Brian Villmoare

Brian Villmoare is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), and an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine. He earned his Ph.D. in Physical Anthropology from Arizona State University in 2008, focusing on craniofacial morphology of early hominins under the mentorship of Bill Kimbel and Charles Lockwood. His research integrates evolutionary theory with high-resolution anatomical studies to explore hominin craniofacial evolution, selection pressures, and morphological integration.

Dr. Villmoare co-directs the NSF-funded Ledi-Geraru Project in Ethiopia’s Afar Region, investigating hominin diversification and paleoenvironments during the Pliocene-Pleistocene transition. He has conducted fieldwork at key sites like Koobi Fora (Kenya) and Makapansgat (South Africa), emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches combining 3D scanning, biomechanical modeling (FEA), and paleoecological analysis. His academic contributions include studies on hominin sexual dimorphism (via Ileret footprints), evolutionary constraints on craniofacial form, and critiques of brain size reduction hypotheses.

Research interests span biological anthropology, adaptation, and developmental biology, with a focus on Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Africa. He supervises graduate students (Alesha Pettit, Bri Heisler, Hannah Giberti) working on topics like hominin facial biomechanics, dental evolution, and fossil phylogenetics. Recent grants include a $2.4 million NSF award (2024-2026) and Leakey Foundation funding (2024). His 2022 book, *The Evolution of Everything*, synthesizes evolutionary principles across cosmic, geological, and human timescales.

Lab collaborations include technology transfer initiatives in Ethiopia’s National Museum (3D printing), and teaching roles at UNLV, the UNLV School of Medicine, and College of Southern Nevada. Key projects address hominin social structure, taxonomic boundaries in early *Homo*, and the evolutionary origins of decision-making behaviors.