Nina graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park with Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology and Anthropology.  As an undergraduate, she worked on a comparative hominin functional morphology project and a project that investigated human migratory routes using population genetics.  For her PhD, Nina is interested in the genetic controls of primate postcranial development, with emphasis on characteristics that are important for bipedalism.  Outside of her research, Nina enjoys the performing arts and crafting.