Dr. Jennifer Raff, presents her lecture on ‘Ancient DNA and the Peopling of the Americas’ at the 51st J. Robert Oppenheimer Memorial Committee memorial lecture Monday evening at Duane Smith Auditorium. Dr. Raff is a celebrated anthropological geneticist and science writer. She studied molecular, cellular, and developmental biology and biological anthropology at Indiana University, earning a dual-major doctorate in biology and anthropology. She is currently an Associate Professor at the University of Kansas, working with tribes and communities across North America to use ancient and contemporary genomes as tools for investigating historical questions. Dr. Raff’s research focuses on the initial peopling of the Americas and she is the author of an award-winning, New York Times bestseller Origin: A Genetic History of the Americas (available on amazon.com). Photo by Mike O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com

Dr. Jennifer Raff, center, with Los Alamos National Laboratory Director Dr. Thom Mason, right, and J. Robert Oppenheimer Memorial Committee Chair David Izraelevitz following Monday evening’s lecture at Duane Smith Auditorium. Photo by Mike O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com

Dr. Jennifer Raff accepts a medallion from JROMC Chair David Izraelevitz. Photo by Mike O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com

JROMC Chair David Izraelevitz was the emcee for Monday’s lecture event. Photo by Mike O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com

Los Alamos National Laboratory Director Dr. Thom Mason introduces Dr. Jennifer Fass Monday evening at Duane Smith Auditorium. Photo by Mike O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com