Fields of Research

Research in the Department of Evolutionary Anthropology focuses on the evolutionary history of the mammalian radiation containing the human species and on the origins of human nature. By being taxon-based, evolutionary anthropology is inherently interdisciplinary, and brings techniques and concepts from a variety of traditional academic disciplines to bear on the core questions of who we are and where we came from. These disciplines include evolutionary biology, archaeology, geology, paleontology, behavioral ecology, genetics, developmental biology, psychology, economics and other social sciences.

Charles L Nunn

Charles L Nunn

Professor in the Department of Evolutionary Anthropology

Campus Box: 90383, 106 Biological Sciences, Durham, NC 27708

clnunn@duke.edu
Doug Martin Boyer

Doug Martin Boyer

Associate Professor of Evolutionary Anthropology

doug.boyer@duke.edu
Steven E. Churchill

Steven E. Churchill

Professor in the Department of Evolutionary Anthropology

Office: Duke University, Evolutionary Anthropology, 130 Science Drive, Room 108, Durham, NC 27708

Campus Box: Duke Box 90383, Durham, NC 27708-0383

Phone: (919) 660-7314

churchy@duke.edu

I am a human paleontologist studying morphological and behavioral adaptation in archaic and modern humans of the Middle and Late Pleistocene. Through comparative functional-morphological analysis of human fossil remains, coupled with investigation of the archeological record of...

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Sara Doyle

Sara Doyle

Instructor B of Evolutionary Anthropology

Office: 012 Bio Sci Bldg, Durham, NC 27708

Campus Box: Box 90383, Durham, NC 27708-0383

Phone: (919) 684-6582

sara.doyle@duke.edu
V. Louise Roth

V. Louise Roth

Professor in the Department of Evolutionary Anthropology

Office: 241 Bio Sci Bldg, Durham, NC 27708

Campus Box: Duke Box 90325, Durham, NC 27708-0325

Phone: (919) 660-7352

vlroth@duke.edu

In addition to conceptual work on the biological bases of homology, variation, and parallel evolution, my research has focused on evolutionary changes in size and shape in mammals: the functional consequences of these changes, and the evolutionary modifications of ontogenetic processes that...

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Daniel Oliver Schmitt

Daniel Oliver Schmitt

Professor in the Department of Evolutionary Anthropology

Office: 203 Biological Sciences Buildi, 130 Science Drive, Durham, NC 27708

Campus Box: Duke Box 90383, Durham, NC 27708

Phone: (919) 684-5664

daniel.schmitt@duke.edu

My primary interest is in the evolution of primate locomotion. I am studying the mechanics of movement in primates and other vertebrates in the laboratory to understand the relationship between movement and postcranial morphology, and the unique nature of primates among mammals. Current...

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Kathleen Kovalevski Smith

Kathleen Kovalevski Smith

Professor of Biology

Office: 130 Science Drive, Room 122 Duke Box 90338, Durham, NC 27708

Campus Box: Box 90338, Durham, NC 27708-0338

Phone: (919) 684-3402

kksmith@duke.edu

My current work is a focus on the relation between evolution and development in the mammalian skull. My model system involves comparisons of development in placental and marsupial mammals. These mammals are characterized by different developmental trajectories, extending back to some of...

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Christine Elizabeth Wall

Christine Elizabeth Wall

Research Professor Emerita of Evolutionary Anthropology

Office: Room 206B Biological Sciences Building, Durham, NC 27708

Campus Box: Duke Box 90383, Durham, NC 27708-0383

Phone: (919) 668-2543

christine.wall@duke.edu

The focus of my work is the functional and evolutionary anatomy of the head, with an emphasis on how the feeding apparatus works and how it influences and is influenced by other structures and functions. My research focuses primarily on the functional anatomy of extant and extinct primates, but...

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Angel Zeininger

Angel Zeininger

Lecturning Fellow, Senior of Evolutionary Anthropology

angel.zeininger@duke.edu

My primary areas of interest are the ontogeny of locomotion, trabecular bone remodeling, and the evolution and functional morphology of the hands and feet. I am interested in how forces incurred during locomotion influence the microarchitecture of trabecular bone. In particular, my research aims...

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Doug Martin Boyer

Doug Martin Boyer

Associate Professor of Evolutionary Anthropology

doug.boyer@duke.edu
Steven E. Churchill

Steven E. Churchill

Professor in the Department of Evolutionary Anthropology

Office: Duke University, Evolutionary Anthropology, 130 Science Drive, Room 108, Durham, NC 27708

Campus Box: Duke Box 90383, Durham, NC 27708-0383

Phone: (919) 660-7314

churchy@duke.edu

I am a human paleontologist studying morphological and behavioral adaptation in archaic and modern humans of the Middle and Late Pleistocene. Through comparative functional-morphological analysis of human fossil remains, coupled with investigation of the archeological record of...

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Richard F. Frederick Kay

Richard F. Frederick Kay

Professor of Evolutionary Anthropology

Office: 0013 Biological Sciences Building, 130 Science Drive, Durham, NC 27708

Campus Box: Duke Box 90383, Durham, NC 27708-0383

Phone: (919) 684-2143

richard.kay@duke.edu

I have two areas of research:1) the evolution of primates in South America; and 2) the use of primate anatomy to reconstruct the phylogenetic history and adapations of living and extinct primates, especially Anthropoidea.

1) Evolution of primates and mammalian faunal evolution,...

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Blythe A. Williams

Blythe A. Williams

Associate Professor of the Practice in the Department of Evolutionary Anthropology

Office: 0013 Bio Sci Bldg, Durham, NC 27708

Campus Box: Duke Box 90383, Durham, NC 27708-0383

Phone: (919) 660-7385

I'm interested in the evolutionary relationships and ecological adaptations of primates, with particular focus on the initial diversification of the order Primates, the origin of the Anthropoidea, and the early hominoid radiation. I am also interested in the effects of climate change on the...

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Susan C. Alberts

Susan C. Alberts

Chair of the Department of Evolutionary Anthropology

Office: 130 Science Drive, Rm 137, Duke Box 90338, Durham, NC 27708

Campus Box: Box 90338, Durham, NC 27708-0338

Phone: (919) 660-7272

alberts@duke.edu
Leslie J. Digby

Leslie J. Digby

Associate Professor of the Practice of Evolutionary Anthropology

Office: 08A Bio Sci Bldg, Durham, NC 27708

Campus Box: Duke Box 90383, Durham, NC 27708-0383

Phone: (919) 660-7398

ldigby@duke.edu

My research focuses on the  behavior and ecology of non-human primates, including how primates balance cooperation and competition in their breeding strategies. In addition, I examine how animals mitigate the costs of temperature extremes through behavior and the use of microhabitats. Our...

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Christine M. Drea

Christine M. Drea

Earl D. McLean Professor

Office: 129 Bio Sci Bldg, Durham, NC 27708

Campus Box: Duke Box 90383, 08 Bio Sci Bldg, Durham, NC 27708-0383

Phone: (919) 660-7367

I have two broad research interests, sexual differentiation and social behavior, both focused on hyenas and primates. I am particularly interested in unusual species in which the females display a suite of masculinized characteristics, including male- like or exaggerated external genitalia...

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Ken Earl Glander

Ken Earl Glander

Professor Emeritus of Evolutionary Anthropology

Office: 130 Science Dr., 108 Bio Sci Bldg, Durham, NC 27708

Campus Box: Duke Box 90383, Durham, NC 27708

Phone: (919) 668-0267

glander@duke.edu

Primate ecology and social organization: the interaction between feeding patterns and social structure; evolutionary development of optimal group size and composition; factors affecting short and long-term demographic changes in stable groups; primate use of regenerating forests.
...

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Brian Hare

Brian Hare

Professor of Evolutionary Anthropology

Office: 004 Bio Sci Bldg, Durham, NC 27708

Campus Box: Duke Box 90383, Durham, NC 27708-0383

Phone: (919) 660-7292

b.hare@duke.edu
Anne Pusey

Anne Pusey

James B. Duke Professor Emerita of Evolutionary Anthropology

Office: 101 Biological Sciences Bldg, Durham, NC 27708

Campus Box: Duke Box 90383, Durham, NC 27708-0383

Phone: (919) 684-1848

anne.pusey@duke.edu

I am interested in understanding the evolution of sociality, social structure, and the patterns of competition, cooperation and social bonds in animal species, including humans. Most of my work has focused on social mammals: lions and chimpanzees. For the last twenty years I have worked almost...

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Jenny Tung

Jenny Tung

Associate Professor of Evolutionary Anthropology

Office: 08 Bio Sci, Durham, NC 27708

Campus Box: Box 90383, Durham, NC 27708

Phone: (919) 668-4912

jenny.tung@duke.edu
Christine M. Drea

Christine M. Drea

Earl D. McLean Professor

Office: 129 Bio Sci Bldg, Durham, NC 27708

Campus Box: Duke Box 90383, 08 Bio Sci Bldg, Durham, NC 27708-0383

Phone: (919) 660-7367

I have two broad research interests, sexual differentiation and social behavior, both focused on hyenas and primates. I am particularly interested in unusual species in which the females display a suite of masculinized characteristics, including male- like or exaggerated external genitalia...

Full Profile »
Brian Hare

Brian Hare

Professor of Evolutionary Anthropology

Office: 004 Bio Sci Bldg, Durham, NC 27708

Campus Box: Duke Box 90383, Durham, NC 27708-0383

Phone: (919) 660-7292

b.hare@duke.edu
Evan L MacLean

Evan L MacLean

Adjunct Assistant Professor of Evolutionary Anthropology

Office: Box 90383 Biological Sciences, Evolutionary Anthropology, Durham, NC 27708

Campus Box: Box 90999, Durham, NC 27708-0999

Phone: (919) 660-7294

maclean@duke.edu
Anne Pusey

Anne Pusey

James B. Duke Professor Emerita of Evolutionary Anthropology

Office: 101 Biological Sciences Bldg, Durham, NC 27708

Campus Box: Duke Box 90383, Durham, NC 27708-0383

Phone: (919) 684-1848

anne.pusey@duke.edu

I am interested in understanding the evolution of sociality, social structure, and the patterns of competition, cooperation and social bonds in animal species, including humans. Most of my work has focused on social mammals: lions and chimpanzees. For the last twenty years I have worked almost...

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Thomas T Struhsaker

Thomas T Struhsaker

Adjunct Professor of Evolutionary Anthropology

tomstruh@duke.edu

Currently involved in ecological and demographic studies of the Udzungwa Red Colobus Monkey in the Udzungwa Mts. of Tanzania. The long-term goal of this project is to increase our understanding of this vulnerable, endemic species and to improve the conservation of it and its habitat along with...

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Vanessa Woods

Vanessa Woods

Research Scientist

Office: Rm 004A Biological Sciences, Durham, NC 27703

Campus Box: Box 90383, Durham, NC 277080383

Phone: +1 919 684 4124

v.woods@duke.edu

Vanessa has worked at Lola ya Bonobo Sanctuary in Congo since 2005. Her main research interest is the socio-sexual behavior of bonobos and chimpanzees.
Richard F. Frederick Kay

Richard F. Frederick Kay

Professor of Evolutionary Anthropology

Office: 0013 Biological Sciences Building, 130 Science Drive, Durham, NC 27708

Campus Box: Duke Box 90383, Durham, NC 27708-0383

Phone: (919) 684-2143

richard.kay@duke.edu

I have two areas of research:1) the evolution of primates in South America; and 2) the use of primate anatomy to reconstruct the phylogenetic history and adapations of living and extinct primates, especially Anthropoidea.

1) Evolution of primates and mammalian faunal evolution,...

Full Profile »
Charles L Nunn

Charles L Nunn

Professor in the Department of Evolutionary Anthropology

Campus Box: 90383, 106 Biological Sciences, Durham, NC 27708

clnunn@duke.edu
Anne Daphne Yoder

Anne Daphne Yoder

Braxton Craven Professor of Evolutionary Biology

Office: 128 Biol Sciences Bldg, Durham, NC 27708

Campus Box: Box 90338, Durham, NC 27708-0338

Phone: (919) 660-7275

anne.yoder@duke.edu

My work integrates field inventory activities with molecular phylogenetic techniques and geospatial analysis to investigate Madagascar, an area of the world that is biologically complex, poorly understood, and urgently threatened. Madagascar has been designated as one of the most critical...

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