Maddy Hillegas

Program: M.S. Human Paleobiology

Year of Entry: Fall 2021

Advisor: Shannon McFarlin

Current Research

Research Interests: Primate life history, dental evidence of stress in primates, behavior, conservation. 

Research Experience: 

(2022) Field Research and Assistance, Mountain Gorilla Skeletal Project; Kinigi, Rwanda

(2021–Current) Research Assistant, GW Primate Life History Lab; Washington, D.C. (

2020) Lab Assistant, NYU Anthropology Department; New York, NY/Remote

(2018–2020) Lab Volunteer, Daris Swindler Dental Lab; New York, NY

(2019) Field Research Assistant, NYU Primate Reproductive Ecology and Evolution Lab; Punta Santiago, PR

Education

B.A., Anthropology, New York University, 2021

Publications

In Progress:

Petersdorf, M., Weyher, A. H., Heistermann, M., Gunson, J. L., Govaerts, A., Siame, S., Mustill, R. L., Hillegas, M. E., Winters, S., Dubuc, C., Higham, J.P. (2022). Multimodal fertility signals in female Kinda baboons: a test of comparative predictions.

(2021) Undergraduate Thesis Abstract: “Canine Size and Reproductive Success in Female Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta)”

Publication: Inquiry: A Journal of Undergraduate Research

Distinctions

2022 Sigma Xi Grants-in-Aid of Research Award

2022 The Lewis N. Cotlow Award, The George Washington University

2021 Dean’s Fellowship Award, The George Washington University

2021 Dean's Undergraduate Research Fund, New York University