Research Interests
Molecular anthropology and evolution; Life
history of non-human primates.
In order to begin to understand the complex and
diverse forces that shape the order Primates my colleagues and I have
employed ideas and tools from genetics, endocrinology, anatomy, behavior
and ecology. We have attempted to link these disciplines in understanding
the life history of vervet monkeys. Vervet monkeys are a widely distributed
Old World primate. They live in a broad range of habitats, exhibiting
a range of environmental stresses, throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Our
intention is that studies like ours will help elucidate the broad evolutionary
questions of the ways in which ecology influences behavior, physiology
and anatomy, social interactions influence genetics, genetics influences
social interactions and the events of an individual life link to evolutionary
processes. My current work is in South Africa.
The human/non-human primate interface.
From my work on vervets, I became aware of the need
to understand the complex relationship between non-human primates and
humans. This understanding is crucial to the conservation and survival
of many primate species.
Ethics in biological anthropology.
My general interest in biological anthropology and ethics grew out of
an interest in the relationship between the study of human and non-human
primate diversity and ethics. A link to the book I edited on the topic
can be found on this site.
I have also been devoted to the issue of training women in science. I have examined the anthropology as an example of the training of women for scientific careers through the Committee on the Status of Women in Anthropology and the American Association of Physical Anthropology.
