Jeffrey V. Peterson holds an M.A. in anthropology from San Diego State University (2012) and a B.A. in anthropology from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (2008). From 2010-2011, Jeffrey conducted research as a Fulbright scholar on perceptions of macaque sacredness among Balinese transmigrants in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. After graduating with his master’s degree, Jeffrey taught an online introductory biocultural anthropology course as a lecturer at San Diego State University (2013-2014).
Jeffrey’s research interests are in nonhuman primate cognition and social behavior. His dissertation research focuses on communication and other forms of social interaction among long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) in Bali, Indonesia. Jeffrey is motivated by theoretical approaches to communication from primatology, sociocultural anthropology, and linguistic anthropology. He is employing an integrated theoretical and methodological framework drawing upon work from these fields in his dissertation research. Jeffrey is a Notre Dame Presidential Fellow and Irwin Press Fellow.