In her studies, Dr. Alfonso-Durruty examines the health status and degree of environmental and social adaptation of past populations.
Her current research projects are on: 1) genetic origins of prehistoric and living Native groups from Fuego-Patagonia, Chile, 2) the peopling of the Atacama Desert, 3) dietary diversity and changes in prehistoric groups from the semiarid region of Chile, and 4) Dietary changes in prehistoric groups from Northern Chile.