Assistant Professor
Ph.D. Simon Fraser University
Area: Biopsychology, Personality & Social Contexts

Contact Information

Email: smva@umich.edu
Psychology Office: 3028 East Hall
Psychology Phone: 734-647-6981

Research and Teaching Interests

In my research program, I focus principally on human social neuroendocrinology, sexuality, gender/sex, and evolution. In addition to bidirectional associations (e.g. testosterone-sexuality links), I am especially interested in social modulation of androgens and other hormones, and the implications of this ‘reverse relationship’ for immune function, physiology, and behavior. I mainly examine social behavioral contexts related to sexuality, partnering, and nurturance. My program includes attention to diverse populations, and the development of methods to conduct this research using inclusive research and feminist science practices. As a secondary line in hormone research, I have become increasingly interested in biological rhythms, both as methodological issues and evolutionary questions.
I also conduct quantitative research on academia and gender, class, and race/ethnicity. Finally, I maintain an active interest in broader research addressing human sexuality, conceptualizations of gender/sex, and interpretations and implications of this research.

***Dr. van Anders is currently recruiting graduate students for Fall 2010! Please check the website (link at bottom) for more information!***

Representative Publications

• van Anders, S. M. & Dunn, E. J. (2009).  Testosterone, estradiol, and orgasms in women and men. Hormones and Behavior, 56(2), 206-213.
• van Anders, S. M., Brotto, L., Farrell, J., & Yule, M. (2009). Associations between physiological and subjective sexual response, sexual desire, and salivary steroid hormones in healthy premenopausal women. Journal of Sexual Medicine, 6, 739-751.
• van Anders, S. M. & Gray, P. B. (2007). Hormones and human partnering. Annual Review of Sex Research, 18, 60-93. Invited contribution.
• van Anders, S. M., Hamilton, L. D., & Watson, N. V. (2007). Multiple partners are associated with higher testosterone in North American men and women. Hormones and Behavior, 51, 454-459.
• van Anders S. M., Hamilton, L. D., Schmidt, N., & Watson, N. V. (2007). Associations between testosterone secretion and sexual activity in women. Hormones and Behavior, 51, 477-482.
• van Anders, S. M. & Watson, N. V. (2006). Social neuroendocrinology: Effects of social contexts and behaviors on sex steroids in humans. Human Nature, 17(2), 212-237.
• van Anders, S. M. (2004). Why the academic pipeline leaks: Fewer men than women perceive barriers to becoming professors. Sex Roles, 51(9/10), 511-521.

Honors and Awards

• Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology Young Investigator Award, 2007.
• Simon Fraser University Natural Science Nominee for National Doctoral Prize from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), 2007.
• UNESCO-NSERC-L’Oreal Supplement, For Women in Science, 2003.

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