ASU anthropological geneticist recognized with lifetime contribution award
Anne Stone (third from right) was recognized by the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution with their 2026 Lifetime Contribution Award. Photo courtesy of Anne Stone
Throughout her career, Anne Stone, Regents Professor in Arizona State University’s School of Human Evolution and Social Change, has made significant contributions to the field of anthropological genetics. In recognition of her work, Stone recently received the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution’s 2026 Lifetime Contribution Award.
Stone’s research focuses on the origins, population history and evolution of humans and other primates, as well as the evolutionary history of infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis, in both modern and ancient contexts.
The award is given to members of the SMBE community who embody the values of mentorship, outreach and teaching in their career, and have a record of outstanding research that has contributed broadly to the field of molecular biology and evolution.
“It is a wonderful honor to have been nominated and selected,” shared Stone, who is also the director of the Center for Evolution and Medicine and a research scientist with the Institute of Human Origins. “This is particularly true because my students and colleagues who nominated me shared their nomination letter with me after the fact.”
Prior to the start of her career, Stone was an undergraduate at the University of Virginia interested in both biology and archaeology. Stone became involved in a genetics lab studying fruit flies while also studying archaeology. While the university did not have faculty studying biological anthropology, her advisors told her about the field and encouraged her to read articles in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology.
She ended up in the biological anthropology graduate program at Pennsylvania State University where she received her master’s and doctorate degrees in anthropology and was advised by George Milner and Mark Stoneking — the latter being a geneticist who was hired during Stone’s first year. At the same time, the first academic research was being published on the subject of ancient DNA, catching the attention of Stone and leading her to pursue research on anthropological genetics.
Stone went on to complete a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Arizona and held a faculty position at the University of New Mexico before joining Arizona State University in 2003.
While at ASU, Stone’s lab encountered a major discovery on the transmission of tuberculosis, finding that the disease was brought to the Americas by seals and sea lions, an experience she described as a memorable moment of her career, among many other groundbreaking projects and research. Stone also shared that working alongside different collaborators around the world and seeing her students succeed are parts of her career that she has particularly enjoyed.
The SMBE Lifetime Contribution Award is one of many recognitions Stone has received across her career, including being elected a fellow of the American Advancement of Science in 2011 and elected a member of the National Academy of Sciences in 2016. Stone has also served on the editorial boards of multiple academic journals, and is currently a member of the editorial board of the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, series B.
When reflecting on what is most rewarding about being a researcher, Stone shared two things.
“The first is that I get to ask interesting questions and then figure out ways to answer them,” said Stone. “The second is that I get to share this with students.”