I am a biological anthropologist interested in the evolution of feeding adaptations in primates and hominins. My research focuses on understanding how variation in the mechanical properties of foods influences feeding behavior, dental function, and craniofacial morphology across living and extinct apes.

 

To address these questions, I investigate how wild chimpanzees and gorillas in the Goualougo Triangle, Republic of Congo, respond behaviorally to foods with different mechanical demands and how these feeding strategies shape patterns of tooth use and masticatory loading. By integrating behavioral observations with measurements of food material properties, my work seeks to better understand the evolutionary relationships among diet, dental form, and craniofacial function.

 

I am a member of the Goualougo Triangle Ape Project, working under the supervision of Drs. David Strait and Crickette Sanz.