Beverly I. Strassmann
Faculty Associate, RCGD
Professor, Anthropology
- bis@umich.edu
- 734-936-0428
- 5258 ISR

BIO
Beverly Strassmann's research focuses on evolution and human behavior. Her current projects include a longitudinal study of the influence of family structure on child health and survival in the Dogon of Mali, West Africa. Dr. Strassmann uses evolutionary theory to understand the social niche of the child and to predict favorable and unfavorable health outcomes. She also focuses on kinship to explore the interaction between biology and culture. In particular she is interested in the genetic effects of cultural practices that female sexuality, such as patrilineality and polygyny. She teaches courses on quantitative field methods, human reproductive and behavioral ecology, and natural selection.
- Strassmann, Beverly I., and Nikhil T. Kurapati. 2016. "What Explains Patrilineal Cooperation?" Current Anthropology 57: S118-S130.
- Strassmann, Beverly I., Nikhil T. Kurapati, Brendan F. Hug, Erin E. Burke, Brenda W. Gillespie, Tatiana M. Karafet, and Michael F. Hammer. 2012. "Religion as a means to assure paternity." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 109(25): 9781-9785.
- Strassmann, Beverly I., and Wendy M. Garrard. 2011. "Alternatives to the Grandmother Hypothesis A Meta-Analysis of the Association Between Grandparental and Grandchild Survival in Patrilineal Populations." Human Nature-an Interdisciplinary Biosocial Perspective 22(1-2): 201-222.
- Nepomnaschy, P. A., K. B. Welch, D. S. McDonnell, Bobbi Low, Beverly I. Strassmann, and B. G. England. 2006. "Cortisol Levels and Very Early Pregnancy Loss in Humans." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 103(10): 3938-3942.