I am a Ph.D. student in the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University. The aim of my research is to investigate the origins of human social behavior and cognition, including the underlying physiological mechanisms.

My research focuses on humans' closest living relatives, chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and bonobos (Pan paniscus). I compare behavior, cognition, and endocrinology in these two species, with the hypothesis that developmental shifts in these traits have resulted in the phenotypic differences seen both within the genus Pan and between Pan and modern humans. I also study domestic dogs as a model for the evolution of human social cognition, with a particular focus on their use of humans' communicative cues.

Current projects include: