Laure Spake
@lspake.bsky.social
Biological anthropologist studying children, growth, stress, socioecology. Asst/Prof at Binghamton (SUNY). Runner/climber/modern primate. France > US > Canada > US. PNWer at heart. Slowly transitioning from the other apps.
Reposted by Laure Spake
Another great PhD opportunity: An ERC-funded project on “Children as agents of cultural evolution,” lead by @sheinalew.bsky.social at Durham University. Come do fieldwork with Mayan groups in Belize with her, @dorsaamir.bsky.social, and I! One of three, 3-year PhD positions starting Fall 2026.
Fees and Funding - Durham University
www.durham.ac.uk
October 27, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Another great PhD opportunity: An ERC-funded project on “Children as agents of cultural evolution,” lead by @sheinalew.bsky.social at Durham University. Come do fieldwork with Mayan groups in Belize with her, @dorsaamir.bsky.social, and I! One of three, 3-year PhD positions starting Fall 2026.
Reposted by Laure Spake
It's hiring season at @iast.fr!
- 2y research postdoc contract
- Full autonomy, you are your own PI
- Awesome multidisciplinary environment
- All social and behavioral sciences welcome
- Seed funding for projects and workshops
- Gorgeous city in the south of France
www.iast.fr/research-fel...
- 2y research postdoc contract
- Full autonomy, you are your own PI
- Awesome multidisciplinary environment
- All social and behavioral sciences welcome
- Seed funding for projects and workshops
- Gorgeous city in the south of France
www.iast.fr/research-fel...
September 20, 2025 at 9:15 AM
It's hiring season at @iast.fr!
- 2y research postdoc contract
- Full autonomy, you are your own PI
- Awesome multidisciplinary environment
- All social and behavioral sciences welcome
- Seed funding for projects and workshops
- Gorgeous city in the south of France
www.iast.fr/research-fel...
- 2y research postdoc contract
- Full autonomy, you are your own PI
- Awesome multidisciplinary environment
- All social and behavioral sciences welcome
- Seed funding for projects and workshops
- Gorgeous city in the south of France
www.iast.fr/research-fel...
Reposted by Laure Spake
New paper out today with Zhian Chen.
We argue that modern intensive parenting is not only exhausting for parents, but in some cases disrupts healthy child development.
What is 'overparenting'? And can evolutionary theory help us understand how we got here?
academic.oup.com/emph/advance...
We argue that modern intensive parenting is not only exhausting for parents, but in some cases disrupts healthy child development.
What is 'overparenting'? And can evolutionary theory help us understand how we got here?
academic.oup.com/emph/advance...
When parental care hurts: Extended parental care and the evolution of overparenting
Abstract. In recent years, childrearing in high-income countries has become described as ‘relentless’ in its demands on parents. In response to growing del
academic.oup.com
October 21, 2025 at 6:53 PM
New paper out today with Zhian Chen.
We argue that modern intensive parenting is not only exhausting for parents, but in some cases disrupts healthy child development.
What is 'overparenting'? And can evolutionary theory help us understand how we got here?
academic.oup.com/emph/advance...
We argue that modern intensive parenting is not only exhausting for parents, but in some cases disrupts healthy child development.
What is 'overparenting'? And can evolutionary theory help us understand how we got here?
academic.oup.com/emph/advance...
Reposted by Laure Spake
Gorillas likely experience menopause, according to an analysis of over 30 years of data from wild mountain gorillas in Uganda, which shows that females can live for a decade or more after their last baby. In PNAS: https://ow.ly/kxyz50Xf1ER
October 20, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Gorillas likely experience menopause, according to an analysis of over 30 years of data from wild mountain gorillas in Uganda, which shows that females can live for a decade or more after their last baby. In PNAS: https://ow.ly/kxyz50Xf1ER
Reposted by Laure Spake
📢 Come join us! Penn State Anthropology is hiring *two tenure-track assistant professors*, one in human reproductive ecology and one in archaeology. Here are just a few reasons why working at Penn State is awesome:
October 1, 2025 at 12:58 PM
📢 Come join us! Penn State Anthropology is hiring *two tenure-track assistant professors*, one in human reproductive ecology and one in archaeology. Here are just a few reasons why working at Penn State is awesome:
Reposted by Laure Spake
Please share with anyone who cares about NSF support for graduate students and take 30 seconds to sign and leave a comment.
The deadline for the 2025 Graduate Research Fellowship Program is about one month away and literally no one can apply. #NSFGRFP
jasonjwilliamsny.github.io/grfp2025/
The deadline for the 2025 Graduate Research Fellowship Program is about one month away and literally no one can apply. #NSFGRFP
jasonjwilliamsny.github.io/grfp2025/
An Open Letter to U.S. STEM Leadership on the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program
An Open Letter to U.S. STEM Leadership on the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program
jasonjwilliamsny.github.io
September 25, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Please share with anyone who cares about NSF support for graduate students and take 30 seconds to sign and leave a comment.
The deadline for the 2025 Graduate Research Fellowship Program is about one month away and literally no one can apply. #NSFGRFP
jasonjwilliamsny.github.io/grfp2025/
The deadline for the 2025 Graduate Research Fellowship Program is about one month away and literally no one can apply. #NSFGRFP
jasonjwilliamsny.github.io/grfp2025/
Reposted by Laure Spake
All scientists can easily respond to this and you can choose to stay anonymous. I modified my comment from the FASEB response. We all know that international scientists are essential to US science and that these proposed rules are cruel to our colleagues. www.regulations.gov/comment/ICEB...
September 27, 2025 at 3:22 PM
All scientists can easily respond to this and you can choose to stay anonymous. I modified my comment from the FASEB response. We all know that international scientists are essential to US science and that these proposed rules are cruel to our colleagues. www.regulations.gov/comment/ICEB...
Reposted by Laure Spake
I've been thinking for a while that humans have expanded beyond the scale of the individual and need to start thinking about emergence when dealing with social issues. Today, I'm reading this paper...
Cultural inheritance is driving a transition in human evolution
Abstract. Previous research on a transition in human evolution has been befuddled by the complexity of adaptive culture and made little effort toward empir
academic.oup.com
September 15, 2025 at 10:28 PM
I've been thinking for a while that humans have expanded beyond the scale of the individual and need to start thinking about emergence when dealing with social issues. Today, I'm reading this paper...
Reposted by Laure Spake
Released today!
SEVEN DECADES: HOW WE EVOLVED TO LIVE LONGER
Now available at your favorite bookseller.
Leave a review on Goodreads or Amazon if you can.
Please help spread the word!
#sevendecades @princetonupress.bsky.social
SEVEN DECADES: HOW WE EVOLVED TO LIVE LONGER
Now available at your favorite bookseller.
Leave a review on Goodreads or Amazon if you can.
Please help spread the word!
#sevendecades @princetonupress.bsky.social
September 16, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Released today!
SEVEN DECADES: HOW WE EVOLVED TO LIVE LONGER
Now available at your favorite bookseller.
Leave a review on Goodreads or Amazon if you can.
Please help spread the word!
#sevendecades @princetonupress.bsky.social
SEVEN DECADES: HOW WE EVOLVED TO LIVE LONGER
Now available at your favorite bookseller.
Leave a review on Goodreads or Amazon if you can.
Please help spread the word!
#sevendecades @princetonupress.bsky.social
Reposted by Laure Spake
💙New paper!💙
How is knowledge transmitted across generations in a foraging society?
With @danielredhead.bsky.social
we found: In BaYaka foragers, long-term skills pass in smaller, sparser networks, while short-term food info circulates broadly & reciprocally
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
How is knowledge transmitted across generations in a foraging society?
With @danielredhead.bsky.social
we found: In BaYaka foragers, long-term skills pass in smaller, sparser networks, while short-term food info circulates broadly & reciprocally
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
Transmission networks of long-term and short-term knowledge in a foraging society
Abstract. Cultural transmission across generations is key to cumulative cultural evolution. While several mechanisms—such as vertical, horizontal, and obli
academic.oup.com
September 14, 2025 at 7:52 AM
💙New paper!💙
How is knowledge transmitted across generations in a foraging society?
With @danielredhead.bsky.social
we found: In BaYaka foragers, long-term skills pass in smaller, sparser networks, while short-term food info circulates broadly & reciprocally
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
How is knowledge transmitted across generations in a foraging society?
With @danielredhead.bsky.social
we found: In BaYaka foragers, long-term skills pass in smaller, sparser networks, while short-term food info circulates broadly & reciprocally
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
Reposted by Laure Spake
@durhampsych.bsky.social current has 5 (FIVE!!) PhD studentships being advertised!
3 to work with me on children as agents of cultural evolution
2 to work with @drboothroyd.bsky.social on examining school-based body image interventions.
Please share and apply!
www.durham.ac.uk/departments/...
3 to work with me on children as agents of cultural evolution
2 to work with @drboothroyd.bsky.social on examining school-based body image interventions.
Please share and apply!
www.durham.ac.uk/departments/...
Fees and Funding - Durham University
www.durham.ac.uk
September 11, 2025 at 9:12 AM
@durhampsych.bsky.social current has 5 (FIVE!!) PhD studentships being advertised!
3 to work with me on children as agents of cultural evolution
2 to work with @drboothroyd.bsky.social on examining school-based body image interventions.
Please share and apply!
www.durham.ac.uk/departments/...
3 to work with me on children as agents of cultural evolution
2 to work with @drboothroyd.bsky.social on examining school-based body image interventions.
Please share and apply!
www.durham.ac.uk/departments/...
Reposted by Laure Spake
“Overall, the message from this survey is positive; evolutionary biologists are readily employable outside of academia, generally well-prepared for those jobs, and report high levels of satisfaction” www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Leaving Academia: Insights from Evolutionary Biologists on Their Career Transitions and Job Satisfaction
Many who have obtained PhDs in evolutionary biology will ultimately pursue careers that fall outside a narrow definition of an academic career. At the same time, PhD students and supervisors of PhD st...
www.biorxiv.org
September 10, 2025 at 11:19 AM
“Overall, the message from this survey is positive; evolutionary biologists are readily employable outside of academia, generally well-prepared for those jobs, and report high levels of satisfaction” www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Laure Spake
The GRFP lives!! (due end of October)
www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
www.nsf.gov
September 8, 2025 at 6:23 PM
The GRFP lives!! (due end of October)
www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
Reposted by Laure Spake
“there is a particular servitude in parenting without your people”…
on the brutal demands of the nuclear family www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
on the brutal demands of the nuclear family www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
Being a mother in the west would be a dream, I was told. But compared to Uganda, it was a nightmare | Patience Akumu
Nothing prepared me for the reality of mothering without my extended family to help. How have western women managed like this for so long?
www.theguardian.com
July 9, 2025 at 7:52 AM
“there is a particular servitude in parenting without your people”…
on the brutal demands of the nuclear family www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
on the brutal demands of the nuclear family www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
Reposted by Laure Spake
Court invalidates NSF 15% indirect cost cap. Strong ruling. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
June 20, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Court invalidates NSF 15% indirect cost cap. Strong ruling. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Laure Spake
This socio-centric social network study estimates the social influence and social selection on preference for cutting female relatives using data from 5163 Ethiopian Arsi Oromo adults. @drsarahmyers.bsky.social @bristolantharch.bsky.social @bristoluni.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Social clustering of preference for female genital mutilation/cutting in south-central Ethiopia - Nature Human Behaviour
Recent estimates indicate that half of Ethiopian girls aged 15–19 years have experienced female genital mutilation/cutting (FGMC). This socio-centric social network study estimates the social influenc...
www.nature.com
June 10, 2025 at 4:07 PM
This socio-centric social network study estimates the social influence and social selection on preference for cutting female relatives using data from 5163 Ethiopian Arsi Oromo adults. @drsarahmyers.bsky.social @bristolantharch.bsky.social @bristoluni.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Are you a forensic anthropologist or other biological anthropologist who considers skeletal trauma interpretation part of your skill set?
We are running a study (survey, ~15 min) on how practitioners interpret skeletal trauma. It's kinda fun to do!
Sharing this with others is much appreciated 🤩
We are running a study (survey, ~15 min) on how practitioners interpret skeletal trauma. It's kinda fun to do!
Sharing this with others is much appreciated 🤩
🚨 Seeking practitioners, researchers, or students involved in forensic anthropology and/or skeletal trauma interpretation 🚨
Help us understand how forensic practitioners interpret gun shot and other trauma on long bones by participating in a short survey!
binghamton.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
Help us understand how forensic practitioners interpret gun shot and other trauma on long bones by participating in a short survey!
binghamton.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management
The most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today.
binghamton.qualtrics.com
June 10, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Are you a forensic anthropologist or other biological anthropologist who considers skeletal trauma interpretation part of your skill set?
We are running a study (survey, ~15 min) on how practitioners interpret skeletal trauma. It's kinda fun to do!
Sharing this with others is much appreciated 🤩
We are running a study (survey, ~15 min) on how practitioners interpret skeletal trauma. It's kinda fun to do!
Sharing this with others is much appreciated 🤩
Reposted by Laure Spake
Registration is open for the useR! 2025 Virtual Program! The program features speakers from a diverse range of industries and parts of the world, covering topics from the basic to the advanced. Registration is free with options for suggested donations.
user2025.r-project.org/register
#RStats
user2025.r-project.org/register
#RStats
May 26, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Registration is open for the useR! 2025 Virtual Program! The program features speakers from a diverse range of industries and parts of the world, covering topics from the basic to the advanced. Registration is free with options for suggested donations.
user2025.r-project.org/register
#RStats
user2025.r-project.org/register
#RStats
🚨 Seeking practitioners, researchers, or students involved in forensic anthropology and/or skeletal trauma interpretation 🚨
Help us understand how forensic practitioners interpret gun shot and other trauma on long bones by participating in a short survey!
binghamton.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
Help us understand how forensic practitioners interpret gun shot and other trauma on long bones by participating in a short survey!
binghamton.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management
The most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today.
binghamton.qualtrics.com
May 22, 2025 at 7:20 PM
🚨 Seeking practitioners, researchers, or students involved in forensic anthropology and/or skeletal trauma interpretation 🚨
Help us understand how forensic practitioners interpret gun shot and other trauma on long bones by participating in a short survey!
binghamton.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
Help us understand how forensic practitioners interpret gun shot and other trauma on long bones by participating in a short survey!
binghamton.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
Reposted by Laure Spake
Making running smaller. New column at iRunFar:
www.irunfar.com/when-competi...
www.irunfar.com/when-competi...
When Competitive Days End
Sabrina Little's thoughts on when running takes a back seat to other priorities.
www.irunfar.com
May 21, 2025 at 10:47 AM
Making running smaller. New column at iRunFar:
www.irunfar.com/when-competi...
www.irunfar.com/when-competi...
Reposted by Laure Spake
Thanks to everybody who chimed in!
I arrived at the conclusion that (1) there's a lot of interesting stuff about interactions and (2) the figure I was looking for does not exist.
So, I made it myself! Here's a simple illustration of how to control for confounding in interactions:>
I arrived at the conclusion that (1) there's a lot of interesting stuff about interactions and (2) the figure I was looking for does not exist.
So, I made it myself! Here's a simple illustration of how to control for confounding in interactions:>
May 11, 2025 at 5:34 AM
Thanks to everybody who chimed in!
I arrived at the conclusion that (1) there's a lot of interesting stuff about interactions and (2) the figure I was looking for does not exist.
So, I made it myself! Here's a simple illustration of how to control for confounding in interactions:>
I arrived at the conclusion that (1) there's a lot of interesting stuff about interactions and (2) the figure I was looking for does not exist.
So, I made it myself! Here's a simple illustration of how to control for confounding in interactions:>
Julie has been such an instrumental part of our team over the last year. It's been a joy to watch her blossom in the field and figure out her career path - can't wait to see what she gets up to next as she pursues a career in nursing!
www.binghamton.edu/news/story/5...
www.binghamton.edu/news/story/5...
Finding purpose in people: A grad’s path to anthropology - Binghamton News
Julie Efremenkova found deeper purpose in anthropology’s human focus. Drawn to fieldwork, she now studies biomedical anthropology and coordinates projects in The Gambia, which revealed a passion for c...
www.binghamton.edu
May 1, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Julie has been such an instrumental part of our team over the last year. It's been a joy to watch her blossom in the field and figure out her career path - can't wait to see what she gets up to next as she pursues a career in nursing!
www.binghamton.edu/news/story/5...
www.binghamton.edu/news/story/5...
Reposted by Laure Spake
Perhaps the core of the document is the redefining on NSF's Broader Impacts criterion. Here's a key excerpt.
("do not effectuate NSF priorities" is a masterful use of the exoneration tense)
("do not effectuate NSF priorities" is a masterful use of the exoneration tense)
April 18, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Perhaps the core of the document is the redefining on NSF's Broader Impacts criterion. Here's a key excerpt.
("do not effectuate NSF priorities" is a masterful use of the exoneration tense)
("do not effectuate NSF priorities" is a masterful use of the exoneration tense)
Reposted by Laure Spake
Thanks 🤩
Paper just accepted today 👀 and can’t wait to explore the many unanswered questions about reproductive and child rearing overlap further ❤️
Paper just accepted today 👀 and can’t wait to explore the many unanswered questions about reproductive and child rearing overlap further ❤️
Research led by @brunelcce.bsky.social’s @abbeyepage.bsky.social suggests the demography of grandmothering needs more attention. Cultural variation in grandmaternal care may be due to fertility & mortality patterns, eg the Agta where few kids get grandma care (tho grandmas give care when available)
April 15, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Thanks 🤩
Paper just accepted today 👀 and can’t wait to explore the many unanswered questions about reproductive and child rearing overlap further ❤️
Paper just accepted today 👀 and can’t wait to explore the many unanswered questions about reproductive and child rearing overlap further ❤️
Reposted by Laure Spake
I’d like to share that my book, Multilevel Thinking: Discovering Variation, Universals, and Particulars in Cross-Cultural Research is available for pre-order at Oxford University Press: global.oup.com/academic/pro...
* Includes appendices for estimating MLMs in #Stata, #Rstats, and #Julialang.
* Includes appendices for estimating MLMs in #Stata, #Rstats, and #Julialang.
global.oup.com
April 13, 2025 at 4:17 PM
I’d like to share that my book, Multilevel Thinking: Discovering Variation, Universals, and Particulars in Cross-Cultural Research is available for pre-order at Oxford University Press: global.oup.com/academic/pro...
* Includes appendices for estimating MLMs in #Stata, #Rstats, and #Julialang.
* Includes appendices for estimating MLMs in #Stata, #Rstats, and #Julialang.