A glimpse into the Program in Human Biology at Stanford University | | | |
Director's Message
Dear Human Biology Alumni, Students, and Friends,
It is a privilege to share with you the first newsletter of the 2025-26 academic year, and my first as the new Bing Director of the Program in Human Biology.
With the start of the new school year just a month ago, the campus has been buzzing with much excitement, renewal, and energy. I look forward to building upon our program’s strong foundation and sharing with you the latest news, developments, and achievements of our community throughout the year.
I hope you all enjoy reading this edition of HumBio Highlights.
Will Talbot
Bing Director of the Program in Human Biology
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Craig Heller Awarded 2025
Harvard Medical School Division
of Sleep Medicine Prize
Congratulations to Dr. Craig Heller, who was awarded the 2025 Harvard Medical School Division of Sleep Medicine Prize for his contributions to the field of sleep medicine. The award acknowledges his decades of neurobiology research focused on sleep, hibernation, and thermoregulation, and its applications in areas including human performance, Down syndrome, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Heller is the Lorry I. Lokey/Business Wire Professor and a professor of Biology. In addition to serving on HumBio’s Executive Committee and advising students in the program, Heller previously taught in the HumBio Core in HumBio 4A, The Human Organism, and in HumBio 161, The Neurobiology of Sleep.
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Lianne Kurina Appointed Senior Associate Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education
Congratulations to Dr. Lianne Kurina, who was appointed senior associate vice provost in the Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education (VPUE), effective September 1. Kurina will “lead initiatives that aim to enhance Stanford’s teaching and learning environment and rejuvenate norms and expectations around classroom engagement.”
Kurina is a professor of medicine and, by courtesy, of epidemiology and population health. She previously served as the director of Human Biology from Fall 2019 to Summer 2025. On October 8, she was named the David and Lucile Packard Foundation Professor of Human Biology. She teaches courses in epidemiology and statistics as well as in the HumBio Core in HumBio 4B, Development and Epidemiology.
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This fall, as students returned to campus life, the Program in Human Biology proudly welcomed longtime community member Dr. William Talbot as its new Program Director. For many in the Stanford community, Talbot is already a familiar face. His journey at the university spans decades, from his days as a graduate student to his role as a professor of developmental biology. Since September 1, 2025, he has brought his extensive experience, knowledge, and passion for interdisciplinary education to his leadership of the Human Biology program.
Read more.
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“What is biodiversity?” Professor Rodolfo Dirzo poses the question to his Conservation Biology (HumBio 112) class, and hands shoot up confidently around the room. “Number of species,” comes the immediate response–an answer Dirzo expects, the same one he hears every quarter, delivered with the certainty of students who believe they’ve nailed it. “Actually,” Dirzo says gently, “that’s not entirely right.” Confident expressions quickly shift to puzzled ones. Biodiversity isn’t as simple as species counts, he explains. Instead, it encompasses the vast and intricate web of ecosystems, the genetic diversity found within each species, the functional relationships among microorganisms, plants, and animals, and, perhaps most importantly, the profound connections between these elements and human well-being. This moment of realization and discovery marks the beginning of a journey that will challenge students to go beyond what they think they know about nature, conservation, and their place in the world. Read more.
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Human Biology’s committed faculty come from across the School of Humanities and Sciences and the Medical School. Our faculty have long been at the forefront of groundbreaking research, innovation, and creativity.
Expand your knowledge, build on your HumBio degree, and learn from these leading scholars from the comfort of your own home in these recorded presentations, panels, and seminars. You never know what you might discover!
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Tanya Luhrmann: Templeton Podcast on How Belief Becomes Real
“Is belief in God just a grown-up version of an imaginary friend?” In this episode of the Templeton Ideas Podcast, Luhrmann examines the complex nature of religious faith and belief in God. Drawing parallels between childhood imaginary companions and adult religious experiences, she explains how belief isn’t automatic but rather is cultivated and sustained over time through practice and emotional and cognitive processes.
Dr. Tanya Luhrmann is the Albert Ray Lang Professor of Anthropology and, by courtesy, a professor of Psychology. In Human Biology, she co-teaches HumBio 146, Culture and Madness: Anthropological and Psychiatric Approaches to Mental Illness, with Dr. Daniel Mason.
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David Magnus: Preventing AI-Driven Threats to Human Health
In this panel discussion co-hosted by Stanford Medicine and Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI), Magnus and his fellow panelists consider the potential risks of AI being weaponized in healthcare contexts such as the design and deployment of biothreats and the misuse of personal health data. Together, they discuss the importance of protecting public health and highlight potential strategies to ensure the responsible use of AI.
Dr. David Magnus is the Thomas A. Raffin Professor of Medicine and Biomedical Ethics and a professor of pediatrics and medicine and, by courtesy, of bioengineering. He teaches the upper-division course
HumBio 174, Foundations of Bioethics.
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