Biological Anthropology
Sarah Johnson is a paleoanthropologist currently pursuing her PhD in Biological Anthropology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Forensic Science and Anthropology at Saint Louis University. Her current research focuses on musculoskeletal variation of the hand in extinct and extant primate taxa and its relationship to biomechanical function. With the assistance of her mentor, Dr. John Hawks, she hopes to better understand the locomotor repertoire of hominins.
Sarah also has a passion for exploration and fieldwork and is an avid scuba diver, rock climber, and cave explorer. She works with Project Recover, an organization dedicated to locating and repatriating American soldiers that have been missing in action since WWII. She accompanied Project Recover on their 2018 mission to the Republic of Palau and their 2024 mission to Chuuk. Sarah also works closely with the National Geographic Society Rising Star Project, assisting in the 2022 and 2023 excavations of Dragon’s Back Chamber in the Rising Star cave system led by Dr. Keneiloe Molopyane. She has also participated in extensive subterranean survey and documentation of cave systems within the Cradle of Humankind. Sarah’s goal for her career is to continue using her expertise and passion for cave exploration and rock climbing in pursuit of scientific discovery!