Blythe A. Williams
Associate Professor of the Practice in the Department of Evolutionary Anthropology
Overview
My research has focused on the evolutionary relationships (phylogenetics) and ecological adaptations of Primates from a paleontological perspective. I’m also interested in the evolutionary history of human dance. My current teaching includes Dance Science, Ethics in Evolutionary Anthropology, and Becoming Human.
Fellowships, Supported Research, & Other Grants
Early Eocene Primates from Wyoming awarded by Duke University Arts and Sciences Council Committee on Faculty Research Grant (2014 to 2015)
Namely Muscles Performance and Workshop (Dance) awarded by Departments of Evolutionary Anthropology, Dance, Vice Provost of the Arts, Dean of Sciences (2014)
Collaborative research with Wadi Institute of Himalayan Geology awarded by Duke University Provost’s Office Fund (2011 to 2012)
Investigating the relationship between positive selection in the ASPM gene and brain size changes in primates awarded by Duke University Primate Genomics Initiative (2010 to 2011)
Exploration for middle Cenozoic primates, Kutch District, Gujarat, western India awarded by L.S.B. Leakey Foundation Grant (2009 to 2010)
Collaborative research in paleontology of Chandigarh, India with scientists from Punjab University’s Centre of Advanced Study in Geology awarded by International Programs, Duke University (2008 to 2009)
Research and coursework for “Dance Science” (anatomy and kinesiology of dance movement) awarded by Provost’s Common Fund, Duke University (2001 to 2002)
Grant-in-aid for Scientific Research (Overseas Cooperative Research) awarded by Japanese Ministry of Education, Science, and Culture (1999 to 2000)
Exploration of fossiliferous deposits in New Caves of the Kalahari, western Ngamiland, Botswana”. Grant #5539-95 awarded by National Geographic Society (1996 to 1997)
Collection of fossils and cave sediments in Northwestern Botswana awarded by Planning Grant for International Research, Duke University (1995 to 1996)
Collection of Tertiary Quaternary vertebrate fossils in Northeastern Botswana awarded by Arts and Sciences Research Council Grant, Duke University (1994 to 1995)
Collection of Eocene fossils in the Washakie and Powder River Basins awarded by William H. Burt Fund, University of Colorado Museum (1993 to 1994)
Description of new North American omomyid primate fossils awarded by American Museum of Natural History Theodore Roosevelt Grant (1993)
Phylogenetic Analysis of the Eocene Primate Family Omomyidae awarded by Walker Van Riper Fund, University of Colorado Museum (1992 to 1993)
Non-metric dental variability in modern primates: Implications for delineating fossil primate species awarded by Sigma Xi (1992)
Dental Diversity in Primate Species: Applications for the Fossil Record awarded by University of Colorado, Graduate School Dean's Small Grant Award (1991 to 1992)
Micromammals at Jaw Heaven, Washakie Basin, Wyoming awarded by Walker Van Riper Fund, University of Colorado Museum (1990 to 1991)
Early Eocene Paleomammalogy in the Washakie Basin, Wyoming awarded by William H. Burt Fund, University of Colorado Museum (1989 to 1990)
Paleontological Excavations in the early Eocene deposits, Washakie Basin, Wyoming awarded by Walker Van Riper Fund, University of Colorado Museum (1988 to 1989)
Dental Enamel, Implications for Human Evolution awarded by Graduate School Foundation Fund, University of Colorado (1987 to 1988)
Perikymata on human incisors and hominid evolution awarded by Research Grant, Department of Anthropology, University of Colorado (1987 to 1988)
Bhandari, Ansuya, et al. “Correction: First record of the Miocene hominoid Sivapithecus from Kutch, Gujarat state, western India..” Plos One, vol. 14, no. 5, Jan. 2019. Epmc, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0217960. Full Text
Kirk, E. Christopher, and Blythe A. Williams. “Corrigendum to "New adapiform primate of Old World affinities from the Devil's Graveyard Formation of Texas" [J Hum Evol 61 (2011) 156-168]..” Journal of Human Evolution, vol. 125, Dec. 2018. Epmc, doi:10.1016/j.jhevol.2018.08.008. Full Text
Bhandari, Ansuya, et al. “First record of the Miocene hominoid Sivapithecus from Kutch, Gujarat state, western India..” Plos One, vol. 13, no. 11, Jan. 2018. Epmc, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0206314. Full Text
Patnaik, R., et al. “Additional Vertebrate Remains from the Early Miocene of Kutch, Gujarat.” Special Publication of the Paleontological Society of India, vol. 5, 2014, pp. 335–51. Open Access Copy
Williams, Blythe A., et al. “Fossil papio cranium from !Ncumtsa (Koanaka) Hills, western Ngamiland, Botswana..” American Journal of Physical Anthropology, vol. 149, no. 1, Sept. 2012, pp. 1–17. Epmc, doi:10.1002/ajpa.22093. Full Text
Williams, B. A. “Effects of climate change on primate evolution in the Cenozoic.” Nature Education, 2012.
Kirk, E. Christopher, and Blythe A. Williams. “New adapiform primate of Old World affinities from the Devil's Graveyard Formation of Texas..” Journal of Human Evolution, vol. 61, no. 2, Aug. 2011, pp. 156–68. Epmc, doi:10.1016/j.jhevol.2011.02.014. Full Text
Williams, Blythe A., et al. “Darwinius masillae is a strepsirrhine--a reply to Franzen et al. (2009)..” Journal of Human Evolution, vol. 59, no. 5, Nov. 2010, pp. 567–73. Epmc, doi:10.1016/j.jhevol.2010.01.003. Full Text Open Access Copy
Williams, Blythe A., et al. “New perspectives on anthropoid origins..” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, vol. 107, no. 11, Mar. 2010, pp. 4797–804. Epmc, doi:10.1073/pnas.0908320107. Full Text
Williams, B. A., et al. “New Perspectives on Anthropoid Origins.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, vol. 107, 2010, pp. 4794–804.
Pages
Pampush, James D., et al. “Dental Topography and Food Processing in Wild-Caught Costa Rican Alouatta.” American Journal of Physical Anthropology, vol. 165, WILEY, 2018, pp. 198–198.
Kay, Richard F., and Blythe A. Williams. “Are there any African Platyrrhines?.” American Journal of Physical Anthropology, vol. 162, WILEY, 2017, pp. 239–40.
Yapuncich, Gabriel S., et al. “Phenetic Affinities of Teilhardina (Primates, Omomyidae) from the Powder River Basin of Wyoming Reveal the First Known Occurrences of Teilhardina brandti Outside the Bighorn Basin.” American Journal of Physical Anthropology, vol. 162, WILEY, 2017, pp. 416–416.
Spradley, Jackson P., et al. “Environmental Variables Affecting Primate Species Richness in the Neotropics.” American Journal of Physical Anthropology, vol. 156, WILEY-BLACKWELL, 2015, pp. 294–294.
Perry, Jonathan, et al. “THE ANATOMY OF THE MASTICATORY MUSCLES IN TWO STREPSIRRHINE PRIMATES AND INFERENCE OF MUSCLE ATTACHMENT AREAS FROM OSTEOLOGICAL MATERIAL.” Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, vol. 23, TAYLOR & FRANCIS INC, 2003, pp. 86A-87A.
Simons, Elwyn L., et al. “Outrage at high price paid for a fossil..” Nature, vol. 460, no. 7254, July 2009. Epmc, doi:10.1038/460456a. Full Text