Staff profile
Overview
https://apps.dur.ac.uk/biography/image/1318
| Affiliation |
|---|
| Professor in the Department of Anthropology |
| Associate Fellow in the Institute of Advanced Study |
Biography
Interests
Evolutionary biologist/anthropologist interested in brains, behaviour and cognition, using phylogenetoic comparative methods to study how these traits evolved. Developed and tested the 'Visual brain hypothesis' for primate brain size evolution. Currently interested in the underestimated role of the cerebellum in brain evolution and cognition. Also works on the evolutionary and cultural significance of the colour red.
Recent projects include: 'The Phylogeny of Sleep' (funded by NIH, $1m); 'Evolutionary architecture of reproduction in female mammals' (funded by BBSRC/NERC, £248k); 'Cognitive Evolution and the brain' (Funded by a Leverhulme Trust Research Fellowship, £38k).
- 2018: Osman Hill Memorial medal awarded by Primate Society of Great Britain:
- Leverhulme Research Fellow (2012-13) - Cognitive evolution and the brain
- Visting Research Fellow, All Souls Collge Oxford (2011) - Evolution of human cognition
- President, European Human Behaviour and Evolution Association (2010-2013)
- Professor of Evolutionary Anthropology (2005-)
- President, Primate Society of Great Britain (2001-2005)
- PhD in Primate Behavioural Ecology (1990)
Research interests
- Behavioural ecology and sociobiology
- Evolution of mamalian reproductive traits
- Primate evolution and behaviour
- Brain evolution
- Cognitive evolution
- Interview about research: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hx_2dU0pm1M
Esteem Indicators
- 2024 - 2024: Christopherson Knott Research Fellow, Institute of Advanced Study, Durham University: Fellow and Principal Investigator on interdisciplinary project on 'Syntactical Structures and the Evolution of Mind and Culture'
- 2020: Senior Editor, Proceedings of the Royal Society B:
- 2018: Osman Hill Memorial medal awarded by Primate Society of Great Britain:
- 2014: Associate Editor, Proceedings of the Royal Society B:
- 2012: Leverhulme Research Fellow: Project on 'Cognitive evolution and the brain'
- 2011 - 2011: Visiting Fellow, All Souls College, University of Oxford: Participant in multi-national project on 'Evolution of human cognition'
- 2010: President, European Human Behaviour and Evolution Association:
- 2009: Darwin's Birthday Party (Natural History Museum): invited speaker: