Topic: Hormones and Immunity in Evolutionary Perspectives
Michael Muehlenbein is professor and chair of the Department of Anthropology at Baylor University. He holds advanced degrees in Public health and anthropology, and has worked at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Indiana University, the University of Texas at San Antonio, and now Baylor University. His academic interests include a variety of topics relating to ecological immunology, evolutionary endocrinology, and One Health. He is particularly interested in the roles of hormones in mediating human life history trade-offs, affect and the behavioral immune system, immune biomarker development, risks of emerging infectious disease associated with human-wildlife contact and most recently, attitudes about the COVID-19 pandemic. He has worked in 11 countries, been primary instructor to more than 3000 students, brought more than 250 students on 16 study abroad/international research experiences, published two edited volumes, and more than 100 papers, organized two international conferences along with nine symposia, is active in doctoral student professional development, and is a father of four amazing kids.