Principal Investigator
Dr. David Puts
David is a Professor of Anthropology and Co-Director of the Center for Human Evolution and Diversity at Penn State. He is Co-Editor of the journal Evolutionary Psychology, Editor of Evolution and Human Behavior, and Associate Editor of the journals Adaptive Human Behavior and Physiology and Archives of Sexual Behavior. He received his bachelor’s degree in anthropology with a minor in mathematics from Kenyon College, Master’s and Ph.D. degrees in anthropology from the University of Pittsburgh, and postdoctoral training in neuroscience at Michigan State University. David is interested in how sex hormones affect our psychological and behavioral development, and why we evolved these developmental patterns. Outside of the lab, David is generally still thinking and talking about research. But when he’s not doing this, he likes outdoor activities, sports, games, good food, and especially being around friends and family.
Websites:
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=fZ_ZqrMAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=sra
Graduate Students
Sojung Baek
Sojung is a 3rd-year Doctoral student, interested in looking at human empathy by drawing perspectives from Behavioral Endocrinology, Human Behavioral Ecology, and Social Psychology. You can find her in wet lab processing samples for hormonal assays during semesters and in Bangladesh, interviewing women on their empathic expression and support network during summer/winter breaks. She has a cat named Posie Alexandra Sookie (숙희) and you can see the lovely short-legged creature in 421 Carpenter if you are lucky.
Saeed Koohgard
Ph.D. Student
I am Saeed Koohgard. I will be starting my PhD program in 2024 and I hope to finish in 2029.
Sexual selection, sexual strategies, mate preferences, motivation, and self-esteem are some of the core areas of evolutionary psychology and anthropology that I study. And also reading, watching movies, and painting occupy my leisure time.
Lab Manager
Rachel Buterbaugh
Lab Manager
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Jayden O'Neel
Project Coordinator/Research Assisstant
Jayden is a 4rth-year undergraduate student studying neuropsychology at Penn State. They joined the lab because of their interest in current areas of research and the psychological aspects of it. After graduation, they plan to attend graduate school and research the neurological and biological affects of chronic stress. Outside of the lab, you will find them on the Penn State Dressage Team or in a comfy chair reading a book.
Courtney Elmore
Research Assistant
Courtney Elmore is a U.S. military veteran currently pursuing a second bachelor’s degree in Anthropology. With a strong foundation in laboratory procedures, Courtney has gained extensive hands-on experience in both wet lab techniques and personnel training. Her academic interests are complemented by practical skills in photography, laboratory organization, and personnel management, which she developed through previous roles in research and laboratory environments. As a veteran, Courtney brings a disciplined, goal-oriented approach to her academic and professional endeavors. She is dedicated to furthering her expertise in Anthropology and contributing to research with a focus on efficiency, precision, and effective teamwork.
Amber Penley
Research Assistant
Akene Moutchia
Research Assistant
Mary Ellen McGlade
Research Assistant
Emma Russell
Research Assistant
Patrick Eiswerth
Research Assistant
Patrick is graduating next year and majoring in Psychology with a minor in Anthropology. His research interest is truly any form of human behavior and the evolutionary basis behind it. After graduating and eventually attaining a Doctorate Degree, Patrick hopes to be able to participate contribute research within the evolutionary psychology field. His hobbies are playing video games, drawing, making people laugh, and playing soccer.
Lab Manager Alumni
- Allyssa McDougal
- Catherine Hess
- Janie Johnson
- Heather Self
- Albi Hacker
Graduate Alumni
- Alex Hill
- Christoph Schild
- Jay Bundy
- John Wheatley
- Julia Barndt
- Lauramarie Pope
- Leslie Doll
- Natalie Motta-Mena
- Sarah Wolff
Postdoctoral Alumni
- Rob Burriss
- Alex Hill
- Isaac Santoyo
- Kevin Rosenfield
- Lisa Welling
- Rob Burriss
- Toe Aung
Dr. Kevin Rosenfield
Websites:
- https://github.com/kevinrosenfield
- https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Wyry_OIAAAAJ&hl=en
- https://kevinrosenfield.com
Education:
Penn State University: 2016 – Present (PhD in Biological Anthropology)
2014-15 – University of Roehampton – Masters of Research in Primatology
2009-11 – Rutgers University – Bachelors of Science in Evolutionary Anthropology
Dr. Toe Aung
Undergraduate Alumni
- Abby Shroba
- Adam Gallagher
- Alyssa Carlier
- Anna Belinda
- Anna Schauble
- Annie Marcinek
- Ashlyn Montresor
- Austin Griffin
- Bianca Padilla
- Briann Millin
- Carly Hunter
- Caroline Magdinec
- Cecilia Mabilais-Estevez
- Claudia Gonzalez
- Corey Everley
- Daphne Weidner
- Emma Sieminski
- Emily Brokenshire
- Grace Blaha
- Janie Johnson
- Janiyah Davis
- Jessica Hlay
- Jessica Pavliska
- Jessica Settino
- Jill Mijares
- Kathryn Ryan
- Kara Peterson
- Kelsey Karpink
- Kevin Garcia
- Lewis Gall
- Lisa Staniec
- Liz Johnson
- Maria Rossi
- María Suárez
- Megan Miller
- Meghan Malloy
- Muggs Leone
- Nancy Wong
- Nicholas Malizia
- Rachel Chieco
- Richard Holler
- Sara Carlson
- Sarah Moore
- Shakinah Perry
- Shelby Tencza
- Stacey Sutton
- Stephanie Malpica
- Steven Makkar
- Sydney Rodman
- Tessa Sontheimer
- Troy Steiner
- Valentina Ceccarelli
- Vivianne Mazzocco
- William Quigley
- Grace Hart
- Reagan Dixon
- Charlotte Mann
- Madison Allen
- Sabrina Cross
- Hannah Yurack
- Cleo Gesenberg
- Stefanie Rose
- Veronia Zubritzky
- Seth Richards
Visiting Scholars Alumni
- Sojung Baek
- Tessa Cappelle
- Natalie Motta-Mena
- Christoph Schild