Biography
Rachel G. Witt is a Ph.D. candidate in Biological Anthropology at Tulane University. Rachel is an Adjunct Professor in the Tulane University School of Professional Advancement, where she teaches Introduction to Biological Anthropology and Bones, Bodies, and Disease. Rachel has also taught Human Osteology and Bioarchaeology of Mummies in Tulane's School of Liberal Arts. These courses designed to educate undergraduate students on what we can learn by studying human skeletal remains from archaeological contexts.
Rachel has ten years of experience serving as a researcher, field school instructor, and bioarchaeologist in South America. Her dissertation research combines bioarchaeology and biogeochemistry to reconstruct trauma, diet, and migration patterns to examine how policies and practices of ancient societies impact the child life histories in prehistoric Peru.
Rachel has received several grants to assist with the completion of her dissertation research. She has been awarded grants from the Lambda Alpha National Collegiate Honors Society and the Rust Family Foundation. Rachel was recently awarded a National Science Foundation Dissertation Research Improvement Grant for Biological Anthropology. She also serves as a K-12 STEM outreach workshop leader for Tulane's School of Science and Engineering.
Witt holds a B.A. in anthropology (honors) and art history from Vanderbilt University.
What's the first career you dreamed of having as a child?
I first dreamed of becoming a paleontologist. I enjoyed history and science as a child. I was constantly reading books and making very animated Power Point presentations to show my family what I had learned. Now, I do something similar - except I study the bones of humans, not
dinosaurs!
What advice would you give to someone who's considering finishing their degree, or starting for the first time as an adult?
My advice for anyone who wants to earn a degree is to be kind and patient with yourself. This is a challenge process, but you have what it takes to succeed. Second, never be afraid to ask questions and explore what interests you.
If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
The list is endless! When it is safe to travel again, the first place I would visit for fun would be Portugal or Japan.