The Kinsey Institute is pleased to announce that Anita Aldrich Endowed Research Scientist Dr. Amanda Gesselman has accepted a new administrative role at the Kinsey Institute, effective July 1, 2023. In addition to her robust research program, Dr. Gesselman will now oversee the training and mentorship of the Institute’s postdoctoral scholars.
The new Postdoctoral Training Coordinator role was created as part of the Kinsey Institute’s investment in early career scientists and scholars, in order to provide structured research methodology training and professional mentoring to the multiple postdoctoral research fellows who join our research team. Postdocs typically join the Institute for a period of two years and have a primary faculty advisor who supervises their research projects.
Dr. Gesselman is a social–developmental psychologist with additional training in advanced methodology and statistics. She has been with the Kinsey Institute since 2014 and serves as Head of Research Analytics and Methodology Core at the Institute. In 2019, she was also appointed to a three-year term as Associate Director for Research, and graciously agreed to serve for an additional year in 2022.
Over the last 10 years, Dr. Gesselman has been involved in a wide array of socia-behavioral research. Her current research interests are in new trends in the romantic and sexual lives of adults around the world, the influence of close relationships on health and well-being, and how technology can be used to facilitate intimate connections.
Dr. Gesselman has served as a scientific or statistical consultant for various corporations, non-profit organizations, and academic collaborations. Her work has been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, and covered by international media outlets including TIME, VICE, and Netflix’s Explained.
Executive Director Dr. Justin Garcia said, “Dr. Gesselman is a cherished collaborator and colleague, an extremely talented scientist, and a dedicated mentor. In this new leadership role, she will have time and resources to focus on and amplify the thoughtful training we want to provide for all of our Kinsey Institute Postdoctoral Fellows.”