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Human Biology

Stanford
Program in Human Biology
School of Humanities and Sciences

An interdisciplinary approach to understanding human beings from biological, behavioral, social, and cultural perspectives.

Why Choose HumBio

Research Opportunities

Senior Synthesis

Director's Message

Greetings from the Main Quad as we welcome spring quarter!

As we begin the final quarter of the 2024-25 school year, I’m filled with excitement for the possibilities that lie ahead.

The start of a new year and quarter always brings a sense of renewal and opportunity. Whether you're a new student in the third and final unit of the Core (you’ve got this!), a junior or senior continuing your HumBio studies, an alumni or supporter connecting or reconnecting with the program, or a faculty or staff member preparing for another term, your presence enriches our community.

As we embark on this quarter together, let's embrace the challenges and opportunities that come our way, supporting each other to achieve wonderful things in Human Biology.

Here's to another quarter filled with growth, discovery, and inspiration!

Warmly,
Lianne Kurina, PhD
Bing Director, Program in Human Biology 

3 cyclists biking in the French Alps

MAY 27: Dare to Dream Film Screening & Expert Q&A

On May 27, join us from 6:15-8:00pm in Bishop Auditorium for a screening of Dare to Dream, a documentary that showcases the transformative power of physical activity and embracing life at every age. 

Learn more and RSVP now!

News

After two decades of service, achievements, and contributions to the Program in Human Biology and the greater Stanford community, Dr. Catherine “Cathy” Heaney, an esteemed professor of psychiatry and member of the Stanford Prevention Research Center, will retire from Stanford University at the end of the academic year.

When HumBio senior Peyton Klein ‘25 first stepped onto Stanford's campus as a freshman, the landscape of campus life and community looked a little different from what it had been. The world, including life at Stanford, had been reshaped by the COVID-19 pandemic, which thrust issues of mental health and social isolation into the spotlight.

Friendships might be seen by some as a ‘nice-to-have’–a social bonus rather than a necessity. Yet in reality, loneliness and isolation have become widespread public health crises, even as we live in an era of endless digital connections (

On February 20, 2025, the Human Biology program co-sponsored a seminar given by Dr. Emily Merchant in the series hosted by the Program in Science, Technology, and Society.