Download my complete CV here!
Education:
- 2017 PhD, Biological Anthropology, New York University
- 2011 MS, Physical Anthropology, University of Pennsylvania
- 2011 BA (summa cum laude), Physical Anthropology, minor in Biology, University of Pennsylvania
Appointments:
- Present-2018 Assistant Professor of Anatomy, School of Health Sciences and Technologies, Universidad Central del Caribe
- 2018-2017 Visiting Assistant Professor, Dept. of Anthropology, Dickinson College
Selected peer-reviewed publications:
- 2022. Villamil CI, Santiago-Nazario A. Integration of the nasopharynx and cervical vertebrae in Homo and Pan. Anat Record 305(8): 1974-1990. doi: 10.1002/ar.24750
- 2021. Villamil CI. The role of developmental rate, body size, and positional behavior in the evolution of covariation and evolvability in the cranium of strepsirrhines and catarrhines. J Hum Evol 151:102941. doi: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2020.102941
- 2018. Villamil CI. Phenotypic integration of the cervical vertebrae in the Hominoidea (Primates). Evolution 72(3):490-517. doi: 10.1111/evo.13433
- 2017. Villamil CI. Locomotion and basicranial anatomy in primates and marsupials. J Hum Evol 111:163-178. doi: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2017.07.003
- 2016. Williams SA, Middleton ER, Villamil CI, Shattuck MR. Vertebral numbers and human evolution. Am J Phys Anthropol 159(S61):S19-S36. doi: 10.1002/ajpa.22901
Selected conference abstracts:
- 2023. Villamil CI, Middleton ER. Genetic basis of evolutionary constraints: heritability and genotypic covariation in the macaque vertebral column. Am J Biol Anthropol. [oral presentation]
- 2023. Villamil CI, Middleton ER. Structure of modularity and integration among elements in the catarrhine vertebral column. American Association for Anatomy [poster abstract]
- 2022. Villamil CI. Inferring genetic and developmental change from adult phenotypes: integration in the primate vertebral column. Invited symposium, Society for Developmental Biology, “From Molecules to Form and Function through Time”, SACNAS National Diversity in STEM Conference.
- 2020. Villamil CI, Middleton ER. Integration of the hominoid spine, part I: Shoulder function and integration of the cervical and thoracic vertebrae. American Association of Physical Anthropologists.
- 2020. Middleton ER, Villamil CI. Integration of the hominoid spine, part II: The effects of lordosis on integration of the cervical and lumbar vertebrae. American Association of Physical Anthropologists.
Recent research grants:
- 2022. Catalyzer Grant, Puerto Rico Science Technology and Research Trust. $69,991
- 2021. Cobb Professional Development Grant, American Association of Biological Anthropologists. $7075
- 2018. Grant for Scholarly Project. Dickinson College. $3000
- 2016. Provost’s Global Research Initiative Fellowship. New York University. $6097
- 2015. Dissertation Fieldwork Grant. The Wenner-Gren Foundation. $16,094
Recent teaching:
- 2021-present, Bioarchaeology of the Caribbean
- 2020-present, Osteology for archaeologists
- 2019-present, Advanced Anatomy
- 2018-present, Human Gross and Developmental Anatomy (dissection-based)
- 2018, Principles of Human Evolution
- 2018, Growth and Development
Recent lab and fieldwork:
- 2022 Morphology Laboratory, Caribbean Primate Research Center
- 2020, 2018, 2016 Research assistant in primate morphometric and microbiome data collection, Caribbean Primate Research Center
- 2016 Laetoli and Eyasi Plateau mid-Pliocene localities, Tanzania
- 2015 Mary Leakey Olduvai Gorge collections assistant, National Museums of Tanzania
Institutions where I’ve carried out research:

American Museum of Natural History; Cleveland Museum of Natural History; Museum of Vertebrate Zoology; Museum of Comparative Zoology; Field Museum; Museum für Naturkunde; Senckenberg Museum; Musée National d’Histoire Naturelle; Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique; Royal Museum of Central Africa; Naturalis Biodiversity Center; Natural History Museum London; Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History; Center for the Study of Human Origins; University of Witwatersrand; Makerere University; British Museum; Powell-Cotton Museum; Caribbean Primate Research Center; University of Notre Dame; Penn Museum; Philadelphia Zoo.