Alder Keleman Saxena is an environmental anthropologist whose research explores the relationships linking agricultural biodiversity to food culture and nutritional health in the Bolivian Andes. In her research, she uses a mixed-methods, biocultural approach, which combines ethnography, ethnobotany, and public health nutrition. Alder recently defended her dissertation in fulfillment of the requirements for the combined degree program between the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, the Yale Department of Anthropology, and the New York Botanical Garden. Prior to her PhD, Alder worked in applied agricultural development research, focusing on the impacts of policy, technology development, and economic change on the diversity of maize landraces in Mexico.

Alder will start her work with AURA February 1, 2017