A Question of Balance

An introductory class in osteology--the study of the human skeleton--led Joan Brenner Coltrain to her life's work: using stable-isotope chemistry to decode the secrets hidden in bones. Almost 15 years of pioneering research later, Brenner Coltrain is a research associate professor of anthropology at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City and a leading researcher in her field. She has a solid publication record, numerous National Science Foundation awards, and her own laboratory at the University of Utah.

Brenner Coltrain's career has not followed the well-worn academic path. Instead, she has carved out a career by making choices consistent with her personal values and priorities. The result has been a richly rewarding journey that illustrates how family commitments can be balanced with academic achievement.