- digital resuméMOLLY FOX, PHD
- ABOUT ME
I'm a biological anthropologist.
Within the frameworks of evolutionary and developmental biology, my research focuses on maternal and grandmaternal transgenerational transmission of phenotypes, life-history patterns, and disease risk. I synthesize information from molecular, clinical, epidemiological, and anthropological research towards understanding the evolutionary context of human health and disease, family and societal structure, and addressing global health challenges.
I'm from New York, and proudly call myself an Eli (Morsel) and a Cantab (Caian)!
- ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS
Associate Professor (2023)
Assistant Professor (2016)
Primary appointment: Department of AnthropologyJoint appointment: Department of Psychiatry & Biobehavioral SciencesUCLA2016-presentAssistant Professor in-ResidenceDepartment of PediatricsUniversity of California, IrvineSchool of Medicine2015-2016Postdoctoral FellowDepartment of Psychiatry & Human BehaviorUniversity of California, IrvineSchool of Medicine2013-2015UC Irvine Early Human and Lifespan Development Research ProgramResearch topic: Biobehavioral processes and fetal programmingSupervisors:Curt Sandman, PhDLaura Glynn, PhDPathik Wadhwa, MD PhD - EDUCATIONUniversity of Cambridge2008-2013Cambridge, United KingdomPhD in Biological Anthropology
Gonville & Caius College
Gates Cambridge Scholar
PhD thesis title: The evolution of postmenopausal longevity and the preservation of cognitive function
Postdoctoral Research: Identifying individual gorillas via faecal DNA extraction from an habituated gorilla population involved in the first-ever measles vaccine trial in a great ape.
Supervisor:
Leslie A. Knapp, PhD
Yale University2004-2008New Haven, CT, USABA in Anthropology and Theatre StudiesMorse CollegeStanley Wheeler Award (top arts student in Morse college)Academic Distinction in the Major of AnthropologyAcademic Distinction in the Major of Theatre StudiesDissertation title: How human populations have differentially responded to the selective pressure of preeclampsiaAdvisor:Richard Bribiescas, PhD - PUBLICATIONS
Click on article title to download PDF
Kyle S. Wiley, Dayoon Kwon, Delaney A. Knorr, Molly M. Fox. (2023) Regulatory T-cell phenotypes in prenatal psychological distress. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. 116:62-69.
Molly M. Fox, Jennifer Hahn-Holbrook, Curt A. Sandman, Jessica A. Marino, Laura M. Glynn, Elysia Poggi Davis (equal contribution of first authors) (2023) Mothers’ Prenatal Distress Accelerates Pubertal Development in Daughters. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 160: 106671.
Dayoon Kwon, Delaney A. Knorr, Kyle S. Wiley, Sera L. Young, Molly M. Fox. (2023) Association of pica with cortisol and inflammation among Latina pregnant women. American Journal of Human Biology. doi: 10.1002/ajhb.2402
Delaney A. Knorr, Molly M. Fox. (2023) Maternal Grandmothers Buffer the Relationship Between Ethnic Discrimination and Psychological Distress Among Pregnant Latina Mothers. Evolutionary Human Sciences. e24025
Kyle S. Wiley, Andrew M. Gregg, Molly Fox, Venu Lagishetty, Jonathan P. Jacobs, Laura M. Glynn. Newborn social experiences are associated with composition of the infant gut microbiome across the first year of life. American Journal of Biological Anthropology. DOI:10.1002/ajpa.24858.
Kristine J Chua, Delaney A Knorr, Janelly Jimenez, Arlene Francia, Valeria Rojas, Jhoana Infante Garcia, Molly Fox. What Do Your Neighbors Think About You? How Perceived Neighbor Attitudes Toward Latinos Influence Mental Health Among a Pregnant Latina Cohort. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-023-01684-5
Kyle S. Wiley, Molly M. Fox, Theresa E. Gildner, and Zaneta M. Thayer. "A longitudinal study of how women's prenatal and postnatal concerns related to the COVID‐19 pandemic predicts their infants' social–emotional development." Child Development (2023).
Kyle S. Wiley, Delaney A Knorr, Kristine J Chua, Samantha Garcia, Molly Fox. (2023) Sociopolitical stressors are associated with psychological distress in a cohort of Latina women during early pregnancy. Journal of Community Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.23065.
Molly Fox, Delaney A. Knorr, Dayoon Kwon, Kyle S. Wiley, Michael H. Parrish. “How prenatal cortisol levels relate to grandmother-mother relationships among a cohort of Latina women.” American Journal of Human Biology. (2023) Online before print. e23883. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.23883
Barbara Natterson-Horowitz, Athena Aktipis, Carl T. Bergstrom, Molly Fox, Peter D. Gluckman, Felicia M. Low, Ruth Mace, Andrew Read, Paul E. Turner, and Daniel T. Blumstein. (2023) The Future of Evolutionary Medicine: Accelerating Understanding, Innovation, and Application of Evolutionary Principles in Biomedicine. Frontiers in Science. DOI 10.3389/fsci.2023.997136
Delaney A. Knorr, Molly Fox. 2023. An evolutionary perspective on the association between grandmother-mother relationships and maternal mental health among a cohort of pregnant Latina women. Evolution and Human Behavior. 44(1), 30-38.
Molly Fox. (2022) How demographics and concerns about the Trump administration relate to prenatal mental health among Latina women. Social Science and Medicine. Online ahead of print. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115171
Hanadi Ajam Oughli, Sarah Nguyen, Prabha Siddarth, Molly Fox, Michaela Milillo, Helen Lavretsky. (2022) The Effect of Cumulative Lifetime Estrogen Exposure on Cognition in Depressed versus Non-Depressed Older Women. Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology. online ahead of print. doi: 10.1177/08919887221090216.
Molly Fox. Evolutionary Perspectives on Alzheimer’s Disease. (2022) In: Evolutionary Psychiatry: Current Perspectives on Evolution and Mental Health, edited by Dr Riadh Abed and Dr Paul St John-Smith. Cambridge University Press. [book chapter, in press]
☆Molly Fox and Kyle S. Wiley. (2022) How a pregnant woman’s relationships with her siblings relate to her mental health: a prenatal allocare perspective. Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health. 10(1), 1–20, https://doi.org/10.1093/emph/eoab044
Molly Fox, Prabha Siddarth, Hanadi Ajam Oughli, Sarah A Nguyen, Michaela M Milillo, Yesenia Aguilar, Linda Ercoli, Helen Lavretsky. (2022) Women who breastfeed exhibit cognitive benefits after age 50. Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health. 9(1):322-31
Molly Fox, S. Melanie Lee, Kyle S. Wiley, Venu Lagishetty, Curt A. Sandman, Jonathan P. Jacobs, Laura M. Glynn. (2021) Development of the infant gut microbiome predicts temperament across the first year of life. Development and Psychopathology. In press doi:10.1017/S0954579421000456
Molly Fox. (2021) Discrimination as a moderator of the effects of acculturation and cultural values on mental health among pregnant and postpartum Latina women. American Anthropologist. 123(4), 780-804.
Molly Fox, Delaney A. Knorr, Kacey M. Haptonstall. (2019) Alzheimer's disease and symbiotic microbiota: an evolutionary medicine perspective. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 1449(1):3-24. DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14129
Molly Fox. (2018) ‘Evolutionary medicine' perspectives on Alzheimer's Disease: Review and new directions. Aging Research Reviews. 47 (2018) 140-148, doi: 10.1016/j.arr.2018.07.008
Molly Fox, Carlo Berzuini, Leslie A. Knapp, Laura M. Glynn. (2018) Women's pregnancy life-history and Alzheimer's risk: can immunoregulation explain the link? American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease & Other Dementias. doi: 10.1177/1533317518786447
Laura M. Glynn, Mariann A. Howland, Molly Fox. (2018) Maternal programming: Application of a developmental psychopathology perspective. Development and Psychopathology. 30 (2018), 905–919. http://bit.ly/maternalprogramming
Molly Fox, Zaneta M. Thayer, Isabel F. Ramos, Sarah J. Meskal, Pathik D. Wadhwa. (2018). Prenatal and Postnatal Mother-to-Child Transmission of Acculturation’s Health Effects in Hispanic Americans. Journal of Women's Health. DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2017.6526. https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/jwh.2017.6526
Molly Fox, Curt A. Sandman, Elysia Poggi Davis, Laura M. Glynn. (2018) A longitudinal study of women's depression symptom profiles during and after the postpartum phase. Depression and Anxiety. 2018:1–14. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.22719
*Molly Fox, Zaneta Thayer, Pathik D. Wadhwa. (2017) Acculturation and Health: The Moderating Role of Sociocultural Context. American Anthropologist. 119(3): 405–421. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/aman.12867/abstract
Molly Fox, Laura M. Glynn. (2017) Fetal programming of gender. The SAGE Encyclopedia of Psychology and Gender. K Nadal, Ed. SAGE Publications, Inc.: Thousand Oaks. Link to Full Text
Molly Fox, Zaneta Thayer, Pathik D. Wadhwa. (2017) Assessment of acculturation in minority health research. Social Science & Medicine. 176: 123-132.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953617300369
Jennifer Hahn-Holbrook, Molly Fox, Laura Glynn. (2016) Demonstration of Elevated Cerebrospinal Fluid CRH Levels during Pregnancy Provides Support for (Not Against) the Link between CRH and Postpartum Depression. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 101(2):L5-6
http://press.endocrine.org/doi/full/10.1210/jc.2015-3798
Molly Fox, Curt A. Sandman, Elysia Poggi Davis, Laura M. Glynn. (2015) Intra-individual consistency in endocrine profiles across successive pregnancies. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 100 (12): 4637-4647.
http://press.endocrine.org/doi/10.1210/jc.2015-2620
Molly Fox, Sonja Entringer, Claudia Buss, Jessica DeHaene, Pathik Wadhwa. (2015) Intergenerational transmission of the effects of acculturation on health in Hispanic Americans: a fetal/developmental programming perspective. American Journal of Public Health. 105(S3): S409-S423.
http://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/abs/10.2105/AJPH.2015.302571
Paul W. Andrews, Kyowon R. Lee, Molly Fox, Aadil Bharwani, J. Anderson Thomson, Jr. (2014) Is serotonin an upper or a downer? The evolution of the serotonergic system and its role in
depression and the antidepressant response. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. 51, 164–188. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149763415000287
Molly Fox, Carlo Berzuini, Leslie A. Knapp. (2013) Cumulative estrogen exposure, number of menstrual cycles, and Alzheimer's risk in a cohort of British women. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 38(12), 2973–2982. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2013.08.005.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306453013002941
Molly Fox, Corey L. Fincher, Paul W. Andrews, Leslie A. Knapp. (2013) Hygiene and the world distribution of Alzheimer’s Disease. Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health. doi: 10.1093/emph/eot015.
http://emph.oxfordjournals.org/content/2013/1/173
Molly Fox, Carlo Berzuini, Leslie A. Knapp. (2013) Maternal breastfeeding history and Alzheimer’s risk. Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. 37 (4), 809-821. doi: 10.3233/JAD-130152
http://iospress.metapress.com/content/gr8353774g62515l/
Molly Fox, Johannes Johow, Leslie A. Knapp. (2011) The Selfish Grandma Gene: The Roles of the X- Chromosome and Paternity Uncertainty in the Evolution of Grandmothering Behavior and Longevity. International Journal of Evolutionary Biology, 2011, Article ID 165919, 9 pages.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21716697
Johannes Johow, Molly Fox, Leslie A. Knapp, Eckart Voland (2011). The presence of a paternal grandmother lengthens interbirth interval following the birth of a granddaughter in Krummhörn (18th and 19th centuries). Evolution and Human Behavior. 32 (5), 315-325.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1090513810001261
❖Molly Fox, Rebecca Sear, Jan Beise, Gillian Ragsdale, Eckart Voland, Leslie A. Knapp. (2010). Grandma plays favourites: X-chromosome relatedness and sex-specific childhood mortality. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 277 (1681), 567-573.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19864288
*One of the Top-Twenty Most Downloaded Papers from American Anthropologist, 2017-2018
❖One of the Top-Ten Most Downloaded Papers from Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 2009☆One of the 5 Most Downloaded Articles of the Month, Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health, December 2021
- SELECTED PRESS
Click on the links below:
Parents (magazine). ‘Eldest Daughter Syndrome’ Is Trending—Here’s What It Means. Melissa Willets. 14-Mar-24
HuffPost. Is 'Eldest Daughter Syndrome' A Real Thing? A New Study May Surprise You. Brittany Wong. 4-Mar-24
NY Post. ‘Eldest daughter syndrome’ isn’t just a trend — it really changes first-born girls with this type of mom. Asia Grace. 5-March-24
Daily Mail. Stress during pregnancy could cause 'premature puberty' in daughters, study suggests. Emily Joshu. 20-Feb-24.
UCLA Health: U Magazine. Conflict on the maternal-fetal front. Anna Louie Sussman. Winter 2023.
UCLA Newsroom. Stress during pregnancy can lead to early maturation of first-born daughters. Elizabeth Kivowitz. 20-Feb-24
Fox 11 Los Angeles. TV news segment.
Human Behavior and Evolution Society (HBES) Newsletter. Grandmaternal allomothering may include the prenatal period. Delaney Knorr, 8-Feb-23
KCBS Radio (San Francisco). Evolutionary Medicine. Megan Goldsby. 12-Mar-23
ABC 7. Breastfeeding can help protect mothers' brains when they age, UCLA study finds. 25-Oct-21
Fox News. New study suggests breastfeeding may help prevent cognitive decline. Jessica Chasmar. 24-Oct-21UCLA Health. New study suggests that breastfeeding may help prevent cognitive decline. 22-Oct-21
People. Breastfeeding May Help Improve Mothers' Brains Long-Term, Study Finds. Julie Mazziotta. 27-Oct-21U.S. News & World Report. Could Breastfeeding Help Women Keep Their Smarts as They Age? Cara Murez 28-Oct-21
The Orange County Register. Breastfeeding may help mothers’ brains, says UCLA study. 25-Oct-21
New York Post. New study suggests breastfeeding may help prevent cognitive decline. Jessica Chasmar. 24-Oct-21
NeuroscienceNews.com. Breastfeeding May Help Prevent Cognitive Decline. 23-Oct-21
Atlanta Journal Constitution. Cognitive protection of women 50+ linked to breastfeeding, study shows. Kiersten Willis. 1-Nov-21
Science Daily. New study suggests that breastfeeding may help prevent cognitive decline. 23-Oct-21Hindustan Times. Breastfeeding may help prevent cognitive decline. 24-Oct-21
Washington Post. Women’s reproductive history may predict Alzheimer’s risk. Tara Bahrampour. 23-Jul-18
LA Times. How pregnancy and childbirth may protect some women from developing dementia. Melissa Healy. 23-Jul-18.
U.S. News & World Report. Having More Kids Tied to Lower Odds of Alzheimer' in Women. Dennis Thompson. 23-Jul-18.
Neurology Today. Why Pregnancy History May Be Neuroprotective for Alzheimer’s Risk. Thomas Collins. 24-Jul-18.
NBC News. Motherhood may affect Alzheimer's risk, studies show. Maggie Fox. 23-Jul-18
CBS News. Motherhood and fertility may hold clues to Alzheimer's risk for women. Dennis Thompson. 23-Jul-18
NPR: All Things Considered. Hormone Levels Likely Influence A Woman's Risk Of Alzheimer's, But How? Jon Hamilton. 23-Jul-18.
Dr Bonnie 360. The link between the oral microbiome and Alzheimer’s Disease. Becca Malizia. 20-May-2019
Medical Express. Pregnancy and reproductive history may impact dementia risk. 23-Jul-18
AARP. What being a woman means for dementia risk. Kathleen Fifield. 23-Jul-18
Alzheimer’s Association. Pregnancy and Reproductive History May Impact Dementia Risk Plus, the Move to
Re-Think the Impact of Hormone Therapy on Cognition. Niles Frantz. 23-Jul-18
New Scientist. The real baby brain: Motherhood messes with your mind, but not in the ways you think. Emma Young. 9-Jan-16
Pacific Standard. The 30 Top Thinkers Under 30. Avital Andrews. 1-Apr-14
Pacific Standard. The ‘Brilliant’ Research Who Wants to Put an End to Dementia. Avital Andrews. 8-Apr-14
The Times. Clean living may raise the risk of dementia. Chris Smyth. 4/9/13
The Guardian. Alzheimer’s may be linked to better hygiene, say scientists. Alok Jha. 5/9/13
Fox News. Countries with more wealth, better hygiene have higher Alzheimer’s risk. 6/9/13
Forbes. Does Living In A Healthy Environment Raise Alzheimer's Risk? Melanie Haiken. 6/9/13
Men’s Health. The Crazy Link Between Hygiene and Alzheimer’s. Cindy Kuzma. 15/9/13
CBS News. Better Hygiene Could Raise Risk of Alzheimer’s. Nicky Broyd & Farah Ahmed. 9/6/13
Huffington Post. Better Hygiene In Wealthy Nations May Increase Alzheimer's Risk, Study Suggests. Shelley Emling. 1/9/13
The Independent. Better hygiene in wealthy nations may increase Alzheimer's risk. Charlie Cooper. 4/9/13
The Telegraph. Good hygiene may be to blame for soaring Alzheimer's. Laura Donnelley. 4/9/13
Daily Mail. Alzheimer's: could good hygiene and less contact with bacteria pose 'greater risk'? Ellie Zolfagharifard. 4/9/13.
Voice of Russia (radio). Hygiene linked to Alzheimers disease. Tim Ecott. 5/9/13
Herald. Cleaner living link to rise in Alzheimer's. 20/9/13 (Ireland)
Irish Independent. Surge in Alzheimer's disease linked to cleanliness. John von Radowitz. 5/9/13
The Sun. Alzheimer’s risk ‘rises for clean fanatics.’ Lynsey Hope. 4/9/13
The Mirror. Rise in Alzheimer's cases 'linked to drinking clean water.' Louie Smith. 5/9/13
Alzheimer's Society. Better hygiene could increase risk of Alzheimer's, study claims. Dr James Pickett. 4/9/13
Nine MSN. Good hygiene blamed for rising Alzheimer's rates. Kimberly Gillan. 5/9/13 (Australia)
Cambridge News. Cambridge study finds rich nation and hygiene link to Alzheimer 'burden.' Raymond Brown. 4/9/13
Huffington Post UK. Being Hyper Hygienic Can Harm Your Immune System And Cause A Surge In Alzheimer's Disease, Experts Say. 5/9/13
Today. Alzheimer’s may be linked to improved hygiene, say scientists. 5/9/13 (Singapore)
Ohio Newsday. Alzheimer's: could good hygiene and less contact with bacteria pose 'greater risk'? Nick Mcdermott. 5/9/13
Asia News International (ANI). Better hygiene in wealthy nations linked with high risk of Alzheimer's. 5/9/13
Daily Express. "Missing Link" found in cure for Alzheimer's. Giles Sheldrick. 4/9/13 (UK)
Times of Malta. Alzheimer's link to better hygiene. John von Radowitz. 4/9/13
Times of Mumbai. Alzheimer’s: could good hygiene and less contact with bacteria pose ‘greater risk’? 5/9/13
New Kerala. Better hygiene in wealthy nations linked with high risk of Alzheimer's. ANI 5/9/13 (India)
Punjab Newsline. Better hygiene in wealthy nations may increase Alzheimer's risk. 5/9/13 (India)
Science Daily. Better Hygiene in Wealthy Nations May Increase Alzheimer's Risk. 5/9/13
Nature World News. High Alzheimer's Disease Rates in Rich Countries Linked with Hygiene. 5/9/13
Consumer Affairs. "Clean living" may contribute to Alzheimer's. James R. Hood. 4/9/13
Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. "Breastfeeding may reduce Alzheimer’s risk." 5/8/13
Daily Utah Chronicle. "U welcomes new chair, anthropology professor." 4 Sept 13
CBS News. "Breast-feeding may lower mom's risk of Alzheimer's disease." Michelle Castillo. 5 Aug 2013.
Huffington Post. "Breastfeeding May Slash Alzheimer's Risk, Study Finds." Catherine Pearson. 6 Aug 2013.
Fox News. "Breastfeeding may lower Alzheimer’s risk in mothers." 6 Aug 2013.
The Independent. "Breastfeeding might reduce women's risk of Alzheimer's disease, suggests study." Charlie Cooper. 5 Aug 2013. (UK)
The Telegraph. "Breastfeeding 'lowers Alzheimer's risk.'" Laura Donnelly. 5 Aug 2013. (UK)
BBC One. Segment on "Look East" news programme. 6 Aug 2013. (UK)
BBC Radio Scotland. Segment on "Newsdrive" news programme. 6 Aug 2013.
Daily Mail. "Mothers who breastfeed slash their risk of developing Alzheimer’s by TWO-THIRDS, claims study." Jenny Hope. 6 Aug 2013. (UK)
NHS Choices. "Does breastfeeding lower Alzheimer's risk?" 6 Aug 2013. (UK)
The People's Daily. "Breastfeeding may reduce Alzheimer's risk for breastfeeding mothers." 6 Aug 2013. (China)
Alzheimer's Society. "Women who breastfeed may be less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease." 5 Aug 2013.
Alzheimer's Research UK. "Breastfeeding linked to lower maternal Alzheimer’s risk." 5 Aug 2013.
ITV News. "Breastfeeding 'lowers risk of Alzheimer's'." 5 Aug 2013. (UK)
Times of India. "Breastfeeding cuts Alzheimer's risk in women." ANI. 6 Aug 2013.
London Evening Standard. "Breastfeeding 'could lower the risk' of Alzheimer’s." Ross Lydall. 5 Aug 2013.
CBS News Washington DC. "Study: Breastfeeding Could Lower Alzheimer’s Risk In Women." 5 Aug 2013.
ABC 7 News: Denver. New research finds breastfeeding is best for mom's mind as well as baby's. Lee Bowman. 13 Aug 13
The Evening Herald. "Breastfeeding 'cuts Alzheimer's risk for mums." Ben Kendall. 6 Aug 2013. (Ireland)
New Zealand Herald. "Breastfeeding may prevent Alzheimer's." 9 Aug 2013.
The Daily Beast. "Breastfeeding May Reduce Risk of Alzheimer’s." 6 Aug 2013.
Korea Times. "Breastfeeding may reduce Alzheimer's risk." 6 Aug 2013.
Xinhua News. "Breastfeeding may reduce Alzheimer's risk for breastfeeding mothers." 6 Aug 2013. (China)
United Press International. "Breastfeeding may lower risk of developing Alzheimer's." 7 Aug 2013.
Nursing Times. "Breastfeeding 'lowers Alzheimer's risk.'" The Press Association. 6 Aug 2013.
Parent Herald. "Breastfeeding Perk: Study Says it Lowers Alzheimer's Disease Risk." 5 Aug 2013.
Parent Society. "Want to Avoid Alzheimer’s? Try Breastfeeding!" 11 Aug 2013.
MSN. "Breast-feeding cuts moms' Alzheimer's risk by 2/3, study says." 6 Aug 2013. (Australia)
The Australian. "Breastfeeding 'lowers disease risk.'" Ben Kendall. 5 Aug 2013.
Nine MSN. "Breastfeeding 'lowers disease risk.'" 5 Aug 2013 (Australia)
Daily Telegraph. "Breastfeeding lowers mother's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease." 5 Aug 2013. (Australia)
Cambridge News. "Breastfeeding mothers at lower risk of Alzheimer's." Jennie Baker. 5 Aug 2013. (UK)
PubMed Health. "Does breastfeeding lower Alzheimer's risk?" 6 Aug 2013.
The Telegraph. “Bill Gates' Foundation is helping female researchers find their feet.” Emma Sinclair. 6 Mar 2013
PBS News Hour. “How grandmothers gave us longer live.” Rebecca Jacobson. 25 Oct 2012.
Times Higher Education. “Women and children first: The nature of nurture.” E.M. Johnson. 15 Mar 2012.
Newsweek. “An Evolutionary Edge: How Grandmas Might Play Favorites.” Sharon Begley. 12 Nov 2009.
The Independent. “Grandmothers: good for girls, bad for boys.” Steve Connor. 28 Oct 2009.
The Telegraph. “Why grandmothers prefer their sons’ daughters.” Ben Leach. 28 Oct 2009.
Science. “Grandma Plays Favorites.” Michael Balter. 28 Oct 2009.
New Scientist. “Mothering matters, but grandmothering counts too.” Jessica Hamzelou. 28 Oct 2009.
Scientific American. "Sacrifice on the Serengeti: Life History, Genetic Relatedness, and the Evolution of Menopause." Eric Michael Johnson. 13 Oct 2011.
The Daily Mail. “Why granny dotes more on her sons’ little girls.” Fiona Macrae. 28 Oct 2009.
ABC News. “Granny really does play favorites.” (Australia) Annabel McGilvray. 28 Oct 2009.
ABC Radio National. “Grandmas help girls live longer—but boys beware.” Barbara Miller. 28 Oct 2009.
New Zealand Herald. “Grandmas: good for girls, bad for boys.” 28 Oct 2009.
Times of India. “Grandmas help girls live longer.” 30 Mar 2011.
Hindustan Times. “Grandmoms prefer son’s daughters.” 29 Oct 2009.
CBC News. “Geneticists say grandmas do play favourites.” 28 Oct 2009.
Marie Claire. “Grandmothers genetically closer to granddaughters.” Lucy Halfhead. 27 Oct 2009.
The Indian Express. "Grandmas help girls live longer, but not boys." ANI. 28 Oct 2009.
Jezebel. "Boys beware: Grandmas hazardous to grandsons' health." Anna North. 28 Oct 2009.
Cambridge University. "The importance of grandmothers in the lives of their grandchildren." 29 Oct 2009.
- MULTIMEDIA
- GRANTS & FELLOWSHIPSFunding obtained for research and academic pursuits
NIH National Institute on Aging (NIA)
R21: How women’s reproductive life-history relates to cognitive decline and neuropathology in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (PI) 2023-2025
NIDDK (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney DiseasesR03: Social Adversity, Gestational Stress Physiology, and Birth Outcomes in Hispanic Americans (PI) 8/1/20- 7/31/22K01: Effects of acculturation on gestational biology in Mexican-American women (PI) 2015-2021 (NCE)
NIH National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)F32: Mental health across generations of Hispanic Americans: investigating the biomechanism of fetal programming (PI Wiley; Role: Sponsor)UCLA pilot and small grants- UCLA Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Faculty Career Development Award 9/10/2021-9/30/2022
- Transdisciplinary Research Acceleration Grant 8/1/20- 12/31/21
Institute of American Cultures (IAC) 7/1/20- 12/31/21
- Clinical and Translational Science Institute 7/3/19- 12/31/20
- Center for the Study of Women Faculty Research Grant 2018
- Hellman Fellowship 2018
NICHD Seed GrantUCLA California Center for Population Research
Socio-economic disparities and development of the infant intestinal ecology: a longitudinal cohort study
Gates Cambridge ScholarshipFully funded PhD, 2008-2013
Gates Scholars are selected for "outstanding intellectual ability, leadership potential, and commitment to improving the lives of others."
Additional Gates graduate student grants awarded:
- Research and fieldwork grant: 2010-2011
- Conference travel grant, 2011: European Society for the Study of Human Evolution, The Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
- Conference travel grant, 2009: Human Genetics & Genomics, Gordon Research Conference, University of New England, Biddeford, ME, USA
Cambridge Philosophical Societyfor travel and participation at:Human Behavior & Evolution Society Annual MeetingUniversity of New Mexico, Albuquerque, USA, 2012Human Behavior & Evolution Society Annual Meeting
University of Florida, Miami Beach, USA, 2013Gonville & Caius College, CambridgeVarious graduate student grants:Conference travel grant, 2012: Human Behavior & Evolution Society Annual Meeting, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, USA
Research grant, 2011Language study grant, 2009: Lyon, France, CEFR certification in Advanced FrenchYale UniversityVarious student fellowships and grants:2008: Sudler Arts Fund2007: Robert C. Bates Fellowship2007: Tristan Perlroth Fellowship - OTHER AFFILIATIONS
Program Chair, International Society for Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health, 2024
Program Co-Chair, International Society for Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health, 2023
Council member (elected), International Society for Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health, 2019-2023
Faculty Affiliate, UCLA Evolutionary Medicine program, from 2016
Faculty Affiliate, Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, from 2016
Faculty Affiliate, California Center for Population Research, from 2016
Affiliate Researcher, Conte Center on Brain Programming, from 2013
Associate Editor, Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 2013-2015
Alumna Interviewer, Yale University Admissions, 2012-2015
Chair, Gates Cambridge Scholars Biology Research Group, 2009-2011
Fellow, Cambridge Philosophical Society, Elected 2011
Post-Graduate Representative, Graduate Education Committee, Department of Biological Anthropology, Cambridge, 2008-09
Women’s Officer, Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge, 2009-10
Women’s Council Member, Cambridge University Student Union, 2009-10
Life Member, Cambridge Union Society, from 2008
Member of the Human Biology Association (HBA), American Association for Physical Anthropology (AAPA), International Society for Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health (ISEMPH)
- AWARDS & HONOURS
Grand Challenges Award, International Society for Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health (ISEMPH), 2021
One of Top 20 Most Downloaded Articles from 2017-2018, American Anthropologist (journal)
Best New Investigator Award, Evolutionary Anthropology Society 2017
The 30 Top Thinkers Under 30, Pacific Standard, 2014
Distinguished Speaker, Cambridge in America Day: Women in Science. Mountain View, California 2013
Poster prize, World Congress on Developmental Origins of Health & Disease, 2013
ABTA Doctoral Research Award, 1st place in Biological & Medical Sciences 2012
Poster prize (2nd place), Human Behavior & Evolution Society Annual Meeting 2012
One of Top 10 Most Downloaded Articles from Proceedings of the Royal Society B 2009
Stanley Wheeler Award (top arts student in Morse college), Yale University, 2008
Distinction in the two majors of Anthropology & Theatre Studies, Yale University, 2008
USA Today All-USA Academic Team 2004
New York State Health Facilities Young Adult Volunteer of the Year 2004
- TEACHING EXPERIENCE
UCLA Courses:
Lecture courses:
ANTHRO 129 - Selected Topics in Biological Anthropology: Evolutionary Medicine
ANTHRO 1 - Human Evolution
Seminars:
ANTHRO 191HE - Writing for Publication and Conference Presentations
ANTHRO 194 - Research Group Seminars: Anthropology
ANTHRO 202A - Biological Anthropology Colloquium
Individual studies:
ANTHRO 99 - Student Research Program
ANTHRO 199 - Directed Research in Anthropology
ANTHRO 197 - Individual Studies in Anthropology
ANTHRO 99 - Student Research Program
ANTHRO 596 - Individual Studies for Graduate Students
ANTHRO 599 - Research for PhD Dissertation
SOC GEN 196 - Research Apprenticeship in Society and Genetics
SOC GEN 199 - Directed Studies in Society and Genetics
University of Cambridge:
“Nature versus Nurture.” Archaeology & Anthropology first-year students. 2010/2011
“Hormones & Behavior.” Bio Anth final-year students and MPhils. 2008/2009; 2009/2010; 2010/2011
“Hormones & Life History.” Bio Anth final-year students and MPhils. 2008/2009; 2009/2010; 2010/2011
“Chromosomes & Mortality.” Biology and Medicine summer students. 2009/2010; 2010/2011
Cambridge Undergraduates Dissertations Supervised:
“Female Social Group Preferences and Sex Hormones.” 2011
“Post-copulatory selection in humans: What can imprinted genes tell us?” 2010
“Adaptive advantages of autism in an evolutionary context: The Male Mating Hypothesis.” 2010
“The Genomics of Foetal Growth in the Context of Parental Conflict.” 2010
Cambridge Undergraduate Courses Supervised:
Biological Anthropology Part I (year-long first-year course): 2009/2010, six colleges
Theory and Practice in Biological Anthropology (year-long final year course): 2009/2010; 2010/2011
Evolution and Behavior (one-term first year course for students in Natural Sciences tripos): 2010/2011
- SKILLS & OTHER PUBLICATIONSLaboratoryDNA extraction
PCR/Gel electrophoresisELISA/EIAClinicalClinical Dementia Rating certification 2010
from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
Alzheimer's Disease Research Center
Adult (prenatal and geriatric) urine, saliva, swab collections
Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) imaging of newborns/infants
Newborn/infant urine collection, saliva collection, buccal swab
Newborn/infant anthropometry
Infant motor and social development interviews
Maternal breast milk collection
Maternal-child feeding interviews
- Please get in touch. I'm always looking for new ways to connect with colleagues and students!