Research Interests

  • Human Growth and Development
  • Quantitative Genetics
  • Statistical Methods
  • Forensic Anthropology
  • Virtual Anthropology

Ongoing Projects

Note: all R code for my research projects are stored in my GitHub repository at: https://github.com/andicyim/
  • Mixed model approach to human limb growth (Under review at Journal of Human Evolution)
​​I am interested in how evolution influences human limb variation through its effects on the growth process. Using cross-sectional data from different populations, I will model the effects of neutral evolution (random genetic drift) and the effects of sex, body size, and climate on different stages of growth.
  • Disparity in forensic anthropology identification and different sub-fields of forensic science
​ I am also part of a team of diverse researchers that use data-driven approaches to investigate disparity in forensic identification and access to medicolegal resources. In addition, I study racial/ethnic disparity in different sub-fields of forensic science.
  • Evolutionary theory in forensic anthropology
​I am involved in a project advocating for more explicit and nuanced engagement with evolutionary theory for forensic anthropologists. Forensic anthropology methods and practices are grounded in evolutionary theory, just like all sub-disciplines of biological anthropology. These theoretical groundings are often implicit and not emphasized, leading to claims that forensic anthropology is atheoretical. We aim at highlighting the theoretical engagements of the field while also critiquing and advocating the training of forensic anthropologists. I am involved in the development and maintenance of this database and the research projects that borne out of the resources provided by this database. The main purpose of this database is to advocate for forensic anthropology method testing and improvement.
  • ​Ontogenetic variation of covariance structure of human limb skeleton and evolutionary simulation
I am studying how the variance-covariance matrix of human limb linear measurements change during the course of postnatal growth and how different evolutionary scenarios will affect the final mean phenotypic values using quantitative genetics theory.
  • Virtual anthropology: Approaches to combine different stacks of CT scans and reconstruct volume
​Different institutions have different protocols in CT scans acquisition and storage. Oftentimes multiplanar reconstructions of CT scans are stored instead of the original high resolution scans. This process makes the retrospective data processing and collection difficult. I am currently working on a project to utilize a Python-based application to reconstruct high-resolution images from CT reconstructions.
  • Subadult age and sex estimation of Taiwanese population from long bone dimensions
​I am working on improving subadult age and sex estimation methods using long bone dimensions, specifically in Taiwanese population. Forensic anthropological research is lacking in Taiwan and testing existing methods and/or establishing population-specific standards is very important. This is part of two NIJ grants I am contributing through collaboration with Dr. Kyra Stull at University of Nevada, Reno.
  • QTL (quantitative trait loci) analysis of DO (diversity outbred) mice​​​

Publications

Read More about My Work