Dr. David Watts

Biography

David Watts is the Alison Richard Professor in the Department of Anthropology at Yale University. He received his BA in Anthropology from the University of Pennsylvania and both his MA and PhD in Anthropology from the University of Chicago. He joined Yale in 1996 after teaching at Duke University and the University of Michigan. His research specializes in behavioral ecology of nonhuman primates, focusing on fieldwork within natural habitats. This work has involved collaborations with Professors Richard Bribiescas and Brenda Bradley, along with students associated with the Yale Reproductive Ecology Lab and the Yale Molecular Anthropology Lab. His field research includes studies of white-faced capuchin monkeys in Panama, and significant work on mountain gorillas in Rwanda, where he served as Director of the Karisoke Research Centre. His ongoing research includes the Ngogo Chimpanzee Project in Uganda, which has provided important insights into chimpanzee behavior and its relevance to human evolution.

Research Interests