Robert Sapolsky
Encyclopedia
Robert Maurice Sapolsky (born 1957) is an American scientist and author. He is currently Professor of Biological Sciences, and Professor of Neurology and Neurological Sciences and, by courtesy, Neurosurgery, at Stanford University
. In addition, he is a Research Associate at the National Museums of Kenya
.
. He was raised as an Orthodox Jew and spent his time reading and imagining living with Silverback Gorillas
. By age 12, he was writing fan letters to primatologists; by high school, he was reading textbooks on the subject and teaching himself Swahili
.
In 1978, Sapolsky received his B.A. in biological anthropology summa cum laude from Harvard University
. He then went to Kenya
to study the social behaviors of baboons in the wild; after which he returned to New York; studying at Rockefeller University
, where he received his Ph.D. in Neuroendocrinology
working in the lab of Bruce McEwen
, a world-renowned endocrinologist
.
Following Sapolsky's initially year and a half field study in Africa, he continued for another twenty-five years, every summer, returning to observe the same group of baboons. Throughout the late 70's and into the early 90's, for approximately four months each year, Sapolsky recorded 8–10 hours a day the behaviors of these primates.
A neuroendocrinologist, he has focused his research on issues of stress
and neuronal degeneration, as well as on the possibilities of gene therapy
strategies for protecting susceptible neurons from disease. Currently, he is working on gene
transfer techniques to strengthen neurons against the disabling effects of glucocorticoids. Sapolsky also spends time annually in Kenya studying a population of wild baboon
s in order to identify the sources of stress in their environment, and the relationship between personality and patterns of stress-related disease in these animals. More specifically, Sapolsky studies the cortisol
levels between the alpha
male and female and the subordinates to determine stress level. An early but still relevant example of his studies of olive baboons is to be found in his 1990 Scientific American
article, "Stress in the Wild".
genius grant in 1987, an Alfred P. Sloan
Fellowship, and the Klingenstein Fellowship in Neuroscience. He was also awarded the National Science Foundation
Presidential Young Investigator Award
and the Young Investigator of the Year Awards from the Society for Neuroscience, the International Society for Psychoneuro-Endocrinology, and the Biological Psychiatry Society.
In 2007 he received the John P. McGovern
Award for Behavioral Science, awarded by the American Association for the Advancement of Science
.
In 2008 he received Wonderfest's
Carl Sagan Prize for Science Popularization.
In February 2010 Sapolsky was named to the Freedom From Religion Foundation
's Honorary Board of distinguished achievers.
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
. In addition, he is a Research Associate at the National Museums of Kenya
National Museums of Kenya
The National Museums of Kenya is a State Corporation that manages Museums, Sites and Monuments in Kenya. It also practices scientific research. Its headquarters and the National Museum are located on Museum Hill, near Uhuru Highway between Central Business District and Westlands in Nairobi...
.
Early life and Education
Sapolsky was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. to immigrants from the Soviet UnionSoviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. He was raised as an Orthodox Jew and spent his time reading and imagining living with Silverback Gorillas
Gorilla
Gorillas are the largest extant species of primates. They are ground-dwelling, predominantly herbivorous apes that inhabit the forests of central Africa. Gorillas are divided into two species and either four or five subspecies...
. By age 12, he was writing fan letters to primatologists; by high school, he was reading textbooks on the subject and teaching himself Swahili
Swahili language
Swahili or Kiswahili is a Bantu language spoken by various ethnic groups that inhabit several large stretches of the Mozambique Channel coastline from northern Kenya to northern Mozambique, including the Comoro Islands. It is also spoken by ethnic minority groups in Somalia...
.
In 1978, Sapolsky received his B.A. in biological anthropology summa cum laude from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. He then went to Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
to study the social behaviors of baboons in the wild; after which he returned to New York; studying at Rockefeller University
Rockefeller University
The Rockefeller University is a private university offering postgraduate and postdoctoral education. It has a strong concentration in the biological sciences. It is also known for producing numerous Nobel laureates...
, where he received his Ph.D. in Neuroendocrinology
Neuroendocrinology
Neuroendocrinology is the study of the extensive interactions between the nervous system and the endocrine system, including the biological features of the cells that participate, and how they functionally communicate...
working in the lab of Bruce McEwen
Bruce McEwen
Bruce McEwen is the Alfred E. Mirsky professor of neuroscience and runs the Harold and Margaret Milliken Hatch Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology at Rockefeller University.-Career:...
, a world-renowned endocrinologist
Endocrinology
Endocrinology is a branch of biology and medicine dealing with the endocrine system, its diseases, and its specific secretions called hormones, the integration of developmental events such as proliferation, growth, and differentiation and the coordination of...
.
Following Sapolsky's initially year and a half field study in Africa, he continued for another twenty-five years, every summer, returning to observe the same group of baboons. Throughout the late 70's and into the early 90's, for approximately four months each year, Sapolsky recorded 8–10 hours a day the behaviors of these primates.
Career
Sapolsky is currently the John A. and Cynthia Fry Gunn Professor at Stanford University, holding joint appointments in several departments, including Biological Sciences, Neurology & Neurological Sciences, and Neurosurgery.A neuroendocrinologist, he has focused his research on issues of stress
Stress (biology)
Stress is a term in psychology and biology, borrowed from physics and engineering and first used in the biological context in the 1930s, which has in more recent decades become commonly used in popular parlance...
and neuronal degeneration, as well as on the possibilities of gene therapy
Gene therapy
Gene therapy is the insertion, alteration, or removal of genes within an individual's cells and biological tissues to treat disease. It is a technique for correcting defective genes that are responsible for disease development...
strategies for protecting susceptible neurons from disease. Currently, he is working on gene
Gene
A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...
transfer techniques to strengthen neurons against the disabling effects of glucocorticoids. Sapolsky also spends time annually in Kenya studying a population of wild baboon
Baboon
Baboons are African and Arabian Old World monkeys belonging to the genus Papio, part of the subfamily Cercopithecinae. There are five species, which are some of the largest non-hominoid members of the primate order; only the mandrill and the drill are larger...
s in order to identify the sources of stress in their environment, and the relationship between personality and patterns of stress-related disease in these animals. More specifically, Sapolsky studies the cortisol
Cortisol
Cortisol is a steroid hormone, more specifically a glucocorticoid, produced by the adrenal gland. It is released in response to stress and a low level of blood glucocorticoids. Its primary functions are to increase blood sugar through gluconeogenesis; suppress the immune system; and aid in fat,...
levels between the alpha
Alpha (biology)
In social animals, the alpha is the individual in the community with the highest rank. Where one male and one female fulfill this role, they are referred to as the alpha pair...
male and female and the subordinates to determine stress level. An early but still relevant example of his studies of olive baboons is to be found in his 1990 Scientific American
Scientific American
Scientific American is a popular science magazine. It is notable for its long history of presenting science monthly to an educated but not necessarily scientific public, through its careful attention to the clarity of its text as well as the quality of its specially commissioned color graphics...
article, "Stress in the Wild".
Honors
Sapolsky has received numerous honors and awards for his work, including the prestigious MacArthur FellowshipMacArthur Fellows Program
The MacArthur Fellows Program or MacArthur Fellowship is an award given by the John D. and Catherine T...
genius grant in 1987, an Alfred P. Sloan
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation is a philanthropic non-profit organization in the United States. It was established in 1934 by Alfred P. Sloan, Jr., then-President and Chief Executive Officer of General Motors.-Overview:...
Fellowship, and the Klingenstein Fellowship in Neuroscience. He was also awarded the National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
Presidential Young Investigator Award
Presidential Young Investigator Award
The Presidential Young Investigator Award was awarded by the National Science Foundation. The program operated from 1984 to 1991, and was replaced by the NSF Young Investigator Awards and Presidential Faculty Fellows Program...
and the Young Investigator of the Year Awards from the Society for Neuroscience, the International Society for Psychoneuro-Endocrinology, and the Biological Psychiatry Society.
In 2007 he received the John P. McGovern
John P. McGovern (physician)
John P. McGovern was an American allergist, investor and philanthropist. He established the McGovern Allergy Clinic in Houston, Texas, created the Texas Allergy Research Foundation and the John P. McGovern Foundation and co-founded the .-Education:He received his B.S. in Medicine from Duke...
Award for Behavioral Science, awarded by the American Association for the Advancement of Science
American Association for the Advancement of Science
The American Association for the Advancement of Science is an international non-profit organization with the stated goals of promoting cooperation among scientists, defending scientific freedom, encouraging scientific responsibility, and supporting scientific education and science outreach for the...
.
In 2008 he received Wonderfest's
Wonderfest
Wonderfest is a nonprofit California corporation dedicated to informal science education. Wonderfest seeks to inspire and nurture a deep sense of wonder about the world. Through provocative public discourse about science, Wonderfest aspires to stimulate curiosity, promote careful reasoning,...
Carl Sagan Prize for Science Popularization.
In February 2010 Sapolsky was named to the Freedom From Religion Foundation
Freedom From Religion Foundation
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is an American freethought organization based in Madison, Wisconsin. Its purposes, as stated in its bylaws, are to promote the separation of church and state and to educate the public on matters relating to atheism, agnosticism and nontheism. The FFRF publishes...
's Honorary Board of distinguished achievers.
Books
- Stress, the Aging Brain, and the Mechanisms of Neuron Death (MIT Press, 1992) ISBN 0-262-19320-5
- Why Zebras Don't Get UlcersWhy Zebras Don't Get UlcersWhy Zebras Don't Get Ulcers is a 1994 book by Stanford University biologist Robert M. Sapolsky. The book proclaims itself as a "Guide to Stress, Stress-Related Diseases, and Coping" on the front cover of its third and most recent edition...
(1994, Holt/Owl 3rd Rep. Ed. 2004) ISBN 0-8050-7369-8 - The Trouble with Testosterone: And Other Essays on the Biology of the Human Predicament (Scribner, 1997) ISBN 0-684-83891-5
- Junk Food Monkeys (Headline Book Publishing, 1997) ISBN 978-0747276760
- A Primate's MemoirA Primate's MemoirA Primate's Memoir is a book by the American biologist Robert M. Sapolsky. The book documents Sapolsky's years in Kenya studying baboons as a graduate student. The chapters alternate between describing observations of a troop of baboons and the wildly different culture in Africa that he is...
(Touchstone Books, 2002) ISBN 0-7432-0247-3 - Monkeyluv : And Other Essays on Our Lives as Animals (Scribner, 2005) ISBN 0-7432-6015-5
Courses
- Biology and Human Behavior: The Neurological Origins of Individuality, a course by the Teaching Company in 2005.
- Stress and Your Body, a course by the Teaching Company in 2010.
- Human Behavioral Biology, Stanford University undergraduate biology course. See iTunesU. 2009.
External links
- Robert Sapolsky profile at Stanford School of Medicine
- Robert Sapolsky biographical entry at the Barclay Agency
- Going Wild
- Robert Sapolsky at edge.org
- Robert Sapolsky at meta-library.net
- Robert Sapolsky at KurzweilAI.net
- Robert Sapolsky Lecture at Syracuse
- excerpt of the "Emperor Has No Clothes Award" acceptance speech
- New York Times article "No Time for Bullies: Baboons Retool Their Culture," readable account of Sapolsky's research on baboon culture
- Stress: Portrait of a Killer, National Geographic special featuring Sapolsky's research
- Does Age Quash Our Spirit of Adventure? An NPR interview with Robert Sapolsky
- Video about stress via Stanford channel
- Robert Sapolsky: The uniqueness of humans via TED.com
- Robert Sapolsky New York Times essay "This Is Your Brain on Metaphors" in the "The Stone" blog