Anna G. Warrener

Anna Warrener
Ph.D. • Assistant Professor
Department of Anthropology

Mailing Address:
Department of Anthropology
Campus Box 103
PO Box 173364
Denver, CO 80217-3364

Office Hours:
TBA

My research focuses on the evolution of the human musculoskeletal system using biomechanical techniques to assess how variation in physical structure affects locomotor performance. I'm specifically interested in the human pelvis and how its unique anatomy impacts both locomotion and human birth.

2012  Ph.D. Anthropology, Washington University in St. Louis     

2006  MA Anthropology, Washington University in St. Louis

2003  BA Anthropology, Summa Cum Laude, University of Colorado

Warrener, A., Donnelly, G. “An evolutionary perspective on human pelvic floor function and disorders,” Sports Medicine and the Pelvic Floor-Science to Practice, edited by Donnelly, G. Elsevier (in press).

Manthey, C., Lynn, C.D., Ocobock, C., Cepon-Robins, T.J. and Warrener, A. (2025), Age at Menarche and Its Potential Role in Early Detection of Hyperandrogenic Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. American Journal of Biological Anthropology, 186: e70046. https://doi-org.aurarialibrary.idm.oclc.org/10.1002/ajpa.70046

Berg, E., Hammond, A., Warrener, A., Shirley Mitchell, M., Tocheri, M., Baker, S., Herries, A., Strait, D., Orr, C. (2025), Further morphological assessment of a 2.0 million year old partial hominin pelvis (DNH 43) from the site of Drimolen, South Africa. South African Journal of Science, 121(3/4) https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2025/17908

Manthey, C., Cepon-Robins, T., & Warrener, A. (2024), Hyperandrogenism associated with polycystic ovary syndrome may have a protective effect against fracture risk in female athletes: A pilot study. American Journal of Human Biology, 36(8): e24070. https://doi-org.aurarialibrary.idm.oclc.org/10.1002/ajhb.24070

Warrener, A. (2024), Human lower limb muscle cross sectional area   scales with positive allometry reflecting bipedal evolutionary history.   Frontiers in Earth Sciences, 11. doi.org/10.3389/feart.2023.1301411

Warrener, A. (2023), The multifactor pelvis: An alternative to the adaptationist approach of the obstetrical dilemma. Evolutionary Anthropology, 32(5): 260-274. DOI: 10.1002/evan.21997

Mayne, G., DeWitt, P., Ringham, B., Warrener, A., Christians, U., Dabelea, D., Hurt, K. (2023), Nested case-control study of maternal steroid hormones as preterm birth biomarkers: the healthy start study. Journal of the Endocrine Society, 7(2). https://doi.org/10.1210/jendso/bvac179

Warrener, A., Tamai, R., Lieberman, DE. (2021), The effect of trunk flexion angle on lower limb mechanics during running. Human Movement Science 78:102817. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.humov.2021.102817

Warrener, A. Childbirth and brain size: evolutionary constraints. In H. Callan (Ed.), International Encyclopedia of Anthropology. John Wiley & Sons. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118924396.wbiea2034.

Warrener, A. Hominin hip biomechanics: changing perspectives. The Anatomical Record, 300 (5): 932-945. http://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/ar.23558

Lieberman, DE., Warrener, A., Wang, J., Castillo, E. (2015). Effects of stride frequency and foot position at landing on braking force, hip torque, impact peak force and the metabolic cost of running in humans. Journal of Experimental Biology 218:3406-3414. https://jeb.biologists.org/content/218/21/3406

Warrener, A., Lewton, K., Pontzer H., Lieberman DE. (2015), A wider pelvis does not increase locomotor cost in humans, with implications for birth. PLoS ONE, 10(3): e0118903. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0118903.

Barak, M., Lieberman, DE., Raichlen, D., Pontzer, H., Warrener, A., Hublin, J. (2013), Trabecular evidence for a human-like gait in Australopithecus africanus. PLoS ONE, 8(11): e77687. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0077687.

Dunsworth, H., Warrener, A., Deacon, T., Ellison, P., Pontzer, H. (2012), A metabolic hypothesis for human altriciality. PNAS 109(38):15212-15216. 10.1073/pnas.1205282109

Cowgill, L., Warrener, A., Pontzer, H., Ocobock, C. (2010), Waddling and toddling: biomechanical effects of immature gait. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 143:52-61. http://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/ajpa.21289

Blackburn Wittman, A., Wall, L. (2007). The evolutionary origins of obstructed labor: bipedalism, encephalization, and the human obstetric dilemma. Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey, 62:739-748. 10.1097/01.ogx.0000286584.04310.5c.

Anth 1303 Introduction to Biological Anthropology

Anth 3512 Human Evolution

Anth 3560 Human Variation

Anth 4050/5053 Qualitative Methods in Anthropology

Anth 6513 Biological Anthropology Core: Modern Human Variation

Anth 6503 Biological Anthropology Core: The Fossil Record