Born: 1956 (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Biography:
Marlene Zuk, born on May 20, 1956, is an American evolutionary biologist and behavioral ecologist known for her groundbreaking research on sexual selection and parasites. She made significant contributions to the field during her tenure as a professor of biology at the University of California, Riverside (UCR), before transferring to the University of Minnesota in 2012. Zuk’s work has had a profound impact on our understanding of evolutionary biology and has shed light on the intricate relationships between organisms and their environments.
Zuk was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Los Angeles, California. Fascinated by insects from a young age, her childhood in the diverse ecosystem of Los Angeles sparked her interest in biology. She initially pursued a degree in English at the University of California, Santa Barbara but decided to switch to biology after realizing her passion for the subject.
After obtaining her bachelor’s degree, Zuk wrote and taught for three years before embarking on her journey in academia. In 1982, she co-authored the influential good genes hypothesis of sexual selection with W. D. Hamilton, which proposed that certain traits in males indicate their genetic superiority and attract mates. This hypothesis revolutionized our understanding of sexual selection.
Zuk continued her studies at the University of Michigan, where she earned her Doctor of Philosophy in 1986. She then conducted postdoctoral research at the University of New Mexico before joining the faculty at UCR in 1989. Her groundbreaking research at UCR focused on the evolution of sexual behavior, mate choice, and animal behavior, with a particular emphasis on the role of parasites.
In April 2012, Zuk and her husband John Rotenberry moved to the University of Minnesota, joining its College of Biological Sciences. Throughout her career, Zuk has received recognition for her contributions to the field, including honorary doctorates from Uppsala University in Sweden (2010) and the University of Jyväskylä in Finland (2016).
Aside from her scientific achievements, Zuk is also known for her advocacy and promotion of women in science. She has been a vocal proponent of gender equality and has consistently challenged the notion that women are underrepresented in scientific fields due to innate preferences. In her op-ed titled There’s nothing inherent about the fact that men outnumber women in the sciences, published in the Los Angeles Times in 2018, she debunked the idea that biology is the sole determinant of women’s career choices.
Zuk’s research and publications have pushed the boundaries of evolutionary biology and sexual selection. Her work on the interactions between the Pacific field cricket and the parasitoid fly Ormia ochracea in Hawaii revealed the intricate trade-offs between reproductive success and survival. This research provided a unique opportunity to study the conflict between mating behaviors and the risks posed by parasites.
With her dedication to scientific integrity and her commitment to advancing the role of women in science, Marlene Zuk has cemented her place as a prominent figure in evolutionary biology. Her contributions to the field have deepened our understanding of the complexities of sexual selection, mate choice, and the impact of parasites on behavior.
Awards:
– Honorary Doctorate from Uppsala University (2010)
– Honorary Doctorate from the University of Jyväskylä in Finland (2016)