EDUCATION
University of Washington – Seattle, PhD Candidate, Fall 2013-Present
Department: Biological Anthropology, Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology (Funded Fellow)
Research Interests: Psychosocial Stress, Human Evolutionary Biology, Mental Health, Population Health, Student-Athletes, Anthropology of Sports
Advisor: Dr. Dan Eisenberg
University of Washington – Seattle, M.A., Fall 2017
Department: Biological Anthropology
Advisors: Dr. Dan Eisenberg, Dr. Bettina Shell-Duncan
Harvard College, A.B. Recommended for Honors in Field, May 2010
Field: Human Evolutionary Biology: Mind, Brain, and Behavior Honors Track
Senior Honors Thesis: Imitative and Cognitive Development in Human Infants. Advised by: Dr. Richard Wrangham and Dr. Joyce Benenson
PUBLICATIONS IN PREP/UNDER REVIEW
Tennyson RL, Wander K, McDade TW, Shell-Duncan B, Eisenberg DTA. (In Preparation). An ADHD-associated polymorphism in the DRD4 gene and nutritional status among Rendille children in northern Kenya. Analysis Plan and initial results posted on Open Science Frameworks: osf.io/p8yv2.
PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
Rivara, FP, Tennyson RL, Mills B, Emery C, Gioia G, Giza C, Herring S, Janz K, LaBella C, McLeod TV, Meehan, W, Patricios J. (2020). Consensus Statement on Sport-related Concussions in Youth Sports. JAMA Pediatrics.
Rej PH, Tennyson RL, Lee NR, Eisenberg DTA. (2019). Caregiving for disabled family members does not predict telomere length in the Philippines. Psychoneuroendocrinology.
Tennyson RL, Gettler LT, Kuzawa CW, Hayes MG, Agustin SS, Eisenberg D. (2018). Lifetime socioeconomic status and early life microbial environments predict adult blood telomere length in the Philippines. American Journal of Human Biology.
Logan-Greene, P., Tennyson, RL., Borja, S., Nurius, P. (2017). Adverse Childhood Experiences, Coping Resources, and Mental Health Problems Among Court-Involved Youth. Child & Youth Care Forum.
Tennyson RL, Kemp CG, Rao D. (2016). Challenges and Strategies for Mental Health Measurement for Research in Low-Resource Settings. International Health.
Harel EV, Tennyson RL, Fava M, Bar M. (2016). Impaired Function and Structure in Networks Processing Contextual information in Acute Non-medicated Major Depression. Cognitive, Affective, and Behavioral Neuroscience.
Benenson, JF, Tennyson, R, Wrangham, RW. (2011). Male Infants Imitate a Male Model’s Hitting. Cognition, 121, 262-267
PRESENTATIONS
RL Tennyson. (2019). Systematic review of the association between cortisol secretion and telomere length in humans. Poster Presentation at the Human Biology Association Annual Meeting. Cleveland, OH.
PH Rej, RL Tennyson, NR Lee, DTA Eisenberg. (2019). Caregiving for disabled family members does not predict telomere length in the Philippines. Flash Talk at the Human Biology Association Annual Meeting. Cleveland, OH.
RL Tennyson, Wander K, McDade TW, Shell-Duncan B, Eisenberg DTA. (2018). An ADHD-associated polymorphism in the DRD4 gene and nutritional status among Rendille children in northern Kenya. Poster Presentation at the Human Biology Association Annual Meeting. Austin, TX. Analysis Plan and results posted on Open Science Frameworks: osf.io/p8yv2.
RL Tennyson, LT Gettler, CW Kuzawa, MG Hayes, SS Agustin, DTA Eisenberg. (2017). Does early life pathogen exposure modify the link between psychosocial stress and telomere length in the Philippines? Podium Presentation at the Human Biology Association Annual Meeting. New Orleans, LA.
RL Tennyson, CG Kemp, D Rao. (2016). Challenges and Strategies for Implementing Mental Health Measurement for Research in Low-Resource Settings. Poster Presentation at the Consortium of Universities for Global Health Annual Conference. San Francisco, CA.
RL Tennyson, EV Harel, M Bar. (2016). Selective decreases in the hippocampus in Major Depressive Disorder: a Life History approach. Poster Presentation at the Human Biology Association Annual Meeting. Atlanta, GA.
RL Tennyson, LT Gettler, CW Kuzawa, MG Hayes, DTA Eisenberg. (2015). Early life psychosocial stress and blood telomere length among young adults in the Philippines. Poster Presentation at the Human Biology Association Annual Meeting. St. Louis, MO.
Logan-Greene, P., Nurius, P., Borja, S., Tennyson, R. (2015). Adverse Childhood Experiences, Protective Factors, and Mental Health Problems Among Court-Involved Youth. Podium Presentation at the Society for Social Work and Research Annual Conference. New Orleans, LA.
Tennyson, R. (2013). Epigenetics: How our environment affects our biology. Guest lecture given for Vanderbilt University course on Medicine, Health, and Society.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
University of Washington – Seattle, Department of Anthropology Seattle, WA
Research Scientist (January 2021 – Present)
Anthropological Genetics Laboratory
Principal Investigator: Dr. Dan Eisenberg
Casimir Trials Remote – Seattle, WA
Research Associate (May 2020 – Present)
Description: Work centers on conducting qualitative interviews and building outcome-based assessments that center patient’s and caregiver’s perspectives, specifically in trials of treatments for rare disorders and diseases.
University of Washington – Seattle, Department of Pediatrics, Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center Seattle, WA
Research Consultant (April 2018-Present)
Project: Development of Evidence-based Expert Consensus Recommendations on Selected Issues in Youth Collision and Contact Sport; Determining impacts of alcohol-based prohibition laws and gun violence
Supervisor: Dr. Frederick P. Rivara
University of Washington – Seattle, Center for Evaluation & Research for STEM Equity (CERSE) Seattle, WA
Graduate Research Student Assistant (September 2017-April 2018)
Projects: UW College of Engineering RAPID admissions project, multiple other projects focused on improving representation of women and underrepresented minorities in the STEM
Project Investigator: Dr. Emily Knaphus-Soran, Dr. Elizabeth Litzler
University of Washington – Seattle, Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology Seattle, WA (September 2016-September 2017)
Funded Graduate Fellowship, Project: Does early life microbial exposure moderate the effects of psychosocial stress on telomere length?
Mentor: Dr. Dan Eisenberg
University of Washington – Seattle, Department of Anthropology Seattle, WA (June 2014-December 2016)
Lab Manager, Anthropological Genetics Laboratory.
Principal Investigator: Dr. Dan Eisenberg
University of Washington – Seattle, Department of Anthropology Seattle, WA (September 2013-June 2014)
Research Assistant, Project: Assay development and literature reviews as well as performance of general lab maintenance.
Principal Investigator: Dr. Dan Eisenberg
Vanderbilt University, Department of Anthropology Nashville, TN (August 2012-July 2013)
Research Assistant, Project: Epigenetic Consequences of Extreme Social Deprivation in Early Childhood, assist in other projects as needed
Principal Investigator: Dr. Amy Non
Vanderbilt University, Department of Psychology, Nashville, TN (August 2012-July 2013)
Research Analyst, Projects: Anhedonia and the neural basis of effort-based decision-making in depression, Neuromodulation of Motivated Cognition and Decision Making Across Adulthood
Principal Investigator: Dr. David Zald
Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (July 2011-July 2012)
Research Coordinator, Project: fMRI and Behavioral Studies of Visual Memory and Object Recognition
Principal Investigators: Dr. Moshe Bar and Dr. Eiran Harel
New York University, Department of Anthropology, New York, NY (June 2010-November 2010)
Research Assistant, Project: Comparative Socioecology of Spider and Woolly Monkeys in Amazonian Ecuador
Principal Investigators: Dr. Anthony Di Fiore and Dr. Andres Link
Harvard University, Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Cambridge, MA (August 2008-February 2009)
Research Assistant, Project: Dissertation project comparing social development in chimpanzees and bonobos
Principal Investigator: Dr. Victoria Wobber
Harvard University, Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Cambridge, MA (August 2007 – January 2008)
Research Assistant, Project: Dissertation project comparing feeding behaviors of chimpanzees and bonobos
Principal Investigators: Dr. Alexander Georgiev and Dr. Richard Wrangham
Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (March 2007 – June 2007)
Research Assistant, Project: Effects of Meditation on Working Memory
Principle Investigator: Dr. Sara Lazar
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2021, Reader/Grader, University of Washington, Winter Quarter, BIO A 370 – The Non-Human Primates
Instructor: Andrea Duncan
2020, Teaching Assistant, University of Washington, Fall Quarter, BIO A 351 – Principles of Evolutionary Medicine
Instructor: Dan Eisenberg
2020, Graduate Student Instructor, University of Washington, Summer Quarter Full-Term, BIO A 370 – The Non-Human Primates
2020, Teaching Assistant, University of Washington, Spring Quarter, BIO A 487 – Human Biological Adaptability
Instructor: Elen Feuerrigel
2020, Teaching Assistant, University of Washington, Winter Quarter, BIO A 208 – Sex and Evolution
Instructor: Alex K. Hill
2019, Teaching Assistant, University of Washington, Fall Quarter, BIO A 455 – Laboratory Methods in Hormones and Behavior
Instructor: Melanie Martin
2018, Teaching Assistant, University of Washington, Spring Quarter, BIO A 459/559 – Anthropological Genetics Laboratory Methods
Instructor: Dan Eisenberg
2016, Teaching Assistant, University of Washington,Spring Quarter,
ANTH 213 – Anthropology and Sports
Instructor: Holly Barker
2016, Teaching Assistant, University of Washington, Winter Quarter,
BIO A 459/559 – Anthropological Genetics Laboratory Methods
Instructor: Dan Eisenberg
2015, Teaching Assistant, University of Washington, Fall Quarter,
BIO A 101 – Human Biological Diversity
Instructor: Alex K. Hill
2015, Teaching Assistant, University of Washington, Spring Quarter,
BIO A 201 Principles of Biological Anthropology
Instructor: Henry Lyle III
2015, Teaching Assistant, University of Washington, Winter Quarter,
BIO A 459/559 – Anthropological Genetics Laboratory Methods
Instructor: Dan Eisenberg
2014, Teaching Assistant, University of Washington, Fall Quarter,
BIO A 101 – Human Biological Diversity
Instructor: Patricia Kramer
2014, Teaching Assistant, University of Washington, Spring Quarter,
BIO A 469 – Anthropological Genetics Laboratory Methods
Instructor: Dan Eisenberg
2014, Teaching Assistant, University of Washington, Winter Quarter,
BIO A 455 – Reproductive Ecology Laboratory
Instructor: Kathleen O’Connor
AWARDS & FELLOWSHIPS
Center for Leadership in Athletics, Dissertation Scholarship – Competitive scholarship to fund dissertation work in line with the goals of the Center for Leadership in Athletics. Amount Awarded: $10,000. Received: Summer 2020
University of Washington, Student Technology Fund – Competitive grant throughout University of Washington to provide resources. Funds awarded to purchase Actigraph accelerometers, pipettes, anthropometric tools. Amount awarded: $38,813. Received: January 2020
University of Washington, Anthropology Department: Dissertation Pilot Funding – Internal competitive grant to fund graduate student pilot research related to their dissertation. Received: May 2019
Funded Fellowship in Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology – Year long funded fellowship to conduct a research project focusing on demography and population health. Dates: September 2016-September 2017
Human Biology Association: Student Member Travel Award – Competitive award to reimburse travel and lodging for the Human Biology Association’s annual meeting. Award based on application essay. Received: Spring 2016, Amount awarded: $500
Department of Global Health Travel Award – Awarded to help defray costs for attending the Consortium of Universities for Global Health Annual Conference. Received: Spring 2016, Amount awarded: $500
Human Biology Association: Student Member Travel Award – Competitive award to reimburse travel and lodging for the Human Biology Association’s annual meeting. Award based on application essay. Received: Spring 2015, Amount awarded: $500
Honorable Mention – National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship – Received: Spring 2014
William S. Pollitzer Travel Award – Competitive award to defray the costs of attending the American Association of Physical Anthropology’s annual meeting. Award based on application essay. Received: Winter 2014, Amount awarded: $500.
Robert Goelet Research Fund – Competitive award for undergraduate thesis research in Anthropology at Harvard College. Received: Summer 2009, Amount awarded: $1,000.
Mary Gordon Roberts Summer Mind, Brain and Behavior Fellowship – Competitive award for undergraduate thesis research in Mind, Brain, and Behavior at Harvard College. Received: Summer 2009, Amount awarded: $1,600.
Harvard College Research Program – Competitive award for undergraduate thesis research in the sciences. Received: Summer 2009, Amount awarded: $1,000.
Dean’s Summer Research Award – Competitive award for undergraduate thesis research performed by undergraduates receiving financial aid, Received: Summer 2009. Amount awarded: $1,000.
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
Outreach and Development Committee, 2016-2017, Department of Anthropology, University of Washington
Description: Members of the Development Committee will identify funding priorities in the department, propose and plan events that will establish the department’s presence more strongly in the university and greater community and link prospective donors with department needs.
Undergraduate Outreach Committee, 2014-2015, Department of Anthropology, University of Washington
Description: Works with director of student services, Diane Guerra, to plan and implement outreach activities for current and prospective undergrad majors in anthropology, organizes all aspects of a special end-of-year graduation ceremony for graduating seniors in the department
Conference Volunteer – American Association of Physical Anthropologists 2014 Annual Meeting, Calgary, Alberta
Description: Assisted in the setup and takedown of several poster sessions. Provided technical support for a podium session and general support throughout the conference.
Resources Committee, 2013-2014, Department of Anthropology, University of Washington Description: Allocate funds from the Department for visiting scholars and for support of research and travel conducted by graduate students.
TUTORING EXPERIENCE
Student-Athlete Academic Services (SAAS), University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 2014-2016. Tutor student-athletes in anthropology, archaeology, statistics, and epidemiology courses.
GeNOM and ALVA Project, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, Summer 2014. Tutored incoming Freshman from underrepresented groups in scientific research and STEM coursework. Project is aimed at recruiting and retaining involvement of underrepresented groups.
Horace Mann Elementary School, St. Paul, MN, 2010-2011. Tutored 3rd-5th graders in math and reading
Harvard University Bureau of Study Counsel, 2007-2010. Tutored Multivariable Calculus and Psychology
EXTRACURRICULARS
University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN, 2011 Assistant strength coach for Division-III intercollegiate sports, including football, rugby, and women’s volleyball
Harvard University, 2006-2010 Varsity Football, Club Rugby, Club Ice Hockey