Gerald G. Carter

Gerald G. Carter is an Associate Professor in the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at Princeton University. His research focuses on animal behavior, particularly cooperative relationships in vampire bats. He explores the mechanisms and evolution of social bonds, combining lab experiments and field observations. Carter is affiliated with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute as a Freeman Hrabowski Scholar (2023–present) and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute as a research associate.

He leads the Carter Lab, investigating how cooperative relationships form and persist in vampire bats. His work has been supported by grants including a 2017 National Geographic Society grant to study cooperative behavior in vampire bats in Panama. Awards include recognition from the Animal Behavior Society and the American Psychological Association for his contributions to understanding animal cognition and social behavior.

Carter serves on the Board of Directors and chairs the Scientific Advisory Committee for Bat Conservation International. His research has been featured in major media outlets such as the New York Times, NPR, and the BBC.