Postdoctoral Fellow
Departments of Biology and Psychology
Hiram College
Ph: 330-569-5004
Fax: 330-569-5448
gumertmd@hiram.edu
Areas of interest: Social behavior is the complex
interaction of behavioral acts performed on and received
from members of a cohesive group. Many mechanisms can
control and influence how behavior is exchanged, from
biological predispositions to cultural-induced alterations
of behavioral expression. I am interested in understanding
the basis of social behavior and am currently involved in
research assessing both proximate and ultimate factors that
influence social exchange. My work thus far has been mainly
focused on how trading of social acts may resemble a market,
where the current economic conditions of the social
environment predict social exchange. Factors such as supply,
demand, advertisement, and partner value can all influence
how much one will invest in another. I have used this
biological market approach to model and predict how
individuals exchange social acts in long-tailed macaques (Macaca
fascicularis). I have also begun investigating genetic
influences on mating relationships, exploring whether MHC
(major histocompatibility complex) variation can predict
partner preferences between males and females for mating,
affiliation, and consortship.
view more photos
Education
East Stroudsburg University
East Stroudsburg, PA
BS in Environmental Science
1993 - 1997
Bucknell University
Lewisburg, PA
MS in Animal Behavior
1998 - 2000
University of Georgia
Athens, GA
PhD in Psychology
2001 - 2006
Other Languages:
Bahasa Indonesia
Publications
Gumert, MD. (In press) Grooming and infant handling
interchange in long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis):
the relationship between infant supply and grooming payment.
International Journal of Primatology. (to be printed summer
fall 2007)
Reports submitted for publication
Gumert, MD (submitted to Animal Behavior, Aug 2006 – in
revision). Payment for sex in a macaque mating market.
Gumert, MD (submitted to Behavioral Ecology and
Sociobiology, Nov, 2005 – now in revision) Grooming
reciprocity and interchange in wild long-tailed macaques, (Macaca
fascicularis).
Papers and Posters Presented at Scientific Societies
Gumert, MD. (August 2000). Reciprocity in a Wild Group of
Long-tailed Macaques at Tanjung Puting National Park,
Kalimantan Tengah, Indonesia: An Analysis of Social Currency
Exchange. Animal Social Complexity and Intelligence
International Conference. The Chicago Academy of Sciences.,
Emory University, and the Jane Goodall Institute. Chicago.
(Poster presentation)
Candland, DK, Judge, PG, Gumert, MD, Smith, BR. (March
2001). What Macaques Might Know? Macaque Societies and
Evolution Conference. Wenner-Gren Foundation & Mysore
University. Mysore, India.
Gumert, MD. (March 2002). Social Bonding and the Reciprocal
Exchange of Social Behavior in Long-tailed Macaques. 25th
Annual Convention of the Behavioral Sciences. University of
Georgia Psi Chi National Honor Society. Athens, GA.
Gumert, MD. (March 2005). Short-term Grooming Reciproction
and Sexual Interchange in Long-tailed Macaques (Macaca
fascularis). 28th Annual Convention on the Behavioral
Sciences. University of Georgia Psi Chi National Honor
Society. Athens, GA.
Gumert, MD (August 2005) Short-term Grooming Reciproction
and Sexual Interchange in Long-tailed Macaques (Macaca
fascularis) in Tanjung Puting National Park, Kalimantan
Tengah Indonesia. 28th Meeting of the American Society of
Primatologists. Portland, OR. Abstract in American Journal
of Primatology. 66(S1): 56
Thesis and Dissertation
(2000) Reciprocity in a Wild Group of Long-Tailed Macaques (Macaca
fascicularis) At Tanjung Puting National Park, Kalimantan
Tengah, Indonesia: An Analysis of Social Currency Exchange.
In Animal Behavior. Bucknell University. Lewisburg, PA.
(2006) Reciprocity and Interchange in Long-tailed Macaques (Macaca
fascicularus). In Psychology. University of Georgia. Athens,
GA.
Miscellaneous Publications
Gumert, MD. (2000) An unusual abroad perspective: animal
behavior in Indonesia. Bucknellian. Nov 9, 2000. p. 7.
Gumert, MD. (2002) Book review of Hierarchy in the Forest:
The Evolution of Egalitarian Behavior, by Christopher Boehm
(1999), Primate-Science Book Reviews, Primate Science List
Serve, 2002.
http://library.primate.wisc.edu/collections/books/gumert.html
Gumert, MD. (2002). Book review on “Economics in Nature:
Social Dilemmas, Mate Choice, and Biological Markets.” 2001.
Eds. Noe, R., van Hooff, J.A.R.A.M., and Hammerstein, P.
Ecoscience. 9(3): 417-418.
Gumert, MD (2004) Spirits or Demons? Tempo. Aug 31 – Sept 6,
2004. p. 27.
http://www.tempointeraktif.com/majalah/jap/col-1.html
Gumert, MD (2004) The Tale of the Rimba Monkeys.
www.orangutan.org/press/fieldnews1004.php
Awards
Fulbright Graduate Fellowship
American-Indonesian Exchange Foundation – March 25th, 2003
$18,600
Best Graduate Level Paper
28th Annual Convention of the Behavioral Sciences,
University of Georgia Psi Chi National Honor Society –
March, 2005
$50
Travel Grants to attend 28th American Society of
Primatologists Meeting
University of Georgia Graduate School – August, 2005
$700
American Society of Primatologists
$200
