Faculty Profile

headshot of Jeffrey K. Lum

Jeffrey K. Lum

Professor

Anthropology

Background

Lum is a professor of anthropology and biological sciences and director of the Laboratory of Evolutionary Anthropology and Health (LEAH). He is a molecular anthropologist and evolutionary biologist whose research focuses on the origins, interactions, and resulting genetic characteristics of Pacific Island populations; the evolution of Plasmodium falciparum malaria drug resistance; malaria epidemiology of Melanesia, Southeast Asia, and Africa; interactions among modernization, technology adoption, and infectious and chronic diseases; ancient DNA; evolution of mineral embedded microbial communities; forensic genetics; animal and plant domestication; behavioral genetics; diet, behavior and microbiome diversity; and molecular evolution.

Education

  • PhD, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa

Research Interests

  • Molecular anthropology
  • Forensic genetics
  • Malaria
  • epidemiology; Melanesia
  • Melanesia