Dukies may suffer barbs from outsiders doubting the attractiveness of campus residents, but this year, Duke is home to one of People Magazine's Sexiest Men Alive.
Though his professional focus is neurobiology, associate professor Erich Jarvis is making scientific inroads in a whole new area of chemistry-putting himself under the microscope of the avid bachelorette with the announcement that he is 2006's "Sexiest Brain Researcher."
Jarvis first came to People's attention when he won the 2002 Allen T. Waterman award, which honors candidates with exceptional achievements in scientific research. Four years later, he got the "Sexiest Man" call.
"They said it was by a secret selection process. They wouldn't even tell me how I'd been picked," said Jarvis, who has been at Duke since 1998. "It wasn't an award I was seeking, but I'll take it.
"I'd definitely take the [Popular Science Magazine] 'Brilliant 10' award over this one, though," he added, giving a nod to his more academic recognitions.
His colleagues and others in the scientific community were impressed-but also amused.
Jarvis said an e-mail from the director of neuroscience at the National Institutes of Health lauded him for the exposure his award would bring to science.
"Not that I know of at least, science doesn't usually progress on looks," Jarvis said, explaining his surprise at the e-mail.
One of his colleagues, however, offered more tongue-in-cheek praise.
"I didn't know they did that. I have no comment," neuroscience professor Jef Lamoureux said with a laugh. "But seriously, on RateMyProfessor.com, I've never even gotten one 'hot!' Out of like 50 reviews!... But Erich's a good-looking guy."
Jarvis modestly suggested that there are a lot sexier scientists out there-or rather, in there-hidden away doing research.
"I think there's a lot of better-looking guys than I am. And they're in labs," he said.
And true to his title as a "Sexy Scientist," Jarvis segued into scientific notions of beauty as a focus on what is pleasing.
"Symmetry is sexy. It's scientifically proven that a symmetric face is attractive," said Jarvis, who was once an aspiring professional dancer.
Still, he hesitated to analyze his own qualifications for the award in the mirror.
"I'd have to say my sexiest quality is my voice," he said in a phone interview. "It's what I've been told."
Readers should be warned, however, that Jarvis is not eligible for People's Hottest Bachelors list. He said his family played down the significance of the award.
"My mother said, 'this is not science.'" Jarvis said. "And my wife said she didn't want to comment. I guess she wasn't thrilled that other women might contact me or something, I don't know."
Lest the award go to his head, however, Jarvis has other preoccupations to keep his feet, albeit lightly, on the ground.
In his spare time, Jarvis has said he enjoys performing magic, songbird vocalization research and salsa dancing.
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