David Schleifer, PhD

(212) 342 0714 • ds3029@columbia.edu • davidschleifer.com • imapny.org

PhD, Sociology, New York University, 2010           

MA, Sociology, New York University, 2007                                            

BA, Sociology, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, 1998         

Current Appointment:  Associate Research Scholar, Center on Medicine as a Profession, Columbia College of Physicians & Surgeons

Research Areas:  Science, Technology, and Medicine; Healthcare Policy and Healthcare Industries; Food and Nutrition; Regulation

Dissertation:  “Reforming Food: How Trans Fats Entered and Exited the American Food System.” 

Committee:  Harvey Molotch, Chair; Troy Duster; Eric Klinenberg, Rayna Rapp, Caitlin Zaloom.

Summary at http://davidschleifer.com/dissertation/

Peer reviewed publications:

David Schleifer. 2012 “The Perfect Solution:  How Trans Fats Became the Healthy Replacement for Saturated Fats.” Technology and Culture 53(1):  94-119.

David Schleifer.  2011.  “We Spent a Million Bucks and Then We Had To Do Something:  The Unexpected Implications of Industry Involvement in Trans Fats Research.” Bulletin of Science, Technology and Society, 31 (6): 460-471.

Michaela DeSoucey and David Schleifer. 2010. “Technique and Technology in the Kitchen:  Comparing Resistance to Municipal Trans Fat and Foie Gras Bans.” Studies in Law, Politics, and Society 51: 185–218.

David Schleifer. 2007. “The NYU Strike as Case Study.” Workplace 14: 59–66.

David Schleifer.  2006. “Make Me Feel Mighty Real: Gay Female-to-Male Transgenderists Negotiating Sex, Gender, and Sexuality.” Sexualities9(1): 57–75.

David Schleifer.  2004. “Seeing in Genes: Mapping the Rice Genome in China,” translated into Spanish in La Revista Iberoamericana de Ciencia, Tecnologia y Sociedad 1(3): 131–156.

Working Papers:

-          “Categories Count:  Trans Fat Labeling as a Technique of Corporate Governance,” Revise and resubmit.

-          “Evidence-Based Medicine Versus Patient-Centered Medicine:  The Case of COURAGE,” Working paper, co-authorship with David Rothman.

-          “Patient, Parent, Advocate, Investor:  Entrepreneurial Health Activism from Research to Reimbursement,” Co-authorship with Aaron Panofsky, conditional acceptance for the book “Democratizing Inequalities,” edited by Edward Walker, Caroline Lee, and Michael McQuarrie.

-          “What Counts as a Blueberry?  Making The Most of Regulatory Uncertainty in Business-to-Business Food Advertising” Working paper, co-authorship with Michaela DeSoucey.

-          “Heart Stents, Medicaid Reform and Evidence-Based Medicine at the Washington State Health Technology Assessment Program,” Working paper.

Reports, Book Chapters, and Other Writing:

David Schleifer and Bart Penders.  2011. “Food, Drugs and TV: The Social Study of Corporate Science.” Bulletin of Science, Technology and Society31 (6), 431-434.

David Schleifer, Asif Halim, and Doug Guthrie.  2010. “The Environmental Impact of Mining Metals and Gemstones:  The Case for Putting Jewelry Back into Circulation,” report for Circa Jewelry/George Washington University School of Business.

David Schleifer.  “Corn Syrup,” “Wine,” and “Vitamins” forthcoming in The Encyclopedia of the History of Invention and Technology, edited by David Staley, New York: Facts On File. 

David Schleifer, Tracy Gilman and Lauren Silberman.  2010.  “Welcome to Make It Happen,” in The Swedish Dance History, volume 2, Stockholm: INPEX (International Performance Exchange).

David Schleifer. 2010. “How to be Allergic to Everything.”  Ars Medica 6 (2): 60-63.  

David Schleifer.  2010.  “The Best Way to Get Good Taste.”  Post Road Magazine 19: 49-54.  

David Schleifer.  2009.  “Salt’s Fat Chance.”  Chemical Heritage Magazine 27(3):  38-39. 

David Schleifer.  2007.  “Fear of Frying:  A Brief History of Trans Fats.”   N+1 Magazine. 

Reviews:

David Schleifer. 2012. Review of Empty Pleasures: The Story of Artificial Sweeteners from Saccharin to Splenda by Carolyn de la Peña, Technology and Culture 52(4):  849-850.

David Schleifer.  2011. Review of Decentering Biotechnology: Assemblages Built and Assemblages Masked by Michael Carolan, Contemporary Sociology 40(6):  695-697.

David Schleifer.  2010. Review of Breathing Space:  How Allergies Shape Our Lives and Landscapes by Gregg Mitman, Science as Culture 19(3):393

David Schleifer.  2009. Review of Cultivating Science, Harvesting Power:  Science and Industrial Agriculture in California by Christopher R. Henke, Chemical Heritage Magazine 27(1): 47.

David Schleifer.  2008. Review of The Toothpick:  Technology and Culture by Henry Petroski, Food, Culture and Society 11(4): 533-536.

David Schleifer.  2007/2008. Review of In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan, Time Out New York Issue 639: December 27, 2007–January 2.

David Schleifer.  2007. Review of Microtrends by Mark J. Penn, Time Out New York Issue 624: September 13–19.

David Schleifer.  2007. Review of Alice Waters and Chez Panisse by Thomas McNamee, Time Out New York Issue 599: March 22–28.

David Schleifer.  2005. Review of The Rise of Viagra by Meika Loe, Science as Culture 14(3): 293–296.

David Schleifer.  2005.  Review of The World Turned:  Essays on Gay History, Politics, and Culture by John D’Emilio, The Archives of Sexual Behavior 34(6):  709–710. 

David Schleifer.  2005.  Review of Beyond the Closet: The Transformation of Gay and Lesbian Life by Steven Seidman, Sexuality and Culture 9(1):  98–100.

David Schleifer.  2005. Review of Terrors of the Table:  The Curious History of Nutrition by William Gratzer, Time Out New York Issue 533: December 15–28. 

David Schleifer.  2002.  Review of Strip City by Lily Burana, Sexuality and Culture 6(4):  107–108.

Teaching Appointments:

-          Instructor, Business and Its Publics: Inquiry and Discourse, New York University Stern Undergraduate College of Business, Spring 2007

-          Instructor, Sexual Diversity in Society, New York University Department of Sociology, Spring 2003 and Summer 2003

-          Teaching Assistant, World Cultures: Modern China, New York University Department of Sociology, Fall 2001, Fall 2002 and Fall 2003

-          Teaching Assistant, Introduction to Sociology, New York University Department of Sociology, Spring 2004, Fall 2005

-          Visiting Lecturer, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, China, Fall 1999 and Spring 2000

Grants and Awards:

-          American Sociological Association Science, Knowledge, and Technology Section Sally Hacker-Nicholas Mullins Award for Best Graduate Student Paper, for "The Dovetailing of Activism, Industry, and the Technological Backburner:  How trans fats became healthy" 2009.

-          American Sociological Association Student Forum Travel Award, 2009

-          Chemical Heritage Foundation John C. Haas Fellowship in the History of the Chemical Industries, in residence 2008–2009

-          New York University Dean's Dissertation Fellowship, 2007–2008

-          Chemical Heritage Foundation Beckman Center for the History of Chemistry Travel Grant, November 2007

-          Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant, National Science Foundation, Science and Society Program, Award ID 0551752, 2006–2007

-          American Sociological Association Sexualities Section Award for Best Graduate Student Paper, for “Make Me Feel Mighty Real: Gay Female-to-Male Transgenderists Negotiating Sex, Gender, and Sexuality,” 2006

-          MacCracken Fellowship, New York University, 2000–2005

-          Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Travel Grant, New York University, Fall 2003

-          New York University, Center for Teaching Excellence Fund for the Advancement of University Learning, Spring 2003

-          High Honors in Sociology, Wesleyan University, May 1998

-          Phi Beta Kappa, Wesleyan University, May 1998

Service:

-          Awards Committee, American Sociological Association Science, Knowledge, and Technology Section Sally Hacker-Nicholas Mullins Award for Best Graduate Student Paper, 2012

-          Awards Committee, American Sociological Association Sexualities Section Committee on the Award for Best Graduate Student Paper, 2007

-          Graduate Student Representative to Faculty Recruitment Committee, New York University Department of Sociology, 2005–2006          

-          Graduate Student Representative to Job Placement Committee, New York University Department of Sociology, 2004–2005      

-          Co-organizer, NyLon Social Theory and Practice Conference, New York University and London School of Economics, April 2003

-          Chair, Wesleyan University Sociology Majors Faculty Search Committee, 1997 to 1998

-          Founding Member, Wesleyan University Sexuality Studies Committee, 1997 to 1998

Research Appointments:

-          Associate Research Scholar, Center on Medicine as a Profession, Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, 2010-current

-          Research Consultant, George Washington University School of Business and Circa Jewelry May 2010-September 2010

-          Research Assistant to Professor Caitlin Zaloom, America in Debt project, New York University Department of Social and Cultural Analysis, Fall 2009-Fall 2010

-          Research Consultant, New York City Department of Health Trans Fat Help Center, Summer 2007

-          Research Assistant, The Hunger Project, Summer and Fall 2006                                   

-          Ethnographic Observer, Social Science Research Council, Summer 2006                  

-          Research Assistant, Professor Dorothy Nelkin, New York University Law School, Spring 2002–Spring 2003

-          Vaid Policy Research Fellow, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Summer 2002

-          Research Assistant, Oregon Social Learning Center Project Alliance, 1998–1999

-          Researcher, Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Spring 1998 

-          Program Intern, International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, Summer 1997

-          Research Assistant, Leonard Davis Health Economics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Summer 1995

Invited Lectures and Radio Appearances:

CUNY Graduate Center Sociology Colloquium Series, "Molecules Move Markets: Why the food industry wanted federal trans fat labeling," April 8, 2011.

Heritage Radio Network, “Silk Road Food & Wine” series, David Schleifer and Sonya Rhee cohosts, 2011.

Chemical Heritage Foundation Distillations Podcast Series, Episode 82, “Food Myths,” November 20, 2009. 

New York University College of Dentistry, Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion, June 24, 2008.  “CityTech: Urban Science and New York’s Trans Fat Ban.”

The Dr. Jerome S. Coles Science Library Lecture Series, New York University Bobst Library, March 26, 2008.  “CityTech: Urban Science and New York’s Trans Fat Ban.”

Chemical Heritage Foundation Brown Bag Lecture Series, November 6, 2007.  “Where Did All the Trans Fats Come From?”

American Institute of Wine and Food, October 10, 2007.  “Getting Better for You:  Trans Fats, Risk and Regulation,” presented on the New York City Department of Health panel “What Will Happen To My Doughnut?  How to Cope With the Trans Fat Ban.”

Cornell University Institute for the Social Sciences, October 5, 2007. “Scientific Uncertainty as a Pathway to Unintended Consequences,” presented at the Knowledge in Contention:  Social Movements and the Politics of Science Workshop. 

CUNY Graduate Center Foodways Colloquium, March 2007.  “Where have all the trans fats gone?”

New York University School of Medicine, February 2004.  “From Bowers to Goodridge:  Universal Equality, Substantive Values, and Gay Rights,” presented at the Presidential Platforms Discussion Series.

Selected Conference Presentations: 

Eastern Sociological Society, New York, NY.  February 24, 2011.  “Patient, Parent, Advocate, Investor:  Entrepreneurial Health Activism from Research to Reimbursement,” co-presented with Aaron Panofsky.

Eastern Sociological Society, New York, NY.  February 24, 2011.  “What counts as a blueberry?  Making the most of regulatory uncertainty in business-to-business food advertising” co-presented with Michaela Desoucey.

Society for Social Studies of Science, Cleveland, OH.  November 3, 2011“Patient, Parent, Advocate, Investor:  The contours of markets, medicine, and government,” co-presented with Aaron Panofsky.

American Sociological Association, Medical Sociology Section.  Las Vegas, NV, August 22, 2011 “Patient, Parent, Advocate, Investor:  The contours of markets, medicine, and government,” co-presented with Aaron Panofsky.

American Sociological Association, Session on Economic Regulation.  Atlanta GA, August 15, 2010   “Molecules Move Markets:  Designing trans fat labeling to precipitate technological change.”

Society for Social Studies of Science, Tokyo, Japan.  August 28, 2010.  Session co-organizer, “The Social Study of Corporate Science.”

Eastern Sociological Society Annual Meeting, Boston MA.  March 20, 2010.  “The Co-construction of Regulation and Industry: Designing labeling to precipitate technological change”

Society for Social Studies of Science, Washington DC.  October 30, 2009.  “How the Oil Got Changed:  Stabilizing the Replacement of Trans Fats in American Manufactured Food.”

Society for Social Studies of Science, Washington DC.  October 31, 2009.  Chair, Food Risks Panel.

American Sociological Association Section on Science, Knowledge and Technology, August 10, 2009.   Organizer, Panel on Science, Food, and Nutrition, ASA Section on Science, Knowledge and Technology.

New York State Political Science Association, New York, NY.  April 24, 2009.   “CityTech: Explaining the Limited Portability of Municipal Trans Fat Policies.”

Eastern Sociological Society Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD.  Masrch 20, 2009.  “Policy Experiments and Technological Agency:  Comparing the New York and Philadelphia Trans Fat Bans.”

Society for Social Studies of Science, Rotterdam, Netherlands.  August 23, 2008.  “CityTech: How Cities Do Science.”

Association for the Study of Food and Society, New Orleans, LA.  June 6, 2008.  “Reformulating trans fats: technologies, tactics and taste.”

Eastern Sociological Society, New York, NY.  February 24, 2008.  “Seeking regulation and adding value:  The Case of Trans Fat Labeling.”

American Anthropological Association, Washington DC.  November 29, 2007.  “Industry, Uncertainty, Opportunity and the Case of Trans Fats.”

Society for Social Studies of Science, Montreal, Quebec.  October 11, 2007.  “The unintended consequences of knowledge-based social movements.”

American Sociological Society, Collective Behavior and Social Movements Section, New York, NY. August 2007. “Where did all the trans fats come from?  The unintended consequences of knowledge-based social movements”

Vital Politics, Bios Centre, London School of Economics. September 2006.  “Seeing in Genes: Mapping the Rice Genome in China.” 

Queer Matters Conference, King’s College London. May 2004.  “Having Sex, Making Gender:  Gay Female-to-Male Transgenderists Negotiating Sex, Gender, and Sexuality.”

References:

Harvey Molotch, Dissertation Committee Chair

Professor of Sociology and of Metropolitan Studies, New York University

harvey.molotch@nyu.edu, (212) 998-3542

Doug Guthrie

Dean and Professor of Management, George Washington University School of Business

guthrie@gwu.edu, (202) 994-6380

Marion Nestle

Professor of Nutrition and Food Studies, New York University

marion.nestle@nyu.edu, (212) 998- 5595

Troy Duster

Professor of Sociology, New York University and University of California Berkeley

troy.duster@nyu.edu, (212) 998-8882

Eric Klinenberg

Professor of Sociology, New York University

eric.klinenberg@nyu.edu, (212) 998-8340

Caitlin Zaloom

Associate Professor of Social and Cultural Analysis, New York University

caitlin.zaloom@nyu.edu, (212) 992-9671

Rayna Rapp

Professor of Anthropology, New York University

rayna.rapp@nyu.edu, (212) 998-8585

Laura Stanley

Learning Lab Manager, School Food Focus

lstanley@schoolfoodfocus.org, (718) 282 1498