Shane Macfarlan

Shane Macfarlan is an Associate Professor at the University of Utah, affiliated with the Department of Anthropology in the College of Social & Behavioral Sciences. His work integrates cultural anthropology with ecological research, focusing on Latin America and the Caribbean. He holds a PhD in Anthropology from Washington State University and a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Missouri.

• Education:
  • Dual BA in Anthropology & History, University of Pittsburgh (1994)
  • MA in Museum Science, Texas Tech University (2003)
  • PhD in Anthropology, Washington State University (2010)
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Missouri (2010–2011)

His research interests span anthropology, ecology, demography, and social psychology, with a focus on human adaptation to arid environments, reproductive strategies, and political alliance formation. His scholarly output includes studies on climate shocks, drought resilience, and the social implications of ecological disruptions in Baja California Sur. He also investigates gender bias in reputations and cooperative dynamics in small-scale societies.

• Key Scientific Awards:
  • John G Francis Prize for Undergraduate Mentorship (2024)
  • Distinguished Teaching Professor (2024)
  • Outstanding Undergraduate Research Mentor Award (2024)
  • Sustainability Integration Leadership Award (2020)
  • Superior Teaching Award (2019)
  • Award for Advancing Equity and Connecting Communities (2021)

Macfarlan’s teaching activities include courses on Ethnographic Methods, Cultures of Latin America, and Undergraduate Research. His grants support interdisciplinary work on birth seasonality, ecological shocks, and traditional livelihoods.