A guide to careers in physical anthropology / edited by Alan S. Ryan.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Ryan, Alan S., 1950-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Physical anthropology--Vocational guidance.

Physical anthropology.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (304 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Distribution:

London : Bloomsbury Publishing, 2024

Place of Publication:

Westport, Conn. : Praeger, 2001.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The field of physical anthropology deals with issues that everyone thinks about and cares about: our origins, our evolutionary history, and why we look and act the way we do. The field has benefited greatly by increased attention from the media, from popular books, and from several television series. There is a multitude of topics considered by physical anthropologists, including human and primate origins, primate societies, growth and development, genetics, forensic science, and nutrition. Most physical anthropology graduate students have traditionally aspired to research and/or teaching careers at a university. However, during the last decade there has been an increased interest in non-traditional careers outside the ivory tower, primarily because the number of new physical anthropology Ph.D.s exceeds the number of jobs available in anthropology departments. Because physical anthropology encompasses a variety of research interests, students are broadly trained and have a wealth of talents and skills that make them competitive for non-academic careers. However, pursuing opportunities outside the academy requires thoughtful planning and training. This collection serves as a reference for students contemplating a career in physical anthropology within or outside the academy. Several rewarding career paths that physical anthropologists have chosen are described. Students will understand how anthropological theory, methods, and training are applicable to job responsibilities and career development. This book will also help departments of anthropology design coursework and training programs that will make their students more competitive. In sum, the future of anthropology seems promising given the discipline's broad scope and concern for issues faced by contemporary society, and physical anthropologists will be playing an increased role in many arenas.

Contents:

Cover

A Guide to Careers in Physical Anthropology

Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1 The Meaning of Physical Anthropology

PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY-AN EVOLUTIONARY SCIENCE

THE DEVELOPMENT OF EVOLUTIONARY THOUGHT

THE DEVELOPMENT OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY

SUBFIELDS OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY

Primatology

Paleoanthropology

Human Variation

NEWLY EMERGING SPECIALTIES AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS

CHALLENGES

CONCLUSION

REFERENCES

Chapter 2 Teaching Physical Anthropology in a University: The Traditional Career

THE AUTHOR'S PERSPECTIVE

BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY IN THE ACADEMY

CAREER PREPARATION

GETTING THAT TENURE-TRACK POSITION

ENTERING THE PROFESSORATE

TEACHING, RESEARCH, AND SERVICE

Teaching

Research

Service

THE REWARDS

THE DOWNSIDE

Chapter 3 Teaching Physical Anthropology in the Community College

COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS

TEACHING PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY AT A COMMUNITY COLLEGE

FOUR-FIELDS ANTHROPOLOGY

THE POSITION OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY IN THE CURRICULUM

GETTING A POSITION IN A COMMUNITY COLLEGE

WHAT DO THOSE DOING THE HIRING LOOK FOR?

LEARNING MORE ABOUT COMMUNITY COLLEGE ANTHROPOLOGY

NOTE

Chapter 4 The Practice of Physical Anthropology in a Museum Environment

TRAINING

THE RELATIONSHIP OF MUSEUM PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY TO THE GENERAL FIELD OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY

TIES TO THE OUTSIDE

LIMITATIONS

SUMMARY

Chapter 5 Paleoanthropology at Home and in the Field

EDUCATIONAL PREPARATION

Your Undergraduate Years and the Graduate School Application Process

Succeeding in Graduate School

ACADEMIC EMPLOYMENT AS A PALEOANTHROPOLOGIST

The Job Search

Your First Job

The University Professorship

PALEOANTHROPOLOGY IN THE FIELD

Making Contacts and Writing Grants.

Making Foreign Fieldwork a Success

Chapter 6 Primatology as a Career

POPULAR IMPRESSION OF PRIMATE RESEARCH

PRIMATOLOGY IN THE REAL WORLD

FORGET THAT! WHERE ARE THE MONKEYS?

HOW DO PEOPLE GET STARTED, THEN?

CAPTIVE PRIMATE RESEARCH

CAREER ASSISTANT TRACK

"ASSISTANT TRACK" DRAWBACKS

CHOOSING THE COLLEGE ROUTE

THE FIELD OF PRIMATOLOGY

MASTER'S DEGREE

PH.D. TRACK

GRADUATE SCHOOL

HOW TO GET INTO GRADUATE SCHOOL

THE JOB OF PROFESSOR

Chapter 7 The Post-Doc Experience: Is There a Light at the End of the Tunnel?

WHAT IS A "POST-DOC" AND HOW DO I BECOME ONE?

THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF BEING A POST-DOC

HOW DO I FIND OUT ABOUT POST-DOCTORAL OPPORTUNITIES IN ANTHROPOLOGY?

Chapter 8 Krogman, His Cleft Palate Collection, and Me: or, What Can an Auxologist Do Today?

Chapter 9 Teaching Anatomy at a University

USEFUL TRAINING AND SKILLS

HOW PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY RELATES TO THE TEACHING OF ANATOMY

WHAT ROLE HAS PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY PLAYED IN MY TRAINING AND CURRENT ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENT?

TIES TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS, UNIVERSITIES, AND INSTITUTIONS

PLUSES AND MINUSES OF TEACHING ANATOMY IN A MEDICAL SCHOOL

MAINTAINING A REALISTIC PERSPECTIVE

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Chapter 10 Research Faculty in Medical, Nursing, and Public Health Schools

SCIENTIFIC QUESTIONS OF INTEREST

PREPARATION FOR BIOMEDICAL CAREERS

PERSONAL VIGNETTES OF THE AUTHORS' CAREER TRACKS

The Experience of Stephen T. McGarvey

The Experience of Gary D. James

CONCLUDING LESSONS AND STRATEGIES

Chapter 11 Physical Anthropology, Medical Genetics, and Research

AFTER GRADUATE SCHOOL

THE MEDICAL SCHOOL EXPERIENCE.

BEYOND FACULTY-RELATED RESEARCH

IMPLICATIONS FOR TRAINING IN PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY

Chapter 12 Opportunities in Public Health and International Nutrition

INTRODUCTION

THE PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVE

MY CAREER IN PUBLIC HEALTH

RESEARCH

PUBLISHING

SERVICE

National Academy of Sciences/Institute of Medicine

National Institutes of Health

United Nations

Professional Societies

MY LIFE AS DEPARTMENT CHAIR

CONCLUDING REMARKS

Chapter 13 Having Fun-A Jock in Two Worlds: Kinesiology and Human Biology

EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER PATHS

AN EVOLVING BIOCULTURAL FRAMEWORK

Universal Tasks of Childhood and Adolescence- Growth, Maturation, and Development

Foci of the Physical Activity Sciences

Childhood through Adolescence to Adulthood

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

Studies of Philadelphia School Children

Studies in Oaxaca, Mexico

Studies of Belgian Youth

Studies of Quebec Youth

Studies of Polish Youth

Studies of Female Athletes

Studies of Young Athletes

Youth Sports

IMPLICATIONS FOR YOUNG PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGISTS

Chapter 14 Government Research: Links to Biomedicine and Public Health

SETTING THE CAREER STAGE

Recommendations

EARLY TRAINING AND CAREER PATH: PREDOCTORAL

EARLY TRAINING AND CAREER PATH: POST-DOCTORAL

TRAINING ON THE JOB: A BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGIST AS AN NIH RESEARCH SCIENTIST

Opportunistic Research

The Evolution of a Research Program

Exciting Science

Federal Biomedical Research: Advantages

Federal Biomedical Research: Disadvantages

ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND FAILURES

WHAT IS LEFT: NEW DIRECTIONS

A Career Change

RELEVANCE TO BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY

Recommendations.

OVERVIEW: A CAREER IN GOVERNMENT BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH

Chapter 15 Private Industry: Research for Profit

MY BACKGROUND

FOOD CONSUMPTION PATTERNS

Nutrient Intakes of Infants

Nutrient Intakes of the Elderly

TRENDS IN BREASTFEEDING AND INFANT FORMULA USE

The Characteristics of Breastfeeding

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Mexican-American Growth and Development

Lending a Helping Hand

CLINICAL STUDIES

Requirements for Evaluating Infant Growth and Development

Clinical Studies of Infant Formula Composition

Iron Nutrition during Infancy

REQUIRED TRAINING

Attitude and Latitude

THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF WORKING IN THE "REAL WORLD"

Meeting Basic Needs

Research Opportunities

Some Pitfalls

SOME FINAL THOUGHTS

Chapter 16 Independent Consulting: Making Your Own Rules

ASSESS YOUR SKILLS

Interviewing

Writing

Editing

Computer Skills

Statistics

Language(s)

Data Collection

Data Analysis

Photography

Lab Skills

Public Speaking

Curation and Museum Skills

Research Design

Administrative Skills

Art/Graphics

DEVELOPING YOUR SKILLS

ASSESS YOUR KNOWLEDGE- HOW CAN IT BE APPLIED?

Anatomy

Biomechanics

Growth and Development

Epidemiology

Genetics and Molecular Biology

General Anthropology and Scientific Method

USING THE ANTHROPOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

NETWORKING

POSSIBLE EMPLOYERS

WORKING INDEPENDENTLY

Chapter 17 Journalism: Bringing Science to the Public

A CLOSER LOOK

GETTING THERE

THE LOWDOWN

FINAL THOUGHTS

Chapter 18 Forensic Science as a New Arena for a Human Biologist

POST-DOCTORAL TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

THE ROLE OF THE HUMAN BIOLOGIST IN FORENSIC BIOLOGY

TRAINING REQUIREMENTS FOR FORENSIC BIOLOGY.

DAILY REQUIREMENTS OF A FORENSIC SCIENTIST

DISCLAIMER

Index

About the Editor and Contributors.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9798400660030

9780313003905

0313003904

OCLC:

50649291