William L. Jungers
Encyclopedia
William L. Jungers, is an American anthropologist, Distinguished Teaching Professor and the Chair of the Department of Anatomical Sciences at State University of New York at Stony Brook
on Long Island, New York. He is best known for his work on the biomechanics of bipedal locomotion in hominids such as the 3.4 million-year-old Lucy
(Australopithecus afarensis), and the 6.1-5.8 million-year old Millennium Man Orrorin tugenensis. He devoted much of his career to the study of the lemurs of Madagascar
, especially giant extinct subfossil forms such as Megaladapis
. More recently, Jungers has been a subject of media attention due to his analysis of the remains of Homo floresiensis
, which he believes to be legitimate members of a newly-discovered species based on remains of the shoulder
, the wrist
, and the feet.
and spent part of his childhood in that area. He excelled academically from an early age and graduated as one of several valedictorians of his high school class. Standing 6'4" tall, he was also an accomplished basketball player throughout his high school career. Following graduation, he attended Oberlin College
for his undergraduate education where he was involved in the liberal political and social culture of the late 1960s. He later received his PhD in anthropology
from the University of Michigan
in 1976 at the age of 26 under the advisorship of Frank Livingstome, Milford Wolpoff and C. Loring Brace. He was hired shortly thereafter at the University of Illinois but moved in 1978 to the State University of New York at Stony Brook Department of Anatomical Sciences, where he has remained throughout the course of his career.
, and his edited an important reference work on primate allometry in particular. His work concerning the extinct subfossil lemurs focuses on their initial isolation in the virtually predator-free environment of Madagascar, their subsequent adaptive radiation
, and the unusual morphological and behavioral diversity that resulted as a consequence. He was worked on hominid bipedalism being due to the unique muscular and skeletal constraints required for locomotion in humans andtheir ancestors, and the apparently ancient anatomy of the recent "hobbit" fossils, possibly influenced by insular dwarfism
. By the end of 2009 Jungers had written more than 150 peer-reviewed articles about the relationship between form and function in many primate species, both extinct and extant.
State University of New York at Stony Brook
The State University of New York at Stony Brook, also known as Stony Brook University, is a public research university located in Stony Brook, New York, on the North Shore of Long Island, about east of Manhattan....
on Long Island, New York. He is best known for his work on the biomechanics of bipedal locomotion in hominids such as the 3.4 million-year-old Lucy
Lucy (Australopithecus)
Lucy is the common name of AL 288-1, several hundred pieces of bone representing about 40% of the skeleton of an individual Australopithecus afarensis. The specimen was discovered in 1974 at Hadar in the Awash Valley of Ethiopia's Afar Depression. Lucy is estimated to have lived 3.2 million years...
(Australopithecus afarensis), and the 6.1-5.8 million-year old Millennium Man Orrorin tugenensis. He devoted much of his career to the study of the lemurs of Madagascar
Madagascar
The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
, especially giant extinct subfossil forms such as Megaladapis
Megaladapis
Koala lemurs, genus Megaladapis, belong to the family Megaladapidae, consisting of three extinct species of lemurs that once inhabited the island of Madagascar. The largest measured between in length.-Appearance and habits:...
. More recently, Jungers has been a subject of media attention due to his analysis of the remains of Homo floresiensis
Homo floresiensis
Homo floresiensis is a possible species, now extinct, in the genus Homo. The remains were discovered in 2003 on the island of Flores in Indonesia. Partial skeletons of nine individuals have been recovered, including one complete cranium...
, which he believes to be legitimate members of a newly-discovered species based on remains of the shoulder
Shoulder
The human shoulder is made up of three bones: the clavicle , the scapula , and the humerus as well as associated muscles, ligaments and tendons. The articulations between the bones of the shoulder make up the shoulder joints. The major joint of the shoulder is the glenohumeral joint, which...
, the wrist
Wrist
In human anatomy, the wrist is variously defined as 1) the carpus or carpal bones, the complex of eight bones forming the proximal skeletal segment of the hand;...
, and the feet.
Early life
Jungers was born in Palacios, TexasPalacios, Texas
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 5,153 people, 1,661 households, and 1,244 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,021.4 people per square mile . There were 1,976 housing units at an average density of 391.7 per square mile...
and spent part of his childhood in that area. He excelled academically from an early age and graduated as one of several valedictorians of his high school class. Standing 6'4" tall, he was also an accomplished basketball player throughout his high school career. Following graduation, he attended Oberlin College
Oberlin College
Oberlin College is a private liberal arts college in Oberlin, Ohio, noteworthy for having been the first American institution of higher learning to regularly admit female and black students. Connected to the college is the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, the oldest continuously operating...
for his undergraduate education where he was involved in the liberal political and social culture of the late 1960s. He later received his PhD in anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in 1976 at the age of 26 under the advisorship of Frank Livingstome, Milford Wolpoff and C. Loring Brace. He was hired shortly thereafter at the University of Illinois but moved in 1978 to the State University of New York at Stony Brook Department of Anatomical Sciences, where he has remained throughout the course of his career.
Scholarly life
Jungers is an expert in biomechanicsBiomechanics
Biomechanics is the application of mechanical principles to biological systems, such as humans, animals, plants, organs, and cells. Perhaps one of the best definitions was provided by Herbert Hatze in 1974: "Biomechanics is the study of the structure and function of biological systems by means of...
, and his edited an important reference work on primate allometry in particular. His work concerning the extinct subfossil lemurs focuses on their initial isolation in the virtually predator-free environment of Madagascar, their subsequent adaptive radiation
Adaptive radiation
In evolutionary biology, adaptive radiation is the evolution of ecological and phenotypic diversity within a rapidly multiplying lineage. Starting with a recent single ancestor, this process results in the speciation and phenotypic adaptation of an array of species exhibiting different...
, and the unusual morphological and behavioral diversity that resulted as a consequence. He was worked on hominid bipedalism being due to the unique muscular and skeletal constraints required for locomotion in humans andtheir ancestors, and the apparently ancient anatomy of the recent "hobbit" fossils, possibly influenced by insular dwarfism
Insular dwarfism
Insular dwarfism, a form of phyletic dwarfism, is the process and condition of the reduction in size of large animals – typically mammals – when their population's range is limited to a small environment, primarily islands. This natural process is distinct from the intentional creation of dwarf...
. By the end of 2009 Jungers had written more than 150 peer-reviewed articles about the relationship between form and function in many primate species, both extinct and extant.
Awards
- Phi Beta Kappa (Oberlin College)
- Alfred P. Sloan Scholar, Oberlin College (1966–1970)
- Comfort-Starr Award in Sociology-Anthropology, Oberlin College (1970)
- Danforth Foundation Graduate Fellow (1971–1975)
- Rackham Graduate School Fellowship, University of Michigan (1976)
- Aescupalius Award in Recognition of Outstanding Teaching, SBU (1994)
- Dean’s Award for Excellence in Graduate Mentoring, SBU (2002)
- Excellence in Teaching Award - SOM (1986, 1990, 1992, 1994, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004)
- President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching (2006–2007)
- Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching (2006–2007)