Overview
How did the human body evolve, and how does our species' deep past shape our health and physiology today? Through lab and field research, I investigate the physiology of humans and apes to understand how ecology, lifestyle, diet, and evolutionary history affect metabolism and health. I'm also interested in how ecology and evolution influence musculoskeletal design and physical activity. Field projects focus on small-scale societies, including hunter-gatherers and subsistence farmers, in Africa and South America. Lab research focuses on energetics and metabolism, including respirometry and doubly labeled water methods.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Professor of Evolutionary Anthropology
·
2022 - Present
Evolutionary Anthropology,
Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Director of Graduate Studies of Evolutionary Anthropology
·
2023 - Present
Evolutionary Anthropology,
Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Associate Research Professor of Global Health
·
2019 - Present
Duke Global Health Institute,
University Institutes and Centers
Associate of the Duke Initiative for Science & Society
·
2020 - Present
Duke Science & Society,
University Initiatives & Academic Support Units
Recent Publications
Ambient temperature and wet bulb globe temperature outperform heat index in predicting hydration status and heat perception in a semi-arid environment.
Journal Article Annals of human biology · December 2025 BackgroundClimate change is increasing temperatures, frequency of heatwaves, and erratic rainfall, which threatens human biology and health, particularly in already extreme environments. Therefore, it is important to understand how environmental h ... Full text CiteAuthor Correction: Predictive equation derived from 6,497 doubly labelled water measurements enables the detection of erroneous self-reported energy intake.
Journal Article Nat Food · May 2025 Full text Link to item CiteIsotope Dilution for Measuring Total Energy Expenditure, Water Turnover, and Total Body Water in Athletes: A Systematic Review.
Journal Article International journal of sport nutrition and exercise metabolism · May 2025 Isotope-based tracer methods allow the determination of total energy expenditure (TEE), water turnover (rH2O), and total body water (TBW) in free-living conditions. These methods have exciting applications in athletes. However, the limited number of availa ... Full text CiteRecent Grants
Drinking water salinity in a hot-dry environment: Hydration, kidney function, and blood pressure
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Pennsylvania State University · 2024 - 2029Developing insertable cardiac monitors to assess social and environmental effects on the autonomic stress response in a nonhuman primate model of aging
ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by University of Notre Dame · 2022 - 2027Effects of Physical Activity on Human Pregnancy Energetics: Testing Maternal Metabolic Limits
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2023 - 2026View All Grants
Education, Training & Certifications
Harvard University ·
2006
Ph.D.