Group Members

Principal Investigator

  • Principal Investigator

behavioral ecology, evolutionary medicine, indigenous health

  • (805) 893-2202
  • Office: HSSB 2060
  • Lab: HSSB 2048

We have a motivated group of graduate students, postdocs, and undergrads studying diverse topics within evolutionary anthropology. Current emphases include acculturation and diabetes/cardiovascular disease, role of pathogens and immune function in chronic disease risk, social capital and women's autonomy, reproductive decision-making and fertility transitions, kin investment and the function of post-reproductive lifespan, adaptive logic of infant feeding practices, personality evolution, cooperation and altruism, human-chimpanzee life history comparisons, outgroup psychology and evolution of tolerance, and hormone-behavior interactions.

Postdoctoral Scholars

  • Postdoctoral Scholar

Graduate Students

  • Graduate Student
  • Graduate Student
  • Graduate Student

Undergraduate Alumni/Honors Research Students

  • Undergraduate research
  • Honors thesis + indep research

My work explores arterial function, one-carbon metabolism, and other cardiovascular risk factors in their distribution and association with event outcomes. I have focused on developing prevention and management strategies for improving cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health using population-based evidence and epidemiological analysis methods to serve public health and clinical interests. I believe that assessing vascular conditions requires systematic knowledge of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms in addition to the usual individual risk factors. I’m also interested in understanding vascular health from an evolutionary perspective. 

  • Undergraduate researcher
  • Undergraduate research
  • Undergraduate researcher
  • Honors Thesis
  • Undergraduate researcher
  • Undergraduate research
  • Honors Thesis
  • Undergraduate Student
  • Researcher/Project Manager
  • Undergraduate Student
  • Undergraduate Student
  • Undergraduate research
  • Undergraduate researcher

Interested in studying at UCSB?

Email me directly: gurven@anth.ucsb.edu

Ideal candidates:

  1. have a scientifically curious mind
  2. have diverse interests within biocultural anthropology and human biology,
  3. have an active desire to conduct field-based studies in ethical way,
  4. have quantitative skills and developed logical reasoning,
  5. are intrinsically motivated

Lab Alumni