Gillian Einstein
{{short description|American Canadian neuroscientist}}
{{Infobox scientist
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| name = Gillian Einstein
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| birth_date = June 1952
| birth_place = New York City
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| nationality = American, Canadian
| fields = Neuroscience specializing in women's health
| workplaces = Department of Psychology, University of Toronto
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| alma_mater = Harvard University,
| thesis_title = The Pattern of Synaptic Input from the Lateral Geniculate Nucleus to Layer IV, Area 17 of the Cat
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| academic_advisors = Peter Sterling
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| website = {{Official|http://einsteinlab.ca/}}
| footnotes = Distant cousin of Albert Einstein
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Gillian Einstein is a faculty member in the Department of Psychology at the University of Toronto,{{cite web | title = Faculty member: Gillian Einstein | url = https://www.psych.utoronto.ca/people/directories/all-faculty/gillian-einstein | website = psych.utoronto.ca | publisher = Department of Psychology | access-date = 22 November 2024}} and cross-appointed with the Dalla Lana School of Public Health. She holds the inaugural Wilfred and Joyce Posluns Chair in Women's Brain Health and Aging.{{cite news | last = Jankovic | first = Jovana | title = Gillian Einstein leads research in women's brain health with inaugural Wilfred and Joyce Posluns Chair | url = https://womensbrainhealth.org/think-twice/gillian-einstein-leads-research-in-womens-brain-health-with-inaugural-wilfred-and-joyce-posluns-chair | work = Women's Brain Health Initiative | date = 14 March 2014 | access-date = 22 August 2017}}
Early life and education
Einstein was born in New York City, US.{{Cite web|url=https://www.feministvoices.com/gillian-einstein/|title=Gillian Einstein - Psychology's Feminist Voices|last=George|first=Meghan|website=www.feministvoices.com|language=en|access-date=2018-08-09}} As her father was a member of the U.S. Air Force, her family moved between New York City, Texas and Massachusetts.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/06/03/toronto-neuroscientist-tackling-science-sex-and-sexism-in-womens-health.html|title=Toronto neuroscientist tackling science, sex and sexism in women's health {{!}} The Star|work=thestar.com|access-date=2018-11-28|language=en}} She completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in the History of Art at Harvard University. Einstein then earned her PhD in 1984, working on neuroanatomy at the University of Pennsylvania.{{Cite journal|last1=Einstein|first1=Gillian|last2=Davis|first2=Thomas L.|last3=Sterling|first3=Peter|date=1987-06-01|title=Pattern of lateral geniculate synapses on neuron somata in layer IV of the cat striate cortex|journal=The Journal of Comparative Neurology|language=fr|volume=260|issue=1|pages=76–86|doi=10.1002/cne.902600107|pmid=3036913|s2cid=25960996|issn=0021-9967}}
Research and career
File:Importance_of_Sex_as_a_Basic_Biological_Variable_in_Preclinical_Research.webm in preclinical research.]]
Einstein joined Duke University in 1989 as an assistant professor and moved to the Centre for Research on Women's Health at Women's College Hospital in 2004.
In 2006, Einstein established the University of Toronto’s Collaborative Graduate Program in Women's Health (now known as the Collaborative Specialization in Women's Health).{{Cite web|url=http://www.dlsph.utoronto.ca/programs/collaborative-specialization-in-womens-health/collaborative-specialization-in-womens-healthabout-us/|title=About Us|website=www.dlsph.utoronto.ca|language=en-US|access-date=2018-08-09}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.womenscollegehospital.ca/news-and-events/connect/news/wcri-provides-home-to-graduate-program-in-women%E2%80%99s-health-research|title=Women's College Hospital - WCRI Provides Home to Graduate Program in Women's Health Research|website=www.womenscollegehospital.ca|access-date=2018-08-09}} This program is based at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, and is affiliated with the Women's College Research Institute (based at the Women's College Hospital). Einstein led the program as a Director from 2006 to 2016.
In 2007, Einstein edited Sex and the Brain for MIT Press.{{cite book|title=Sex and the brain|last=Einstein|first=Gillian|publisher=MIT Press|year=2007|isbn=9780262050876|location=Cambridge, Massachusetts}}
Einstein's work is focussed on women's health, specifically, the anatomy of the female brain. With 72% of Canadian Alzheimer's sufferers being represented by women, Einstein explores why brain disorders like Alzheimer's disproportionately affect women.{{cite news | last = Allen | first = Kate | title = Toronto neuroscientist tackling science, sex and sexism in women's health | url = https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/06/03/toronto-neuroscientist-tackling-science-sex-and-sexism-in-womens-health.html | work = Toronto Star | date = 3 June 2017 | access-date = 22 August 2017}} Einstein's research looks at the relationship between early menopause and decreased estrogen levels, and how this may negatively affect cognition.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/50785.html|title=Why do more women develop Alzheimer's disease than men? - CIHR|last=Research|first=Government of Canada, Canadian Institutes of Health|website=www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca|language=en|access-date=2018-11-28|date=2018-01-09}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/estrogen-brain-dementia-1.4787320|title=Delving into the link between estrogen and dementia {{!}} CBC News|work=CBC|access-date=2018-11-28|language=en-US}} Further to the differences that gender may play on the human brain, Einstein further posits that the social and cultural context that accompanies being female or male can also have a significant effect on our biology.
Einstein has been outspoken on the subject of gender disparity in clinical health research. She participated in the scientific discussion that led to the US National Institutes of Health to form policies requiring even gender distribution in cell and animal studies.
In 2016, Einstein was awarded the inaugural Wilfred and Joyce Posluns Chair in Women's Brain Health and Aging.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dlsph.utoronto.ca/2017/03/gillian-einstein-leads-research-in-womens-brain-health-with-inaugural-wilfred-and-joyce-posluns-chair/|title=Gillian Einstein Leads Research in Women's Brain Health with Inaugural Wilfred and Joyce Posluns Chair|website=www.dlsph.utoronto.ca|language=en-US|access-date=2018-08-09}} This chair is supported through the Wilfred Posluns' Family Foundation, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Alzheimer Society of Canada, and the Ontario Brain Institute.{{Cite web|url=https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/university-of-toronto-researcher-receives-the-wilfred-and-joyce-posluns-chair-in-womens-brain-health-and-aging-606522936.html|title=University of Toronto researcher receives The Wilfred and Joyce Posluns Chair in Women's Brain Health and Aging|website=www.newswire.ca|language=en|access-date=2018-11-28}}
Personal life
Gillian Einstein is a distant cousin of Albert Einstein.
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{Official|http://einsteinlab.ca/}}
{{The NeuroGenderings Network}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Subject bar| portal3= Biography| portal4=Canada}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Einstein, Gillian}}
Category:Academic staff of the University of Toronto
Category:American neuroscientists
Category:Canadian neuroscientists
Category:American women neuroscientists
Category:Canadian women neuroscientists
Category:University of Pennsylvania alumni
Category:Harvard College alumni
Category:Articles containing video clips