Fujita, Masako
(Ph.D. University of Washington, 2008)
Assistant Professor
fujitam@msu.edu

MASAKO FUJITA (BA, MA, Anthropology, U Victoria Canada, 2002; MA, Ph.D., Anthropology, U Washington, 2008) is an assistant professor of the Department of Anthropology at Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA. As a biological anthropologist, she combines clinical, epidemiological, anthropological, and laboratory theories and methods to better understand pandemic diseases and malnutrition in contemporary human populations. She currently leads a research program among Ariaal women of northern Kenya to clarify biocultural factors underlying the persistent public health problem of maternal and childhood vitamin A deficiency. Her research partners include researchers from the Centre for Public Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute (Nairobi, Kenya); the Department of Anthropology, University of Victoria (Victoria, Canada); and the Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology, University of Washington (UW CSDE, Seattle, USA).

Dr. Fujita is also a core member of the MSU African Studies Center, MSU Center for Gender in Global Context (GenCen), and the MSU Medical Anthropology Program. She is currently in the process of establishing a biomarker laboratory at MSU with support from MSU Anthropology and MSU College of Social Science.

Starting Fall 2009, Dr. Fujita will offer a new course entitled Human Adaptability (ANP 491 section 001; Prerequisites: ANP 202, ANP 340, or ISS220), covering evolutionary ecological perspective on human adaptation. Please contact fujitam@msu.edu for more information.

Masako Fujita's Community of science expertise profile.

Selected Publications

• Fujita M, Brindle E, Rocha A, Shell-Duncan B, Ndemwa P, Oconnor K. 2009. Assessment of the relative-dose response test based on serum retinol-binding protein in lieu of serum retinol for determining low hepatic vitamin A stores. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 90:217-24.
• Roth EA, Ngugi E, Fujita M. 2009. HIV/AIDS risk and worry in Northern Kenya. Health, Risk and Society 11(3):231-239.
• Fujita M, Brindle E, Shofer J, Ndemwa P, Kombe Y, Shell-Duncan B, O’Connor KA. 2007. Retinol-binding protein stability in dried blood spots. Clinical Chemistry 53(11):1972-1975.
• Fujita M. 2006. Maternal vitamin A deficiency in a settled Ariaal community in northern Kenya: a direction for future research. Journal of Development Alternative and Area Studies 25(3):88-100.
• Roth EA, Ngugi E, Fujita M. 2006. Self deception does not explain high-risk behavior in the face of HIV/AIDS: a test from northern Kenya. Evolution and Human Behavior 27(1):53-62.
• Fujita M, Roth EA, Nathan M, and Fratkin EM. 2004. Sedentism, Seasonality and Economic Status: A Multivariate Analysis of Maternal Dietary and Health Statuses between Pastoral and Agricultural Ariaal and Rendille Communities in Northern Kenya. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 123(3):277-91.