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Amy Jacobson Ph.D.

• EDUCATION

  • 2005 Ph.D. Evolutionary Anthropology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey Dissertation: The Effect of Fluctuating Asymmetry and Attractiveness on Self-Perception, Self-Deception and Preferences for Others in Rural Jamaica Academic Advisor: Robert Trivers

  • 1996 M.A. Physical Anthropology, Arizona State University Thesis: Evaluating Psychological Wellness in Captive Chimpanzees Academic Advisor: Leanne Nash

  • 1991 B.A. Anthropology and Zoology, State University of New York College at Oswego




• RESEARCH POSITIONS

  • 2016 – Present
    Research Director, Biosocial Research Foundation

  • 2010 - Present
    Psychtable.org, Senior Advisor (www.PsychTable.org)

  • 1997 - Present
    Project Manager, Jamaican Symmetry Project (JSP), Robert Trivers

  • 2001 - 2004
    Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, Facial Symmetry Project, H. Dieter Steklis

  • 2001 - 2004
    Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, Poaching Database Project, H. Dieter Steklis

  • 2000 - 2001
    Human Sex Ratio Project, Lionel Tiger

  • 1994 - 1996
    Research Department, Primate Foundation of Arizona (Pan Troglodytes)

  • 1992 - 1993
    Volunteer, Duke University Primate Center (22 Prosimian species)

• PUBLICATIONS

  • Jacobson, A., Trivers, RL and Palestis, B. 2019  Number of friends and self-perception among Jamaican children:  the role of attractiveness and fluctuating asymmetry.  Journal of BioSocial Science, 1-14.   doi:10.1017/S0021932019000373

  • Jacobson, A. 2017. Parental Investment and Sexual Selection. In T. Shackelford and V. Weekes-Shackelford (eds.) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Sciences. Springer 1/13 pp. 1-2. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_3584-1

  • Jacobson, A. 2016. Robert Trivers. In T. Shackelford and V. Weekes-Shackelford (eds.) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Sciences. Springer. 12/21 pp. 1-9. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_1867-1

  • Jacobson, A. 2016. Reciprocal Altruism. In T. Shackelford and V. Weekes-Shackelford (eds.) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Sciences. Springer 11/3 pp. 1-2. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_1868-1

  • Jacobson, A. 2016. Parent Offspring Conflict. In T. Shackelford and V. Weekes-Shackelford (eds.) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Sciences. Springer 12/5 pp. 1-3. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_1869-1

  • Jacobson, A. 2016. Self-Deception. In T. Shackelford and V. Weekes-Shackelford (eds.) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Sciences. Springer 11/29 pp. 1-3. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_1870-1)

  • Williams, M.N. and Jacobson, A. 2016. Effect of Copulins on rating of Female Attractiveness, Mate Guarding, and Self-Perceived Sexual Desirability. Evolutionary Psychology 14(2):1-8. http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1474704916643328

  • Brown, W.M., Cronk, L., Grochow, K., Jacobson, A., Liu C. K., Popovic, Z , Trivers, R. 2013. Retraction: Dance Reveals Symmetry Especially in Young Men. Nature 504.

  • Trivers, R, Manning, J., Jacobson, A. 2006. A Longitudinal Study of Digit Ratio (2D:4D) and Other Finger Ratios in Jamaican Children. Hormones and Behavior 49 :150-156. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16040033

  • Brown, W.M., Cronk, L., Grochow, K., Jacobson, A., Liu C. K., Popovic, Z , Trivers, R. 2005. Dance Reveals Symmetry Especially in Young Men. Nature 438:7071 pp. 1148-1150.

  • Penton-Voak, I.S., Jacobson A., Trivers, R. 2004. Populational Differences in Attractiveness Judgments of Male and Female Faces: Comparing British and Jamaican Samples. Evolution and Human Behavior 25(6):355-370. http://www.ehbonline.org/article/S1090-5138(04)00051-0/fulltext

  • Jacobson, A.S. and L.T. Nash 1995. Behavioral Thermoregulation in a Captive Population of Ring-Tailed Lemurs (Lemur catta). American Journal of Primatology 36(2):130. Abstract of Poster Presented at the Eighteenth Annual Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists.

• ORAL PRESENTATIONS

  • Jacobson, A. 2016. The Evolutionary Biology of Mental Illness. Department of Psychology, Airlangga University, Surabaya ,Indonesia.

  • Jacobson, A. 2016. The Evolutionary Biology of Violence and Aggression. Department of Political Science, Airlangga University, Surabaya, Indonesia.

  • Jacobson, A. 2016. The Evolutionary Biology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. Department of Anthropology, Airlangga University, Surabaya Indonesia.

  • Jacobson, A. 2016. The Evolutionary Biology of Human Belief Systems. Department of Anthropology, Airlangga University, Surabaya Indonesia.

  • Jacobson, A. 2016. Forensic Anthropology. Professional Development Series – Monmouth University School of Nursing, West Longbranch NJ.

  • Williams, M. and A. Jacobson 2015. The Effect of Copulin on Male Ratings of Female Attractiveness, Mate-Guarding Tendencies, Intrasexual Aggression, Mating Motivation and Perceived Desirability. North East Evolutionary Psychology Annual Conference in Boston, MA. April 9-11.

  • Jacobson, A. Are God and Science Compatible? Featured speaker for debate, sponsored by Rutgers Ratio Christi April 16, 2013.

  • Feinberg, D. R. and A. Jacobson 2002. Human Mate Choice and Female Preferences for Male Voices: Correlations with 2D:4D and Sexual Behavior. Presented at the 2002 Human Behavior and Evolution Society meeting, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ.

  • Jacobson, A. and R. L. Trivers 2002. Attractiveness and Potential as a Friend in Jamaican Children as a Function of Bodily Symmetry of Chooser and Chosen. Presented at the Human Behavior and Evolution Society meeting, Rutgers, New Brunswick, NJ.

  • Feinberg, D. and A. Jacobson 2001. Human Mate Choice and Female Preferences for Voices: Correlations with Symmetry and Sexual Behavior. Presentation given at the 2001 Human Behavior and Evolution Society meeting, University College, London, England.

  • Penton-Voak, I. and A. Jacobson 2001. Cross-Cultural Differences in Attractiveness Judgments of Male Faces: a Rural Jamaican Sample. Presentation given at the 2001 Human Behavior and Evolution Society meeting, University College, London, England.

• FILM PROJECTS

  • Wild Life: Biopic on Robert Trivers. Susan Kucera. Due out in 2018. Trailer: https://vimeo.com/147398514

  • 12th Hour. Documentary on the Future of the Human Species. Susan Kucera, Narrated by Jeff Bridges. Due out 2018. Trailer: http://12thhourdoc.com

  • Living in the Future’s Past. Examining the impact Humans have had on the Planet. Jeff Bridges & Susan Kucera. Due out 2018. Trailer: https://www.livinginthefuturespastfilm.com

• TEACHING EXPEREINCE, AWARDS AND CERTIFICATIONS

  • Visiting Lecturer, Department of Anthropology, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Airlangga University, Surabaya, Indonesia

    • December 2016

    • • Delivered several large public lectures on Evolutionary Biology and Behavior

      • Edited/proofed articles in preparation for submission to major international journals

      • Guest lectured in Anthropology, Psychology and Anatomy courses

      • Met with faculty, students, LGBT and Womens rights activists

      • Served on academic discussion panels on gender/sexuality and domestic abuse

      • Participated in collection of anthropomorphic measurement data from children

  • Part-Time Lecturer, Monmouth University, West Long Branch, NJ

    2015 Fall	102:01 Cultural Anthropology
    2016 Spring	102:01 Cultural Anthropology
    	102:03 Cultural Anthropology

  • Annual Appointment, Anthropology Department, Rutgers, The State University of NJ

    2011 Spring	212: Life of Primates
    	310: Human Aggression
    	348: Primatology Socioecology
    2010 Fall	204: Social Evolution
    	350: Primatology & Human Evolution

  • Part-Time Lecturer, Rutgers, The State University of NJ

    2016 Spring	310: Human Aggression
    2015 Summer	204: Social Evolution
    2015 Spring	204: Social Evolution
    2014 Fall	310: Human Aggression
    2014 Spring	310: Human Aggression
    2012 Spring	204: Social Evolution
    2011 Fall	204: Social Evolution
    2002 Fall	204: Social Evolution
    2001 Spring	204: Social Evolution
    2001 Spring	348: Primate Socioecology
    2000 Summer	204: Social Evolution
    1998 Summer	350: Primatology & Human Evolution

  • Instructor, Writing Program, Rutgers, The State University of NJ

    2002 Fall	English 101: Expository Writing section PR
    	English 101: Expository Writing section QA

  • Teaching Assistant, Department of Anthropology, Rutgers, The State University of NJ

    2004 Spring	204: Social Evolution, Robert Trivers
    2003 Fall	204: Social Evolution, Lee Cronk
    2002 Spring	293/294: Anthropology of Fun and Games (7 weeks), Lionel Tiger Social Uses of Food (7 weeks), Lionel Tiger
    2000 Fall	204: Social Evolution, Lee Cronk
    1999 Spring	204: Social Evolution, Robert Trivers
    1998 Spring	212: Survey of Living Primates, H. Dieter Steklis
    1998 Fall	102: Intro to Human Evolution, Robert Blumenschine

  • Teaching Assistant, Department of Anthropology, Arizona State University

    1995 Spring	101: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
    1994 Fall	101: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology

  • Teaching Awards, Rutgers The State University of NJ

    2001‑2002	Faculty of Arts & Sciences - Excellence in Teaching by a Graduate Student
    2002	Graduate School New Brunswick - Graduate Student Teaching Award

  • Certifications

    2001 Spring

    Certificate in Teaching Higher Education – Graduate School New Brunswick

• NOTABLE UNDERGRADUATE HONOR STUDENTS

  Megan Williams	Thesis: Effects on Males of Exposure to Copulin – Highest Honors Presented at North Eastern Evolutionary Psychology Society April 2015 Full scholarship to University of Pennsylvania, Department of Psychology Ph.D. Program
  Niruban Balachandran	Thesis: Physical Attractiveness Bias in Hiring Decisions - Highest Honors Masters, London School of Economics Founder and President, Teambuilders International Ltd. Indonesia Projects Monitoring Officer, World Bank - Social, Urban, Rural & Global Practice Ph.D. Program in International Relations, Harvard University
  David Feinberg	Thesis: Female Choice for Male Vocal Qualities & Facial Symmetry - Highest Honors Fieldwork in Jamaica Presented at Human Behavior and Evolution Conference London 2001 Ph.D., St. Andrews University Scotland Postdoctoral Position, Harvard University Professor, McMaster University
  Mirit Cohen	Thesis: Yerkes Primate Center Chimpanzee Facial Expression Project - Highest Honors Fieldwork in Jamaica Measurement of RJSP finger bones from X-rays for FA and 2D:4D ratio Bronx Zoo gorilla behavior project Masters, Stanford University
  Kathlyn Weightman	Thesis: Philadelphia Zoo Orangutan and Gibbon use of space project
  Alison Milroy	Thesis: Preferences for morphed faces in an East African sample Effect of cosmetics on female facial symmetry and attractiveness

• DEPARTMENTAL/PROFESSIONAL SERVICE

  2015	Organizing Committee, Northeastern Evolutionary Psychology Society Meeting
  1998‑2003	Graduate student advisor to Undergraduate Anthropology Club
  1997‑2002	Rutgers Anthropology Graduate Student Association Executive Committee
  1998‑2002	Liaison to Rutgers Graduate School Teaching Assistant Project (TAP)
  2002	Organizing Committee, Human Behavior and Evolution Society Meeting
  2001	Rutgers High School Outreach – Bronx Zoo primate field trip curriculum
  1999	Co – Editor, Graduate Student Journal - Crosscurrents
  1999	Co-Organizer, Annual Crosscurrents conference
  1995	Organizing Committee, American Society of Primatology Annual Meeting