Stephen Wooding, Ph.D.
University of California Merced
2019 - present - Assistant Professor of Anthropology and Heritage Studies
University of California at Merced
About Dr. Wooding
Stephen Wooding, PhD, is an associate professor of anthropology and heritage studies at the University of California, Merced, where he has been on the faculty since 2013. He received his PhD from the Department of Anthropology at the University of Utah in 2001 with a dissertation on genetic drift and natural selection in nonstationary populations. He completed an NIH Kirschstein postdoctoral fellowship in the Department of Human Genetics at the University of Utah in 2005, where he studied patterns of genetic diversity in worldwide human populations. His current research
is on the genetics of individual differences in taste sensitivity. He is also investigating patterns of genetic diversity in cassava, a food staple in tropical populations known for its intense bitterness and toxicity. In addition to scientific research, Dr. Wooding dedicates time to humanitarian work with the Peruvian nonprofit organization, Project Amazonas, where he serves on the Board of Directors and promotes volunteer and educational opportunities for undergraduates.
Academic Background
2013 - 2019 - Assistant Professor of Public Health
University of California at Merced
2006 - 2013 - Assistant Professor of Human Genetics
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
2005 - 2006 - Research Assistant Professor of Human Genetics
University of Utah
2002 - 2005 - Kirschstein Postdoctoral Fellow in Human Genetics
University of Utah
1998 - 2001 - Ph.D. (Anthropology), University of Utah
1992 - 1996 - M.S. (Biology), University of Utah
1988 - 1992 - B.A. (Biology), University of Colorado