Joan Silk

Joan Silk is a Regents Professor at the School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Arizona State University (ASU), and a member of the Institute for Human Origins. Her research focuses on primate social behavior, particularly exploring social bonds, reproductive strategies, and cooperative behavior in primates such as baboons and bonobos. Silk investigates how social structures and relationships influence fitness, infant survival, and long-term health in wild populations.

Her work bridges evolutionary biology and anthropology, addressing questions about the evolutionary roots of human sociality. Key themes include the trade-offs between mating and parenting efforts, the role of early life adversity in shaping adult behavior, and the comparative analysis of cooperative behaviors across species. Silk collaborates internationally, exemplified by initiatives like MacaqueNet, a large-scale project advancing comparative behavioral research.

Recent publications highlight studies on baboon social networks, the persistence of female reproductive aging, and the dynamics of intergroup cooperation in bonobos. Her research emphasizes field-based observational studies, integrating behavioral data with ecological and physiological measures. Silk’s contributions have advanced understanding of how social relationships and evolutionary pressures shape primate behavior and human origins.

Her work is disseminated through peer-reviewed articles and interdisciplinary collaborations. She advises students and researchers in the School of Human Evolution and Social Change, contributing to training the next generation of evolutionary anthropologists. Contact: joan.silk@asu.edu.