Koumari Mitra (Professor & Chair)
Dr. Koumari Mitra is a Professor at the University of New Brunswick since 2007. Her research and teaching interests are primarily in the area of medical anthropology, human genetics and
biological anthropology. She holds her PhD degree in Human Cytogenetics from the Department of Anthropology, University of Delhi, India. At UNB, Dr. Mitra has developed a program on biological and medical anthropology including the creation of a biological anthropology laboratory.
Dr. Mitra has been primarily involved in studying gender issues pertaining to women’s health in India and Canada. Currently, Dr. Mitra is conducting a research study examining the gendered impact of globalization on HIV/AIDS transmission in urban slum areas of India. Her recent publications focus on gender inequality and HIV/AIDS transmission in India.
In Canada, Dr. Mitra’s research focuses on the gender dimension of cancer prevention and control issues in New Brunswick. Two of her current projects include: adolescent and young women’s health; and awareness of cervical cancer risk factors among high school and university students in New Brunswick.
Dr. Mitra has received funding to support her research activities from various agencies in Canada, including the Women and Development Award from the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute; CIHR Development Grant; SSHRC Seed Grant award; and the University of New Brunswick’s Research Awards. Her cancer research has received support from the New Brunswick’s Regional Research Development Program in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute of Canada.
Dr. Mitra is supervising MA theses on smoking behaviour among adolescent and young women in New Brunswick; immigrant women’s participation and access to healthcare facilities in New Brunswick; and injection drug use and the risk of HIV transmission in Fredericton.
Courses Taught:
- ANTH 1001 The Human Experience: Socio-Cultural Approaches
- ANTH 1002 The Human Body: Biological Approaches
- ANTH 2502 Introduction to Biological anthropology
- ANTH 3502 Medical Anthropology
- ANTH 3704 South Asia
- ANTH 4502 Issues in Medical Anthropology
- ANTH 4522 Human Evolution
- ANTH 4602 Anthropology and Genetics
- ANTH 4702 Gender and Health
- ANTH 5704 Biological Anthropology (Theory and Method)
Research:
- Perceptions of Cancer and Health Seeking Behaviour: Strategies for Cancer Prevention and Control in NB
- Risk and Vulnerability: Women and HIV/AIDS in India
Contact Information:
Office: Annex C, Rm. 21
Phone: (506) 458-7997
Fax: (506) 453-5071
