Carson Murray

Carson Murray is an Associate Professor of Anthropology and Core Faculty at the Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology (CASHP) at George Washington University. They hold a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota (2006) and a B.A. from the University of Virginia (1997).

Dr. Murray specializes in primate behavioral ecology, focusing on the adaptive value of social relationships in chimpanzees. Their research explores how maternal stress and behavior influence offspring outcomes, including development, health, and stress resilience. Ongoing projects include studies on mother-infant interactions, the role of non-kin social bonds in offspring success, and the reproductive advantages of high-ranking female chimpanzees.

Recent publications highlight investigations into rank-related social stress in lactating chimpanzees, sex differences in infant social behavior, and the inheritance of ranging patterns in male chimpanzees. Their work integrates behavioral observations with physiological measures like adrenocortical activity.

Teaching includes courses on biological foundations of human behavior, primate studies, and evolutionary family structures. Dr. Murray’s research is conducted through the Primate Behavioral Ecology Laboratory, emphasizing field studies in wild primate populations.