Fatimah Jackson, a professor of biology and the director of the W. Montague Cobb Research Laboratory at Howard University in Washington, D.C., is the recipient of the 2020 Charles R. Darwin Lifetime Achievement Award. She is the first woman of African descent to receive this prestigious award from the American Association of Physical Anthropologists.
Each year, AAPA presents the achievement award to a scholar who has demonstrated a lifetime of contributions and distinguished service to the field of physical anthropology. Dr. Jackson is scheduled to receive the award at the association’s annual meeting in Los Angeles.
“Scholars and scientists often work in semi-isolated environments and we are unaware of the impact our research can have on the public. I am extremely honored to have my lifelong dedication to the advancement of the African American community through anthropological and biological research receive profound recognition,” said Dr. Jackson.
Dr. Jackson received her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees, all from Cornell University. She focuses her studies on African human genetics, human-plant coevolution, particularly the influence of phytochemicals on human metabolic effects and evolutionary processes, and in population biological substructures in peoples of African descent.
