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Alyssa Crittenden
Lincy Assistant Professor of Anthropology
Expertise: Anthropology, Nutrition, Human Behavioral Ecology, Hunters and Gatherers, Evolution of Childhood
About
Alyssa Crittenden is the Lincy Foundation Assistant Professor of Anthropology at UNLV, and a behavioral ecologist and nutritional anthropologist who works among the Hadza hunter-gatherers of Tanzania, East Africa.
Her research interests include the evolution of the human diet, the evolution of childhood, the development of children's prosocial behavior, and the origins of the division of labor between the sexes. She applies the principles of evolutionary theory to the study of human behavior and cultural diversity. Her work crosses several disciplines, including anthropology, psychology, ecology, nutrition, and human biology.
Published widely in top-tier academic journals, Crittenden's research on the role of honey in human evolution and her work on Hadza diet and the gut microbiome has found its way to popular venues, such as National Geographic, The Smithsonian, National Public Radio, and several documentaries which have been shown in film festivals around the world.
Education
- Ph.D., Biological Anthropology, University of California, San Diego
- M.A., Anthropology, University of California, San Diego
- B.A., Anthropology, University of California, Santa Cruz
Alyssa Crittenden In The News
The Scientist
Jan 15, 2016
A low-fiber diet decimated the diversity of bacterial species in mice colonized with human gut microbes in a recent study.
Sep 3, 2014
Some experts say modern humans should eat from a Stone Age menu. What's on it may surprise you.
Articles Featuring Alyssa Crittenden
Apr 18, 2017 Research
From professional reasons to personal connections, faculty across campus share why they’re fond of certain works they penned.
Mar 15, 2017 Campus News
Oral health of modern day African tribe transitioning from hunting and gathering to agricultural diet challenges long held presumptions about our Stone Age ancestors.