Michael Wasserman is Associate Professor of Anthropology and Human Biology, P.I. of the Primate Environmental Endocrinology Lab (PEEL), and Director of the Human Biology Program at Indiana University Bloomington. From 2013-16, he was Assistant Professor of Environmental Science and Policy at St. Edward’s University. Prior to that, he was a Tomlinson Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Anthropology at McGill University. He received his PhD in 2011 from the Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management at the University of California, Berkeley. His undergraduate degrees are in Anthropology (BA) and Zoology (BS) from the University of Florida.
Michael’s research interests include primate ecology and evolution, environmental endocrinology, nutritional anthropology, and conservation and sustainability. He is currently examining ecological and evolutionary relationships between wild primates and exogenous chemicals that interact with the endocrine system, including naturally-occurring phytosteroids and anthropogenic pesticides. Most of his research takes place in Kibale National Park, Uganda, and La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica.
Michael currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Organization for Tropical Studies, which runs research centers and offers courses and research opportunities across Costa Rica and South Africa. He led a National Science Foundation (NSF) International Research Experience for Students program with Dr. Peter Beck from 2016-2023 focused on the effects of environmental policies, conservation incentives, and land use patterns on primates across Costa Rica and Uganda. He currently leads an NSF Dynamics of Integrated Socio-Environmental Systems project on understanding invisible socio-environmental systems through pesticide exposure across human-wildlife interactions in tropical forest-agricultural mosaics. Michael has taught multiple field courses for undergraduate and graduate students in Costa Rica, Uganda, and France.
Website: www.mdwasserman.com
