Kristine Joy Chua is a postdoctoral scholar in the Department of Anthropology at UCSB and earned her Ph.D. in Biological Anthropology from UCLA. Her research combines evolutionary and biocultural anthropology perspectives to understand how chronic stress “gets under the skin” during pregnancy. She utilizes methods from anthropology, biology, and public health to explore the social and biological factors that create and sustain peri- and postnatal inequities and the role that cultural practices play in shaping health norms. She works closely with pregnant Filipina mothers in the Philippines and pregnant mothers in Southern California. Current research questions include: (1) how does the maternal immune system respond to fetal cells circulating throughout pregnancy (co-director: Amy Boddy); (2) how do pregnant Filipina mothers respond to stress from their socio-political environment; (3) how are definitions of stress and coping mechanisms impacted by cultural attitudes; and (4) what conditions could preterm birth be an adaptive response for mothers. In addition to her academic work, she maintains her commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through undergraduate mentorship, partnerships with K-12 educators, and collaborations with community stakeholders.