Contact
Department of Primatology
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
Deutscher Platz 6
04103 Leipzig
phone: +49 (341) 3550 - 200
fax: +49 (341) 3550 - 299
Professional Employment
since 2013 | Head of Research Group, Senior Scientist (W2) |
2011 – present | Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (D), Department of Primatology, Scientific Staff |
2008 – 2011 | University of St Andrews (UK), School of Psychology, Research Fellow |
2004 – 2008 | University of Pennsylvania (USA), Department of Biology, Research Fellow |
Scientific posts
since 2018 | Editorial Board member of American Journal of Primatology |
2014 - 2017 | Member of the Human Sciences Section of the Scientific Council of the Max Planck Society |
Education
2004 | University of Leipzig (D) & Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (D), Dr. rer. nat. in Biology (Supervisor: Christophe Boesch, Co-referees: Frans de Waal, Peter Kappeler) |
1996 | University of Bielefeld (D), Diplom in Biology (Supervisor: Hubert Hendrichs, Co-referee: Jürgen Döhl) |
Field Experience
Since 2012 | Director of the Taï Chimpanzee Project (Côte d’Ivoire) Responsibility for the Taï Chimpanzee Project in Côte d’Ivoire. |
2008 – 2010 | Budongo Conservation Field Station, Budongo Forest (Uganda), Assistant Director Studying the chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) of the Sonso community for 2½ years, conducting field experiments (playback and object presentation), behavioural observations, urine collection for hormonal analysis and fecal collection for genetic analysis. |
2004 – 2005 | Babooncamp, Okavango Delta (Botswana), Post-doc Researcher Studying Chacma baboons (Papio hamadryas ursinus) at the long-term study site of Dorothy Cheney and Robert Seyfarth for 1½ years, conducting playback experiments and fecal collection for hormonal analysis. |
1996 – 1999 | Taï Chimpanzee Project, Taï National Park (Côte d’Ivoire), Camp Manager Studying the chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) of the North community for 3 years, conducting behavioural observations for my PhD thesis. |
Teaching Experience
starting 2018 | NEW international Master course: Integrative Biology, University Leipzig Block module: Cognitive Ethology in Primates |
since 2014 | Lecturer, Master of Science in Biology, University of Leipzig Course: Bridge Seminar - Social intelligence |
since 2011 | Coordinator & lecturer, International Max Planck Research School for Human Origins Course: Comparative and Molecular Primatology |
2011 | Substitute lecturer, School of Psychology, University of St Andrews Module: Evolutionary and Comparative Psychology |
Invited Talks (selection)
2017 | African Primatological Society, Plenary Keynote at the Inaugural Conference in Abidjan / Bingerville (CIV) |
2016 | Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago (USA), Keynote on Social Living - Chimpanzee in Context, 'Understanding Chimpanzees' Symposium Series |
International Society for Anthrozoology, Plenary Keynote - ISAZ Meeting 2016, Barcelona (E) | |
2015 | Wuppertaler Zoogespräche (D), Bergische Universität Wuppertal, Philosophisches Seminar |
Université de Neuchâtel (CH), Department of Comparative Cognition, Group Seminar | |
2014 | Society for Tropical Ecology, Plenary Keynote - Conference of the Society for Tropical Ecology, Munich (D) |
2013 | Lorentz Center Leiden (NL), Workshop: Obstacles and Catlysts of Peaceful Behavior |
2012 | Université de Rennes (F), Department of Animal and Human Ethology, Ethos Seminar |
2011 | University of Stirling (UK), School of Nature Sciences, Behavioural Ecology Research Group Seminar |
University of Zuerich (CH), Institute for Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, Behaviour Ecology Environment and Evolution Seminar. | |
2010 | Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin (D), House Seminar |
2007 | Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago (USA), Chimpanzee Mind Conference, 'Understanding Chimpanzees' Symposium Series |
2006 | Emory University (USA),Yerkes Primate Research Centre, Living Links Colloquium |
Harvard University (USA), Department of Anthropology, Anthropology Colloquium |
Professional & Public Services
Ad-hoc reviewer
- Journals: American Journal of Primatology, Animal Behaviour, Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, Behaviour, Biology Letter, Current Biology, Hormones & Behavior, Human Evolution, International Journal of Primatology, Naturwissenschaften, Primates, Proceedings of the Royal Society London B, Science.
- Grant Bodies: Leakey Foundation, Wenner-Gren Foundation
Conference organisation
- XIV Conference of the Gesellschaft für Primatologie, 11 - 13 Feb 2015, MPI EVA & University of Leipzig, Germany
- Great Ape Health Workshop – International Conference on the Health Threat for Great Apes in Research and Tourist Sites, 21 – 24 Aug 2009, LAICO Lake Victoria Hotel, Entebbe, Uganda.
Consulting (selection)
- Consultant for the exhibition 'WAR - KRIEG'. Landesmuseum für Vorgeschichte Halle, Halle (D).
- Consultant on baboon behaviour for the BBC Natural History Series ‘Planet Earth’ (2005-2007).
- Consultant on ape behaviour and evolution for the exhibition ‘Mensch und Tier: eine paradoxe Beziehung’ (2002-2003). Deutsches Hygienemuseum, Dresden (D).
- Consultant on chimpanzee conservation for the exhibition ‘Gorillas in the soup’ (2000-2001). Bushmeat crisis campaign of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EU).
Professional Membership
1998 | Ethologische Gesellschaft e.V. |
1995 | International Primatological Society & Deutsche Gesellschaft für Primatologie |
Honors and Awards
2016 | Nominated participation in the German American Frontiers of Science Symposium (Humboldt-Foundation and National Science Foundation USA) |
2015 | Invitation to join the DFG Researcher Consortium: The oxytocin system of the socio-emotional brain (invited by Dr. Valary Grinavich, University of Heidelberg, GER) |
2014 | Member of the DFG Researcher Consortium: Sociality and Health in Primates (SoHaPi) |
2012 | Young Investigator award of the Society of Behavioral Neuroendocrinology (jointly with Catherine Crockford) |
2010 | Invited Guest of the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin |
2006 | Research Fellow of the German Science Foundation (DFG) for two years |
2004 | Conference Grant of the German Science Foundation (DFG) |
Research Grant Awards
2017 | Research Grant: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft - SOHAPI in collaboration with RKI (total: € 450.000) |
2016 | Associated Researcher to ERC starting grant of C. Crockford (total: € 1.500.000) |
2015 | Research Grant: Wenner-Gren Foundation in collaboration with A. Mielke & C. Crockford: US$ 6000 |
2014 | Research Grant: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft - SOHAPI in collaboration with RKI: € 230.000 |
2013 | Conservation Grant: European Association of Zoos and Aquaria in collaboration with RKI, WWF & Zoo Leipzig: € 21.000 |
2013 | Research Grant: Leakey Foundation in collaboration with A. Preiss & C. Crockford: US$ 12.800 |
2009 | Research Grant: Wenner-Gren Foundation together with C. Crockford, T. Deschner, T. Ziegler & K. Zuberbuhler: US$ 25.000 |
2009 | Research Grant: Leakey Foundation in collaboration with C. Crockford, T. Deschner & K. Zuberbuhler: US$ 22.500 |