Dr. R. Khongsdier is Professor of Biological Anthropology at the Department of Anthropology, North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU). At present he serves as Dean of School of Human and Environmental Sciences, NEHU. He was serving as Head of the Department of Anthropology, during 2006-2009 and 2012-2015; Proctor (2002-2004) Estate Officer (2003-2006), Director in charge of Publication Unit (2012-2018) of the University. Previously he held posts in some Departments of the Government of Meghalaya (India), and also served as Physical Anthropologist (1992-1997) at the North-East Regional Centre of the Anthropological Survey of India, Government of India. Fifteen students were awarded their PhD degree under his supervision. He has had to his own credit more than 80 publications published in edited volumes and journals of national and international repute, and was involved in a number of research projects including “Culture, Genetics and Status of Health in Northeast India” and “Nutritional Status of Indian population.” He has served as a member of the Editorial Boards of several journals including the Anthropologist, Journal of Life Sciences, Indian Journal of Research in Anthropology, and the International Journal of Anthropology and Ethnology. He also was a member of academic and professional bodies including International Coordination Committee of the National Center for Scientific Research (Paris), Technical Advisory Committee of the Indian Statistical Institute (Kolkata), Meghalaya State Scrutiny Committee for Scheduled Tribes, Government of Meghalaya, Meghalaya State Task Force on Minorities, and Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) Committee on codification of customary laws. His areas of research interest include population genetics, demography, human growth and body composition, nutrition and health, human adaptation and biocultural studies.