism built into both the biological sciences (via understandings of health and the normative body) and in institutions of higher learning (via neoliberal academia). She critiques these structures and argues that disability inclusion enhances science.

Anne has a background in molecular anthropology, ancient DNA, and bioinformatics. She received her Master’s degree in anthropology at UTK in 2019, with an interdisciplinary graduate minor in computational science. Her thesis investigated how the use of a prominent bleach-based decontamination protocol in archaeological samples may degrade, rather than eliminate, modern contaminant DNA. Before attending UTK, she received her Bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Indiana University, Bloomington.

Anne is the manager of the UTK Molecular Anthropology Laboratories. She is a member of the American Association of Biological Anthropologists (AABA), American Association of Anthropological Genetics (AAAG), Paleopathology Association (PPA), and UT’s Anthropology Graduate Student Association (AGSA).

In her free time, Anne enjoys visiting the Great Smoky Mountains and spending time with her dogs.

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Chair: Dr. Graciela Cabana

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Research

Disability studies, social justice, diversity and inclusion, molecular anthropology, ancient DNA, laboratory methods, bioinformatics, Latin America, South America.

Professional Service

American Association of Biological Anthropologists (AABA), American Association of Anthropological Genetics (AAAG), Paleopathology Association (PPA), and UT’s Anthropology Graduate Student Association (AGSA)

Awards and Recognitions

2020 University of Tennessee, Graduate Student Senate Travel Award

2016-2017 University of Tennessee, Shipley-Swann Graduate School Fellowship

2016 University of Tennessee, Graduate Student Senate Travel Award

2016 Indiana University, Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies Undergraduate Student Essay Contest 1st Prize

2014 Indiana University, Hutton Honors College Internship Grant

2014 Indiana University, Hutton International Experiences Program Grant

Publications

Selected presentations:

2020. “Ancient DNA Mimicry? Bleach-based Decontamination Treatment and Cytosine Deamination in Modern DNA Contaminants,” poster presentation: American Association of Physical Anthropology (AAPA).

2019. Riley, Anne. “Bleach-Based Decontamination Treatment and Cytosine Deamination in Contaminant DNA.” Master’s Thesis, University of Tennessee, Tennessee Research and Creative Exchange (TRACE).

2016. “Tuberculosis y los Xiongnu,” poster presentation: Asociación Latinoamericana de Antropología Biológica (ALAB).