RESEARCH PROJECTS
CHIMPANZEE SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT
As part of an American Association of University Woman funded project, I research chimpanzee sexual development and behavior. Chimpanzee males mate and produce courtship displays from a young age, but this behavior is not well understood. Using a behavioral ecology framework, I investigate the influence of mothers' social network on male sexual behavior and explore the impact of male gestural development on their mating success as adults.
As part of an American Association of University Woman funded project, I research chimpanzee sexual development and behavior. Chimpanzee males mate and produce courtship displays from a young age, but this behavior is not well understood. Using a behavioral ecology framework, I investigate the influence of mothers' social network on male sexual behavior and explore the impact of male gestural development on their mating success as adults.
MULTIMODAL MODALS: EPISTEMIC GESTURE AND FACIAL EXPRESSION
In an ongoing collaboration with Professor Sherman Wilcox and PhD candidate Laura Hirrel, we employ motion capture technology to assess the importance of manner of movement in sign/gesture, and its co-occurrence with facial expression in Deaf and hearing adult humans. Using the context of epistemic modals, we are analyzing language as a dynamic multi-modal and multi-channel system with many moving parts.
In an ongoing collaboration with Professor Sherman Wilcox and PhD candidate Laura Hirrel, we employ motion capture technology to assess the importance of manner of movement in sign/gesture, and its co-occurrence with facial expression in Deaf and hearing adult humans. Using the context of epistemic modals, we are analyzing language as a dynamic multi-modal and multi-channel system with many moving parts.
CHIMPANZEE COURTSHIP COMMUNICATION
Since 2012, I have observed the wild chimpanzees of the Sonso community in the Budongo Forest Reserve of Uganda. My primary interest is the use of gestural and vocal communication during courtship displays. Through this lens, I explore mating strategies, male coercion, female choice, and the relationship between social network and mate choice, aiming to elucidate the role of sexual selection on language evolution.
Since 2012, I have observed the wild chimpanzees of the Sonso community in the Budongo Forest Reserve of Uganda. My primary interest is the use of gestural and vocal communication during courtship displays. Through this lens, I explore mating strategies, male coercion, female choice, and the relationship between social network and mate choice, aiming to elucidate the role of sexual selection on language evolution.