Fred Bercovitch, Ph.D.

Associate Director of CRES/Behavioral Biology

Zoological Society of San Diego

Dr. Fred Bercovitch serves the Zoological Society of San Diego as associate director of CRES/Division of Behavioral Biology. He is also co-head of the Endocrine Unit at CRES. His division’s research involves documenting factors that influence differences in reproductive success. His work involves animals in the collection at both the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park, as well as wildlife conservation studies in the field. His work has included research on giraffes, African elephants, African wild dogs, koalas, California condors, Nile lechwe, South African cheetahs, and other species.

Dr. Bercovitch joined the Society in February 2001 as head of the Division of Behavioral Biology. Previously, he was scientist-in-charge at the Cayo Santiago Research Facility of the Caribbean Primate Research Center in Puerto Rico. His work there included research on the large population of wild rhesus monkeys that inhabit Cayo Santiago. He was also a scientist with the Wisconsin Regional Primate Research Center and spent several years conducting research and instructing at the University of California and Arizona State University.

With a bachelor’s degree in anthropology, Dr. Bercovitch went on to earn a master’s degree from Arizona State University in 1976 and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1985, both in anthropology. He has been awarded grants from the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, The H. F. Guggenheim Foundation, and others.

Dr. Bercovitch is a active member of the American Society of Primatologists, Animal Behavior Society, International Primatological Society, Society for Conservation Biology, and the Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology. He also chairs or serves on numerous specialty committees and groups within the organizations.

Dr. Bercovitch also serves as an ad hoc reviewer for numerous grant agencies, such as the National Science Foundation, National Geographic Society, H. F. Guggenheim Foundation, Smithsonian Institution, and others, as well as for many professional journals. He has authored or co-authored more than 100 books, articles, papers, and abstracts and has made presentations throughout the world to professional and academic organizations.