Roberto Refinetti
Encyclopedia
Roberto Refinetti is a behavioral physiologist, philosopher of science, and higher-education administrator. He is best known for his book Circadian Physiology.
, Brazil
on November 19, 1957. After attending a selective Catholic school
for primary and secondary education, he went to two universities simultaneously and earned a baccalaureate degree in philosophy from the Pontifical Catholic University and a baccalaureate degree in psychology from the University of São Paulo, both in 1981. He earned a master's degree in experimental psychology at the University of São Paulo two years later and then traveled to California
, where he completed a doctoral program in psychology (with concentration in biopsychology) at the University of California, Santa Barbara
in 1987.
After finishing his doctorate, Refinetti returned to Brazil briefly but went back to the United States
to marry a former fellow graduate student. The marriage did not last long but led to the birth of Refinetti's one and only natural child, his daughter Lauren. In 2000, when living in South Carolina
, Refinetti married Tracy Tolleson, who had a 4-year-old son from a previous marriage called Brendan. The three of them (with occasional visits by Lauren) have lived for more than 10 years in the Fripp-Fishburne House
, a privately-owned historical house in Walterboro, South Carolina
.
In his younger years, Refinetti had a strong side-interest in the arts and made excursions into poetry, photography, and music. His epic poem Robertti I (published in Portuguese when he was 20 years old) was positively reviewed by the president of the Brazilian Academy of Letters
. A selection of Refinetti's musical compositions and arrangements is archived in the United States Copyright Office
.
In his professional career, Refinetti has held a variety of positions, most often but not always in academic settings. After completing graduate school, he was assistant professor of psychology at the University of São Paulo
(1986–1988) but soon moved to the United States
, where he sequentially held the positions of post-doctoral fellow at the University of California, Santa Barbara
(1988–1989), post-doctoral fellow at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
(1989–1990), post-doctoral fellow at the University of Virginia
(1990–1992), assistant professor of psychology at the College of William & Mary
(1992–1997), manager of professional publications at Montage Media Corporation, in New Jersey
(1997–1998), private practitioner (consulting) in Birmingham, Alabama
(1998–1999), assistant/associate/full professor at the University of South Carolina, Salkehatchie
(1999–present), and academic dean at the University of South Carolina, Salkehatchie
(2006–present). Since 2001, he has also been an adjunct professor in the school of veterinary medicine of the University of Messina
, in Italy
. His professional responsibilities as a university faculty member have consistently included teaching, research, and service, with an increase in the service component since he assumed a dean position.
Refinetti is best known as the author of Circadian Physiology, a comprehensive book on circadian rhythms (first edition: 1999; second edition: 2006). The book was written to be accessible to researchers, clinicians, and general readers, and has often been used as a textbook for university courses on biological rhythms. It reviews in detail the extensive scientific literature in the field, covering history and methods in chronobiology, the natural history (phenomenology) of biological rhythms, endogenous and exogenous processes of rhythm generation and modulation, neural and molecular substrates, and applications in sports and entertainment, business, and medicine.
Although perhaps eclipsed by his book, his research program has made significant contributions to scientific knowledge on animal behavior, animal physiology, behavioral neuroscience, human psychophysics, and other behavioral and autonomic processes (see Publications below). He also published a number of important articles on data analysis procedures.
Refinetti has had a strong presence in the process of scientific publishing by serving as the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Circadian Rhythms (2003–present) and Sexuality & Culture (2010–present, Managing Editor 1997–2009), Associate Editor of BMC Research Notes and BMC Physiology, editorial board member of the American Journal of Physiology and Acta Scientiae Veterinariae, and ad hoc peer-reviewer for more than 40 other professional journals. He has served as consultant for numerous journalists and media producers on a variety of topics related to biological rhythms, as recorded in newspaper articles on seasonal affective disorder, on daylight-saving time, on the pervasiveness of circadian rhythms, and on myths about lunar cycles in human behavior. His laboratory's web site (circadian.org), developed in 1996, receives over 10,000 visitors each year, half of them being biomedical researchers and half being members of the general public.
(or, as he preferred, relativity) was the central focus of his interest in philosophy of science, which, for him, was the important part of philosophy. Relativity refers to the contention that moral values and/or factual beliefs are not good or correct in themselves but are good or correct only in reference to other values or beliefs. As a scientist, Refinetti was well aware of the apparent conflict between scientific realism (see Philosophical realism
) and philosophical relativity (see Relativism
). In his view, many self-appointed defenders of science are ignorant of philosophical relativity and make unjustifiable absolutist claims, whereas many self-proclaimed relativists are ignorant of science and scientific methods, so that enlightenment comes from avoiding either extreme.
Although he did not publish extensively in philosophy, Refinetti did publish short essays on epistemological issues related to behaviorism, homeostasis, information processing, and science education. His 1992 book, Philosophy of Physiological Psychology, is available on his laboratory's web site.
of the University of South Carolina
in 2006. As the academic dean, he deals with issues of program assessment, faculty compensation, tenure and promotion, conflicts of interest, affirmative action, course scheduling, innovations in teaching strategies, support of faculty research, and other academic matters.
Refinetti was named a Distinguished Professor by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education in 2004, when he was a finalist in the annual process to identify and honor the South Carolina Governor's Professor of the Year.
Refinetti was awarded a Carolina Trustee Professorship by the Board of Trustees of the University of South Carolina in 2006 because of his record of teaching excellence and of outstanding performance in research and in public service activities.
Biography
Roberto Refinetti was born in São PauloSão Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
on November 19, 1957. After attending a selective Catholic school
Catholic school
Catholic schools are maintained parochial schools or education ministries of the Catholic Church. the Church operates the world's largest non-governmental school system...
for primary and secondary education, he went to two universities simultaneously and earned a baccalaureate degree in philosophy from the Pontifical Catholic University and a baccalaureate degree in psychology from the University of São Paulo, both in 1981. He earned a master's degree in experimental psychology at the University of São Paulo two years later and then traveled to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, where he completed a doctoral program in psychology (with concentration in biopsychology) at the University of California, Santa Barbara
University of California, Santa Barbara
The University of California, Santa Barbara, commonly known as UCSB or UC Santa Barbara, is a public research university and one of the 10 general campuses of the University of California system. The main campus is located on a site in Goleta, California, from Santa Barbara and northwest of Los...
in 1987.
After finishing his doctorate, Refinetti returned to Brazil briefly but went back to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to marry a former fellow graduate student. The marriage did not last long but led to the birth of Refinetti's one and only natural child, his daughter Lauren. In 2000, when living in South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, Refinetti married Tracy Tolleson, who had a 4-year-old son from a previous marriage called Brendan. The three of them (with occasional visits by Lauren) have lived for more than 10 years in the Fripp-Fishburne House
Fripp-Fishburne House
The Fripp-Fishburne House is a historic building in Walterboro, South Carolina, United States . Built in 1889, it has been renovated several times and currently serves as a private residence....
, a privately-owned historical house in Walterboro, South Carolina
Walterboro, South Carolina
Walterboro is a city in Colleton County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 5,153 at the 2000 census . It is the county seat of Colleton County.-History:...
.
Academia Brasileira de Letras
Academia Brasileira de Letras is a Brazilian literary non-profit society established at the end of the 19th century by a group of 40 writers and poets inspired by the Académie Française. The first president, Machado de Assis, declared its foundation on December 15, 1896, with the statutes being...
. A selection of Refinetti's musical compositions and arrangements is archived in the United States Copyright Office
United States Copyright Office
The United States Copyright Office, a part of the Library of Congress, is the official U.S. government body that maintains records of copyright registration in the United States. It is used by copyright title searchers who are attempting to clear a chain of title for copyrighted works.The head of...
.
In his professional career, Refinetti has held a variety of positions, most often but not always in academic settings. After completing graduate school, he was assistant professor of psychology at the University of São Paulo
University of São Paulo
Universidade de São Paulo is a public university in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. It is the largest Brazilian university and one of the country's most prestigious...
(1986–1988) but soon moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, where he sequentially held the positions of post-doctoral fellow at the University of California, Santa Barbara
University of California, Santa Barbara
The University of California, Santa Barbara, commonly known as UCSB or UC Santa Barbara, is a public research university and one of the 10 general campuses of the University of California system. The main campus is located on a site in Goleta, California, from Santa Barbara and northwest of Los...
(1988–1989), post-doctoral fellow at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
(1989–1990), post-doctoral fellow at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
(1990–1992), assistant professor of psychology at the College of William & Mary
College of William and Mary
The College of William & Mary in Virginia is a public research university located in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States...
(1992–1997), manager of professional publications at Montage Media Corporation, in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
(1997–1998), private practitioner (consulting) in Birmingham, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
(1998–1999), assistant/associate/full professor at the University of South Carolina, Salkehatchie
University of South Carolina Salkehatchie
The University of South Carolina Salkehatchie is a public university with its main campus in Allendale and a branch campus in Walterboro. It is one of the 4 regional USC campuses accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools as part of the flagship campus...
(1999–present), and academic dean at the University of South Carolina, Salkehatchie
University of South Carolina Salkehatchie
The University of South Carolina Salkehatchie is a public university with its main campus in Allendale and a branch campus in Walterboro. It is one of the 4 regional USC campuses accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools as part of the flagship campus...
(2006–present). Since 2001, he has also been an adjunct professor in the school of veterinary medicine of the University of Messina
University of Messina
The University of Messina is a public university located in Messina, Italy, and founded in 1548. The university is organized in 11 Faculties.-History:...
, in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. His professional responsibilities as a university faculty member have consistently included teaching, research, and service, with an increase in the service component since he assumed a dean position.
Physiology
Although perhaps eclipsed by his book, his research program has made significant contributions to scientific knowledge on animal behavior, animal physiology, behavioral neuroscience, human psychophysics, and other behavioral and autonomic processes (see Publications below). He also published a number of important articles on data analysis procedures.
Refinetti has had a strong presence in the process of scientific publishing by serving as the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Circadian Rhythms (2003–present) and Sexuality & Culture (2010–present, Managing Editor 1997–2009), Associate Editor of BMC Research Notes and BMC Physiology, editorial board member of the American Journal of Physiology and Acta Scientiae Veterinariae, and ad hoc peer-reviewer for more than 40 other professional journals. He has served as consultant for numerous journalists and media producers on a variety of topics related to biological rhythms, as recorded in newspaper articles on seasonal affective disorder, on daylight-saving time, on the pervasiveness of circadian rhythms, and on myths about lunar cycles in human behavior. His laboratory's web site (circadian.org), developed in 1996, receives over 10,000 visitors each year, half of them being biomedical researchers and half being members of the general public.
Philosophy
Refinetti became interested in philosophy as a teenager. While a day-time university student in psychology, he attended a different university at night and earned a B.A. degree in philosophy. He published his first philosophical essay ("Eulogy of the Relative") as part of his book of poems while he was still an undergraduate student. RelativismRelativism
Relativism is the concept that points of view have no absolute truth or validity, having only relative, subjective value according to differences in perception and consideration....
(or, as he preferred, relativity) was the central focus of his interest in philosophy of science, which, for him, was the important part of philosophy. Relativity refers to the contention that moral values and/or factual beliefs are not good or correct in themselves but are good or correct only in reference to other values or beliefs. As a scientist, Refinetti was well aware of the apparent conflict between scientific realism (see Philosophical realism
Philosophical realism
Contemporary philosophical realism is the belief that our reality, or some aspect of it, is ontologically independent of our conceptual schemes, linguistic practices, beliefs, etc....
) and philosophical relativity (see Relativism
Relativism
Relativism is the concept that points of view have no absolute truth or validity, having only relative, subjective value according to differences in perception and consideration....
). In his view, many self-appointed defenders of science are ignorant of philosophical relativity and make unjustifiable absolutist claims, whereas many self-proclaimed relativists are ignorant of science and scientific methods, so that enlightenment comes from avoiding either extreme.
Although he did not publish extensively in philosophy, Refinetti did publish short essays on epistemological issues related to behaviorism, homeostasis, information processing, and science education. His 1992 book, Philosophy of Physiological Psychology, is available on his laboratory's web site.
Higher Education Administration
After 20 years in academia administering his own research program as a faculty member and the research programs of others as a journal editor, ad hoc peer reviewer, and review panel member for funding agencies, Refinetti took on the position of academic dean at the Salkehatchie campusUniversity of South Carolina Salkehatchie
The University of South Carolina Salkehatchie is a public university with its main campus in Allendale and a branch campus in Walterboro. It is one of the 4 regional USC campuses accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools as part of the flagship campus...
of the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
in 2006. As the academic dean, he deals with issues of program assessment, faculty compensation, tenure and promotion, conflicts of interest, affirmative action, course scheduling, innovations in teaching strategies, support of faculty research, and other academic matters.
Awards
Refinetti was awarded a Carolina Trustee Professorship by the Board of Trustees of the University of South Carolina in 2006 because of his record of teaching excellence and of outstanding performance in research and in public service activities.