Ryne Palombit

Ryne Palombit is a Professor at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, affiliated with the School of Arts and Sciences (SAS). His research focuses on the social and mating strategies of primates, particularly investigating cohesive male-female bonds and infanticide dynamics in baboons. He leads Project PAPIO, studying chacma baboons in Botswana and olive baboons in Kenya, emphasizing the functional roles of heterosexual friendships in mitigating infanticide.

Palombit holds a Ph.D. in Biological Anthropology from the University of California, Davis (1992). His work integrates field experiments, observational studies, and genetic analyses to explore primate social systems and evolutionary adaptations.

Research interests include primate behavioral ecology, sociosexual strategies, and the evolutionary roots of human behavior. His collaborations include researchers from the University of Pennsylvania, New York University, and the Institute of Primate Research.

Key contributions include co-editing Evolution of Primate Societies (2012) and publishing extensively on infanticide prevention, male-female social bonds, and primate conservation. His grants include funding from the National Science Foundation, Leakey Foundation, and Wenner-Gren Foundation.