Lincoln University Senior Travis Barrett Earns Multiple Research Publications and Presentations

Travis Barrett, a graduating senior at Lincoln University of Missouri, has demonstrated his dedication to research with multiple published papers and conference presentations in the fields of biology and anthropology.

Graduating senior Travis Barrett, a biology major with a minor anthropology, is making the most of his final year at Lincoln University of Missouri. With two published research papers, multiple conference presentations and hands-on fieldwork, Barrett is demonstrating the depth of academic opportunities available to Lincoln students.

In February 2024, Barrett published his paper, “The Risk of a New Henrietta Lacks? Increasing Awareness About the Impacts on the Consumer because of Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing in a U.S.-centric Setting,” in the
Cambridge Journal of Human Behavior. His second paper, “Molecular Techniques to Verify Historical Epidemics and Pandemics: Genomic Identification of Pathological Microbes in Ancient Skeletal Remains,” has been accepted for publication in an upcoming edition of the University of Western Ontario Journal of Anthropology (UWOJA). A peer-reviewed, graduate student-managed journal, UWOAJ annually publishes exemplary student research following rigorous review.

His latest paper stemmed from coursework in BIO 312: Molecular Biology of the Cell, taught by Dr. Keesoo Lee, professor of biology, during the spring 2024 semester. Drawing on his passion for biology and anthropology, Barrett explored paleobiology, ancient DNA studies and bioarchaeology, examining how molecular techniques can help verify historical epidemics. Recognizing the quality of his research, Dr. Christine E. Boston, associate professor of anthropology & sociology, encouraged him to refine the paper for publication with support from the Writing Center. Barrett will also present this research at the Missouri Academy of Science (MAS) meeting in April. 

Beyond the classroom, Barrett has been active in archaeological research. During the summer of 2024, he and Dr. Boston participated in excavations at the Don Carlos Historic Archaeological Site. Their work continued into the fall, analyzing artifacts such as glass, ceramics, farming tools and household items. Their findings were presented in a paper titled “Updates from the Field: Unique Discoveries at the Don Carlos Historic Archaeology Site” at the Missouri Conference on History on March 13. As lead author, Barrett played a key role in advancing research on the Don Carlos family and the sociopolitical history of the area. Dr. Boston will expand on this research with a second presentation at the MAS meeting.

Reflecting on his experiences at Lincoln, Barrett expressed gratitude for the opportunities and mentorship he received. "The professors made the work feel team-oriented, even though I am an undergraduate and this was also a learning experience for me," Barrett said. "Had this only felt like another semester, I don’t think I would have felt as much of a sense of pride in the work done."

Following graduation, Barrett plans to pursue graduate studies in biological anthropology with a focus on paleogenetics.