Justin Pargeter’s research on miniaturized tools is featured in Emory News

The journal Evolutionary Anthropology is publishing the first overview of prehistoric tool miniaturization, a technology which has been largely overlooked in the stone tool record. The paper, co-authored by current Emory Anthropology post-doc Justin Pargeter, argues that technological miniaturization was a central tendency in hominin technologies going back at least 2.6 million years and may have helped some humans survive climate change during the last period of rapid global climate change.

Carol Worthman’s research on sleep is cited in Aeon article

“Here’s to naps and snoozes.” In his article Todd Pitock summarizes the American culture of sleep and its perceptions of what is considered acceptable and contextualizes it with international examples. He quotes Dr. Worthman who’s research on sleep around the world has shown it as “more flexible and more social” then sleep is considered in the West. Communal sleeping arrangement are more common and can be based on an array of reasons such as comfort or safety, while the West has a tendency to judge sleep by its number of hours spend not being productive.

Mel Konner publishes book review essay in The Atlantic

In “A Bold New Theory Proposes That Humans Tamed Themselves” Dr. Konner contextualizes the research published by Richard Wrangham in “ The Goodness Paradox: The Strange Relationship Between Virtue and Violence in Human Evolution”.

Give it a read here.

Peter Little delivers the African Studies Review Distinguished Lecture

Screen Shot 2019-02-26 at 11.47.43 AM.png Peter Little delivers the African Studies Review Distinguished Lecture at the 61^st Annual Meetings of the African Studies Association (ASA), Atlanta, GA, November 30, 2018 The ASA is the largest professional association of African specialists in the world.

Dr. Justin Pargeter publishes research on prehistoric toolmaking

In a recent publication in the journal Antiquity, Justin Pargeter (a Postdoctoral researcher with Emory University’s Anthropology Department) argues the motivations of prehistoric hunter-gatherers for selecting particular rocks for toolmaking are often explained in too rigidly functional or symbolic terms. By examining the exploitation of crystal quartz at two archaeological sites (Ntloana Tšoana and Sehonghong) in Lesotho, southern Africa, he and his co-author Jamie Hampson (University of Exeter) reveal that stone tool production required a form of engagement unique to crystal quartz’s specific properties (including possibly quartz crystal’s piezoelectric effects). The prefered use of quartz crystals—irrespective of the availability of other rocks for tool production—demonstrates agency and variability in the prehistoric technologies.

Calling all knappers – Dr. Stout studies the connection between ancient stone tool-making and the human brain

Dr. Dietrich Stout is an experimental archeologist at the department of Anthropology where he researches connections between prehistoric stone tool-making, known as knapping, and the human brain. He has set up an online experiment in collaboration with Robert Rein at the German Sport University Cologne. Participants are asked to spend 10 minutes of their time to help deepen our understanding of the relationship between the visual-spatial skills used in knapping and areas of the brain that are involved in language processing. Dr. Stout is hoping to establish whether participants can differentiate size the of stone flakes removed during knapping, and how novice knappers fare in comparison to experts.

Read more about this on eScienceCommons and Dr. Stout’s website.

Peter Little’s research is spotlighted in the Chronicle

Dr. Little participated in the Happiness and Well-being Project based at Saint Luis University along with over 150 other researchers from 20 nation and spanning multiple fields. The Chronicle Article spotlighted the work done by Dr. Little in collaboration with Workneh Negatu (Agricultural Economics, Addis Ababa University) and Mark Risjord (Philosophy, Emory University), which focused on life satisfaction and well-being in northern Kenya and Ethiopia.

Jessica Thompson’s research is featured on Scienceseen

Scienceseen featured Dr. Thompson’s work in pictures and video, giving a fascinating view into her field work in Malawi. The full story can be found on Instagram.

Contemporary LatinX Studies – ECAS Cluster Hire

Emory College of Arts and Sciences in Atlanta, Georgia announces a special initiative to recruit and support several tenure-track and tenured faculty (advanced assistant and/or associate/full professors) in the area of contemporary LatinX studies in the humanities and social sciences. Faculty whose research advances this emerging field of scholarship, who bring a demonstrated commitment to mentoring a diverse student body, and who are eager to contribute to the University’s ambitious goals of scholarly excellence, diversity and inclusivity, and interdisciplinarity are encouraged to apply. This search will complement Emory’s growing distinction in the scholarship of race and the African American experience, recent faculty appointments in the departments of Spanish and Portuguese and Religion, our exceptional archival holdings and special collections in the Rose Library, partnerships with Atlanta-based institutions, and a commitment to interdisciplinary scholarship and collaboration. Departments participating in this multi-field search include: African American Studies, Anthropology, Art History, Economics, English, Film and Media Studies, Philosophy, Political Science, Religion, Sociology, Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Research and teaching expertise including but not limited to the following fields are of particular interest: LatinX and Afro LatinX literature, art, and culture, philosophy, citizenship, race, gender, sexuality, religion, political economy of migration, labor, and health. All applicants must have a demonstrated commitment to teaching and mentoring a diverse student body. Candidates must hold a Ph.D. in a relevant discipline/field.

Review of applications will begin October 8, 2018. Full consideration will be given to all applications received within 30 days. Review will continue until positions are filled. At this stage, we ask applicants to submit a cover letter, names and contact information of three references, and a CV. Candidates’ cover letters should include a discussion of their experience and vision regarding the teaching and mentorship of students of diverse backgrounds.

Emory University is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. Women, minorities, people with disabilities and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply.

Application Instructions:

Applicants are asked to submit a cover letter and CV only during this phase of the recruitment using the following link: https://apply.interfolio.com/56210. Candidates will be asked to submit additional supporting materials if selected to participate in future phases of recruitment. Questions may be sent to: Carla Freeman, Senior Associate Dean of Faculty: Dean_of_Faculty@emory.edu

Faculty Search in Anthropology – Associate / Full Professor

EMORY UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY

Associate Professor / Full Professor

The Department of Anthropology in the College of Arts and Sciences at Emory University, Atlanta GA invites applications for a full-time position in Biological Anthropology at the rank of associate or full professor, to begin August, 2019. We seek a scientifically-oriented anthropologist pursuing theoretically rigorous study in the area of Human Biology. The ideal candidate will examine variation in human biology (e.g., endocrine function, immune function, energetics, neurobiology, anatomy, genetics) either across or within human populations from an evolutionary perspective. The ideal candidate also will have an established field and lab-based research program that will provide research opportunities for both the candidate and future graduate students. Candidates must be able to interact effectively with faculty in a broadly-inclusive department with joint biological and cultural focus, hold a doctoral degree, have a strong research record, and be committed to quality teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate level. Candidates also must be able and willing to regularly teach an introductory course in Human Biology.

Applications should include a cover letter, curriculum vita, a research statement, a teaching statement, and complete contact information for three references. The Department of Anthropology, Emory College and Emory University embrace diversity and seek candidates who will participate in a climate that attracts students of all ethnicities, races, nationalities, and genders. In a separate statement, please reflect upon your experience and vision regarding the teaching and mentorship of students from diverse backgrounds.

Applications will be accepted through November 9, 2018. To apply for this position, please visit apply.interfolio.com/53927 and submit your materials free of charge through Interfolio.