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Norbert Ross Associate Professor Department of Anthropology Vanderbilt University VU Station B #356050 Nashville, TN 37235-7703 Phone: (615)322-6114 Fax: (615)343-0230 norbert.o.ross@vanderbilt.edu EDUCATION: ___________HABIL 2002; University of Freiburg, Anthropology. ___________PhD ____ 1998; University of Freiburg, Anthropology; SUMMA CUM LAUDE ___________MA _____1995; University of Freiburg, Anthropology; WITH EXCELLENCE ___________BA ______ N/A __(does not exist in the German academic system). LANGUAGE SKILLS:     German; English, Spanish, Tzotzil-Maya, Lacandon-Maya, Classic Nahuatl, Latin & Greek. CURRENT AFFILIATIONS: Associate Professor, Anthropology, Vanderbilt University Associate Professor, Psychology, Vanderbilt University Assistant Professor, Anthropology, Vanderbilt University (2003 - 2007) Assistant Professor, Psychology, Vanderbilt University (2004 - 2007) Investigator, Learning Science Institute, Vanderbilt University (2003 – present) PREVIOUS AFFILIATIONS: ___________Research Assistant Professor, Cognitive Science, Northwestern University (2000 - 2003) ___________Postdoctoral Researcher, Northwestern University (1998-2000) PRIMARY RESEARCH INTERESTS: Geographical Interests: Mesoamerica; North America; Middle East Theoretical Interests: Culture & Cognition; Child Development; Conceptual Change & Cultural Change; Folkbiology; Spatial Cognition; Medicine & Culture RESEARCH GRANTS RECEIVED: National Science Foundation (REESE Program & Anthropology). Local Manifestations of Institutional Agency: The Case of Evolution Teaching in Tennessee. Vanderbilt University Center of the Americas. Villa Rica de la Veracruz: Archaeology, ethnohistory and their impact on local understandings of race, ethnicity ad the nation. Pilot grant to conduct a feasibility study. National Science Foundation. Language and Conceptual Development: The Role of Language Differences and Bilingualism in the Development of Spatial Concepts Among Tzotzil Maya and Spanish speaking Adults and Children. National Science Foundation, supplement for student participation to NSF HSD; summer 2007. National Science Foundation, supplement for student participation to NSF HSD; summer 2006. National Science Foundation. Understanding Conceptual and Cultural Change: The Role of Expertise and Flexibility in Folkmedicine (4 years). Interdisciplinary research (Anthropology, Psychology and Computer Science) in Chiapas, Mexico as well as in the Nashville area. Co-PIs: Tom Palmeri & David Noelle. National Institute of Health. The Boundaries of Folkbiology: Tzotzil Maya children’s acquisition of folkbiology (2 years). Interdisciplinary research (Anthropology & Psychology) in Chiapas, Mexico. National Institute of Health. Development of Folkbiological Thought: A cross-cultural perspective (2003-2007). Interdisciplinary research (Anthropology & Psychology) in Chiapas, Mexico. Co-PI with S. Waxman, D. Medin & S. Atran. National Science Foundation. Development of Folkbiological_ Thought: A cross-cultural view (2003-2007). Interdisciplinary research______ (Anthropology & Psychology) in Chiapas, Mexico, 2003-2007. Co-PI with D. Medin, S. Waxman & S. Atran. National Science Foundation. Tzotzil Maya Folkbiology: Cultural Account of Difference (2002-2004). Vanderbilt University Intramural Discovery Grant (peer-reviewed) The Architecture of Race: Psychological and Social Components of Racialism. (2005-2006). Interdisciplinary research (Anthropology & Psychology) in Chiapas, Mexico. German National Academic Foundation Doctoral Dissertation Grant, for anthropological research in Chiapas, Mexico, 1995-1998. Publications