Professor Stuart West is a Professor of Evolutionary Biology at the University of Oxford's Department of Biology. His research focuses on the evolution of social behaviors, including cooperation, altruism, and spite, with a particular emphasis on how these phenomena drive major evolutionary transitions. He employs a multidisciplinary approach combining theoretical models, experimental studies, and comparative analyses across species, particularly in bacteria and insects. Key research areas include the evolution of cooperation and division of labor, genomic analyses of social behaviors, and the role of ecological factors in shaping social strategies. His work addresses questions such as how cooperation evolves despite potential cheating, and how symbiotic relationships influence diversification. Professor West is affiliated with two Oxford addresses: the Department of Biology on Mansfield Road (OX1 3SZ) and the South Parks Road campus (OX1 3RB). His research has explored topics ranging from microbial cooperation to the evolutionary dynamics of eusociality in ants. He is actively engaged in advancing methods like SOCfinder, a genomic tool for identifying cooperative genes in bacteria.
Susan Perry is a Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), within the College of Social Sciences. She directs the Lomas Barbudal Monkey Project in Costa Rica, a long-term study of white-faced capuchin monkeys. Her research focuses on primate social relationships, communication, and the evolution of social behavior. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan (1995). Education: Ph.D., University of Michigan, 1995 Her research interests include primate social cognition, communication, and the study of capuchin monkeys to understand social learning, traditions, cooperation, and life histories. She has conducted groundbreaking work on the behavioral ecology of capuchins, integrating demographic, genetic, and hormonal data to explore social dynamics. Her publications span topics such as social traditions in primates, kinship behaviors, and the cultural variability in capuchin populations. Perry advises UCLA students and collaborates with researchers globally, including at UC-Davis and the Max Planck Institute. Advising includes mentoring over a dozen graduate students studying topics like kin recognition, life history strategies, and behavioral endocrinology in capuchins. The Lomas Barbudal project is a flagship initiative in primate behavioral research, supported by extensive field data and collaboration networks. Labs/Teams: Lomas Barbudal Monkey Project (Costa Rica)
Dr. Patricia C. Lopes is an Associate Professor at Schmid College of Science and Technology, Chapman University. Her research focuses on animal social behavior, disease transmission, and neuroendocrinology, integrating molecular, physiological, and social dynamics. She employs RFID tracking and behavioral sensors in field and lab experiments to study sickness behaviors and their evolutionary implications. Education: Ph.D. from University of California, Berkeley. Labs: Runs the Lopes Lab, investigating social decision-making networks and infection responses in wild house mice ( Mus musculus domesticus ). Research Highlights: Challenges the kin protection hypothesis for sickness behaviors through experiments on wild and lab mice. Demonstrates that social isolation alters neural transcriptomes and affects disease spread dynamics. Explores maternal physiological responses to infection risks and integrates ecoimmunology with disease ecology frameworks. Key Collaborations: Works with institutions like ETH Zurich, University of Bern, and University of Zurich. Collaborates with experts in behavioral ecology (Barbara König), neurogenomics (Suzy C. P. Renn), and disease dynamics (Greg Albery).
William Foster is the College Professor of History at Homerton College, University of Cambridge, and Director of Studies for History and History/Modern Languages. He has been a Fellow since 2007 and served as Vice-Principal (deputy Head of House) from 2013 to 2019. His research explores how individual lived experiences intersect with large-scale historical processes such as imperialism, superpower rivalry, and military conscription in Modern Europe. Research Focus: Imperial history, armed neutrality in Europe, and US-Russia imperial perceptions. Current Projects: 'Russians and Americans: Connected Histories of Empire,' 'The Ordeal of Neutral Europe,' and 'The Conscription Map of Europe.' Teaching: Courses on 'Europe's Modern Age of Violence' and 'Connected Histories of the US and USSR/Russia.' Publications: Over 40 articles in entomology, biodiversity, and tropical ecology, with a focus on oil palm plantations and rainforest ecosystems. His work bridges historical analysis with ecological studies, though no scientific awards are documented in the provided materials.
Carey D. Nadell is an Associate Professor at Dartmouth College, with additional appointments as Adjunct Associate Professor in Microbiology and Immunology and Orthopaedic Surgery. His research bridges ecology, evolution, and molecular biology to study bacterial social interactions in biofilms. University: Dartmouth College School: College of Arts and Sciences Department: Biological Sciences His work focuses on microbial ecology , social evolution , and biofilm dynamics , exploring how bacteria cooperate and compete in multispecies communities. Recent studies highlight phage interactions, horizontal gene transfer, and matrix regulation. Selected publications reveal expertise in Biofilms , Microbial Competition , RNA Regulation , Antimicrobial Resistance , and Phage-Bacterial Interactions . Articles span high-impact journals like Nature , PNAS , and eLife . Education : B.A. University of Oxford M.A. Princeton University Ph.D. Princeton University His laboratory investigates the ecological and evolutionary principles governing bacterial biofilms, with implications for human health and environmental microbiology.
Dr. Timothy Welsh is a full-time Professor in the Action & Attention Lab at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education , where he also serves as Associate Dean, Research since 2023. With cross-appointments from the Faculty of Physical Education and Health, his work bridges cognitive neuroscience and motor behavior research. Academic Background Ph.D. in Human Biodynamics (McMaster University, 2002) M.Sc. in Human Biodynamics (McMaster University, 1999) B.P.H.E. in Physical and Health Education (University of Toronto, 1997) Dr. Welsh's research explores neural mechanisms of goal-directed actions across typical and neurodiverse populations. His lab investigates joint action dynamics , self-objectification effects on motor performance , and cross-reality sensorimotor adaptation , with significant focus on autism and developmental coordination disorder. Recent publications (2024-2025) reveal systematic differences in motor imagery between autistic and non-autistic adults , gender-specific learning patterns , and cross-modal sensory integration challenges in mixed reality environments . These studies demonstrate his lab's expertise in combining behavioral experimentation , EEG analysis , and computational tool development like TAT-HUM. Scientific Recognition Franklin Henry Young Scientist Award Early Distinguished Career Award (NASSP) Outstanding Graduate Supervision Award As principal investigator on 15 active grants (2015-2027), including projects on digital health platforms for concussion rehabilitation and AI-assisted VR learning modules , Welsh's work impacts both basic science and applied interventions. His lab trains students at all levels through KPE 362 (undergraduate) and KIN 5514 (graduate) courses.
Artem Kaznatcheev is an Assistant Professor at Utrecht University in the Department of Mathematics and Department of Information and Computing Sciences within the Science faculty. His research bridges theoretical computer science and evolutionary biology to analyze biological and social systems through an algorithmic lens. Current role since January 2023 Recruiting PhD students and postdocs Previously: James S. McDonnell postdoctoral fellow at University of Pennsylvania His work focuses on: Computational complexity of evolution Evolutionary game theory Algorithmic biology Mathematical modeling of cancer dynamics Cultural evolution of science Selected article trends show: Interdisciplinary integration of computer science and cancer biology Key themes: fitness landscapes, evolutionary games, treatment optimization 2021-2020 publications dominate Mathematical formalisms applied to biological and social phenomena Scientific contributions include: James S. McDonnell Foundation Independent Postdoctoral Fellowship 2019 Genetics paper on computational complexity as evolutionary constraint 2017 Nature Ecology & Evolution study on fibroblast-drug interactions in cancer Collaborative environments: Worked with Theory, Evolution and Games Group Previous affiliations: Oxford University, University of Pennsylvania, Moffitt Cancer Center, McGill University Developed teaching roles at Oriel College (Oxford)
Judith Korb is a Professor at the University of Freiburg, working within the Institute of Biology I in the department of Evolutionary Biology and Animal Ecology. She leads the Korb Lab, which focuses on social insects, particularly termites, examining their evolution, ecology, and sociobiology. Her research spans multiple areas of evolutionary biology and social insect behavior, with a particular emphasis on termite societies. Dr. Korb has made significant contributions to understanding social evolution, caste differentiation, reproductive division of labor, and the molecular mechanisms underlying social behavior in termites. Her work explores the exceptional longevity of social insect queens, termite mound architecture, chemical communication in social insects, and the genomic basis of eusociality. Dr. Korb's research combines field studies in Africa with molecular and genomic approaches to unravel the complexities of social insect biology. Dr. Korb's publication record demonstrates consistent scientific productivity, with numerous high-impact papers in leading journals across evolutionary biology, ecology, and genomics. Recent work has focused on the genomic basis of social evolution, aging in social insects, and termite ecology, revealing important insights into how sociality reshapes fundamental biological processes like aging and development. Over 200 publications including high-impact papers in Nature Ecology and Evolution, PNAS, and Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Contributor to authoritative references including the Encyclopedia of Social Insects Extensive international collaborations across Europe, Africa, and North America Dr. Korb has supervised numerous students and collaborated extensively with researchers worldwide, contributing significantly to our understanding of social evolution in termites and other insects. Her laboratory employs a range of methodological approaches, including behavioral observations, molecular techniques, genomic analyses, and field ecology to investigate the evolution and maintenance of sociality in insects.
Dr. Lyanne Brouwer is a researcher at James Cook University's College of Science and Engineering, specializing in Zoology and Ecology. Her work focuses on avian behavior, evolutionary strategies, and ecological impacts of environmental change. Academic Rank: Researcher Institution: James Cook University Dr. Brouwer's research spans ornithology , evolutionary biology , and ecology , with particular emphasis on cooperative breeding systems, parental investment, and climate change effects on bird populations. Her recent publications explore topics such as sex-ratio biases, paternity assurance mechanisms, and vocal communication in fairy-wrens. Scientific trends in her work include urban ecology (analyzing anthropogenic impacts), climate sensitivity (meta-analyzing global avian responses), and behavioral innovation (studying prenatal learning and rescue behaviors). She contributes to computational biology through tools like the HIPHOP R package for parentage analysis. Dr. Brouwer investigates ecological constraints in tropical coastal ecosystems and integrates fitness components across generations in cooperatively breeding species. Her work combines field studies with statistical modeling to understand population viability under environmental stressors.
Dora Biro is the Beverly Petterson Bishop and Charles W. Bishop Professor of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at the University of Rochester, serving as Interim Chair of the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences. Her research focuses on animal cognition, collective behavior, and decision-making in primates and other species. Key interests include navigation, tool use, social learning, and animal culture. She leads studies in Gorongosa National Park, Guinea-Bissau, and other野外 environments, employing deep learning technologies for behavior analysis and social network mapping. Research emphasizes primate behavioral ecology, particularly in chacma baboons and chimpanzees, exploring how environmental factors (e.g., predation, seasonality) shape social and foraging strategies. She investigates cumulative culture in animal groups, collective intelligence, and cognitive evolution through tool-use studies. Her work bridges neuroscience, ecology, and anthropology. Education: Not explicitly stated in provided text. Affiliations: School of Arts & Sciences, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, University of Rochester. Recent studies analyze leadership hierarchies in homing pigeons, collective learning dynamics, and the impact of human activity on wildlife behavior. She collaborates on projects involving genomic analysis of baboon populations and fossil records in Mozambique. Her lab integrates field observations with computational models to explore emergent behaviors in animal groups.
Dr. Adria LeBoeuf is an Associate Professor at the University of Cambridge , leading the Laboratory of Social Fluids within the Department of Zoology. Her research explores the evolution of social life through socially exchanged fluids , focusing on social insects like ants. Undergraduate: College of Creative Studies, University of California Santa Barbara PhD: Neuroscience and Biophysics, The Rockefeller University Postdoctoral work: University of Lausanne (Switzerland), Weizmann Institute of Science (Israel) Her interdisciplinary work bridges neurobiology, behavior, and metabolomics , revealing how social fluids regulate development and physiology in insect colonies. Recent studies highlight metabolic division of labor and social circulatory systems . Key awards include the PRIMA Grant (2019) , HFSP Grant (2022) , and the Best Paper Award (2021) . The lab has attracted media attention and supports open science initiatives like the Social Transfer Network (STN) . Adria mentors PhD and MPhil students, including Arthur Matte and Zitong Zhao , and fosters interdisciplinary collaboration through her science-entertainment collective The Catalyst , which uses improvisation for research communication.
József Garay is a Senior Research Fellow at the ELTE-MTA Theoretical Biology and Evolutionary Ecology Research Group, part of the Department of Plant Systematics, Ecology and Theoretical Biology at Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest, Hungary. His research spans evolutionary biology, mathematical ecology, and game theory, with a particular focus on evolutionary stable strategies and their applications to biological systems. Dr. Garay received his M.Sc. in Biology from Eötvös University (1981-1986), followed by postgraduate studies in Mathematics (1985-1989). He completed his PhD at the Hungarian Academy of Science in 2004, after doctoral studies in the Department of Plant Taxonomy and Ecology (1990-1994) and a summer school on Evolutionary Models of Cooperation in Seewiesen, Germany (1994). Garay's research interests center on evolutionary game theory and its applications to biological systems. He has made significant contributions to understanding evolutionarily stable strategies (ESS) in sexual populations, the evolutionary roots of morality, and the mathematical foundations of population dynamics. His work bridges theoretical mathematics with practical ecological applications, particularly in areas like optimal foraging, habitat selection, and the evolution of cooperation. A key aspect of his research involves extending classical game theory concepts to more complex biological scenarios, including multi-species systems and time-constrained evolutionary processes. His work on the evolutionary stability of self-sacrificing behavior and the relationship between individual fitness and group survival has provided important insights into the evolution of altruism and social behavior. Analysis of Garay's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on evolutionary game theory applied to biological systems, with increasing sophistication in modeling approaches. His work has evolved from foundational studies on evolutionarily stable allele distributions (ESAD) to more complex applications in areas like cannibalism dynamics, predator-prey interactions, and kin selection. There's a clear trajectory toward more integrative models that combine mathematical rigor with biological realism, often addressing questions at the intersection of evolutionary theory, ecology, and behavior. Notably, his research increasingly incorporates mathematical modeling techniques to analyze complex ecological phenomena, demonstrating the power of theoretical approaches to address empirical biological questions. Dr. Garay has received several prestigious awards and fellowships throughout his career: Juhász-Nagy Pál junior fellowship at Collegium Budapest Institute for Advanced Study (1999-2000) NATO research fellowship at Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Canada (2002) Research fellowship at Konrad Lorenz Institute, Austria (2005) Bolyai János fellowship of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (2006-2008) While specific information about his advising activities is limited in the provided materials, Garay's extensive publication record spanning over three decades suggests he has likely mentored numerous graduate students and early-career researchers. His collaborations with colleagues like Zoltán Varga, Manuel Gámez, and Tomás Cabello indicate a strong network of research partnerships. Garay has secured multiple research grants supporting his work, including the Bolyai fellowship and international research opportunities that have enabled him to extend his theoretical models to practical ecological applications. His work on ecological monitoring systems demonstrates how theoretical frameworks can be applied to real-world environmental challenges. Garay is a core member of the HAS Theoretical Biology Group at Eötvös Loránd University, where he contributes to a vibrant research environment focused on mathematical approaches to biological problems. His work intersects with several research teams studying evolutionary ecology, population dynamics, and mathematical biology, creating opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration on complex biological questions that require both theoretical insight and empirical validation. The group's research has significant implications for understanding fundamental biological processes and developing more effective conservation and management strategies.
Chandra Jack is an Assistant Professor of Biology at Clark University, where she leads research on plant-microbe interactions and eco-evolutionary dynamics. She holds a Ph.D. in Evolutionary Biology from Rice University (2011) and a B.A. in Biology from the same institution (2005). Her research program examines how microbial communities influence plant fitness, functional traits, and population structure, with particular focus on invasive species adaptation. The Jack Lab employs experimental, molecular, and computational approaches to study below-ground ecological processes in agricultural and natural systems. Research publications demonstrate interdisciplinary approaches spanning microbial ecology, evolutionary biology, and invasion science. Recent work explores soil microbiome influences on plant development, rapid evolution in invasive plants, and methodological advances in analyzing plant defensive compounds. The lab maintains an inclusive environment with multiple undergraduate researchers and a graduate student. Current projects include investigations into prairie soil effects on wheat development and habitat-specific microbiome variations in Hypericum perforatum.
Dr. David Coall is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, with a multidisciplinary focus on intergenerational health and evolutionary medicine. He serves as Biomedical Science Course Coordinator, Human Biology Major/Minor Coordinator, and Research Lead for the Grandparent and Intergenerational Health Solutions Research Group. Senior Lecturer, ECU (2012–present) Visiting Professor, University of Turku (2022–present) Adjunct Research Fellow, UWA (2012–2018) His research examines intergenerational health dynamics, including grandparental investment, prenatal environmental influences, reproductive strategies, and suicide prevention. His work bridges evolutionary theory with public health applications, particularly for marginalized populations like custodial grandparents and Aboriginal communities. Recent publications (2024) address placental biology, grandparent-facilitated child physical activity, and mental health safe spaces. Grants include $399k from LotteryWest (2017–2023) and $75k from the Department of Mines (2023–2024). Elsevier’s Atlas Award (2017) for caregiving mortality research Coordinated 8+ student theses on placental health and intergenerational care He actively contributes to policy translation for low-resource families and leads interdisciplinary projects connecting biomedical science with social determinants of health.
Scott P. McRobert is a Professor in the Department of Biology, specializing in genetic, ecological, and evolutionary aspects of animal behavior. His research focuses on endangered species conservation, utilizing Drosophila, fish, turtles, and frogs as model organisms. He directs the Biodiversity Laboratory, which houses assurance colonies for endangered species and investigates topics like sleep deprivation in fruit flies and water quality effects on amphibian metamorphosis. Education: BS in Biology (Juniata College, 1977), MA and PhD in Genetics (Temple University, 1983/1987). Professional experience spans over four decades, with studies on animal behavior mechanisms, species conservation, and educational tools like the Fish Cam program for classroom use. Research highlights include analyzing sea turtle navigation cues, Drosophila mating systems, and zebrafish behavioral syndromes. Current projects explore endangered turtle diets, fish shoaling patterns, and amphibian metamorphosis under environmental stressors. Publications span over 150 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, emphasizing applied conservation and experimental biology. His work bridges basic behavioral research with practical applications in wildlife management and undergraduate education.
