Dr. Claudia Valeggia

Biography

Claudia Valeggia's work is primarily concerned with the interactions of human reproductive biology within ecological and cultural contexts. Her research program adopts a biosocial and situated approach, emphasizing the interplay of biology, society, and culture in interpreting the lived experiences of humans. Topics she explores include the correlates of postpartum fecundity, variations in reproductive hormonal levels among women in relation to environmental variables, and the growth and development patterns of infants and children, as well as male and female life history variations in populations undergoing drastic lifestyle changes. Her research interests encompass human reproductive ecology, reproductive endocrinology, maternal and child health, and the health of indigenous peoples in Latin America. Originally from Argentina, she received her degree in biology and attained her PhD from the University of California, Davis in 1996. She completed a postdoc at Harvard University in 2005 before joining the Department of Anthropology at the University of Pennsylvania. In 2014, she transitioned to Yale University as a professor in the Department of Anthropology.

Research Interests