• I am an evolutionary anthropologist using comparative methods to investigate the evolution of human social behaviour.

     

    Humans are very social and cooperative animals. I study social behaviour and hormones in non-human primates to understand the origins of our social and cooperative nature. My work involves long-term field observations of wild primates and laboratory analyses of biomarkers from non-invasively collected biological samples, including urine and feces. Currently, I am investigating how relationships vary over the lifespan, particularly as the availability of related social partners changes across life stages. At a broader level, I am dedicated to synthesizing cross-species and cross-cultural research to improve holistic, evolutionary perspectives on human sociality. This work has involved organizing and leading a theme issue, symposia, and working groups to bring together cross-disciplinary researchers and facilitate collaborative projects. In parallel to my research career, I am committed to improving diversity, equity and inclusion in STEM through outreach and mentorship for young people. I received my Ph.D. from the University of New Mexico in 2023.

  • Research Projects

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    KINSHIP DYNAMICS AND LATE LIFE SOCIALITY

    Access to kin changes across the lifespan due to demographic change. As individuals age, older and same-age kin die off, leaving younger kin, namely offspring, as important social partners. Variation in the availability of adult offspring in late life may be one driver shaping late life social integration, which in turn impacts the health and survival of aging individuals. In this study, I investigate how female reproductive histories and sex-biased dispersal systems determine the availability of adult offspring as social partners for mothers, and subsequently shape social integration of aging females. To address the importance of dispersalsystem, I am conducting a comparative analysis across primate species with varying dispersal patterns.

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    SOCIOECOLGOICAL DRIVERS OF SOCIAL AGEING

    I co-lead the Socioecology of Social Aging (SOSA) Working Group, a cross-disciplinary group of researchers who investigate drivers of change in sociality with age across primate species and human cultures. We compare patterns of social aging along ecological and cultural gradients of dispersal, group cohesion, gender norms, and production systems. In Fall 2024, we will host a two-day in-person workshop at UC Santa Barbara in collaboration with the UCSB Broom Center for Demography and UCSB Center for Aging and Longevity Studies. I lead the SOSA working group with Dr. Nicole Thompson González.

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    SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS AMONG FEMALE CHIMPS

    Why do some female chimpanzees form differentiated relationships? If there are benefits to these relationships, why are strong relationships rare? And what can they tell us about the evolution of female friendship in humans? To answer these questions, I am studying the behaviour of adult female chimpanzees in Kibale National Park, Uganda with the Kibale Chimpanzee Project. I also measure hormones from non-invasively collected urine samples to determine whether social relationships vary with female stress and energy availability.

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    PATERNITY CERTAINTY AND MALE-INFANT RELATIONSHIPS

    Why do male black and white colobus monkeys behave aggressively toward some infants but tolerate and affiliate with others? Even though females mate with multiple males to confuse paternity, males might be able to use behavioural cues to differentiate between potential offspring and non-offspring. To answer this question, I studied the behaviour of wild black and white colobus monkeys at Boabeng Fiema Monkey Sanctuary in Ghana. I used genetic testing from feces to determine paternity relationships.

     You can read about my findings here in my MA thesis. 

  • Publications

    Cooperation among women: evolutionary and cross-cultural perspectives

    2022. Theme issue in Philosophical Transactions of the RoyalSociety B. Co-edited by Drs. Stephanie Fox, Karen Kramer, Joan Silk, and Brooke Scelza.

    Entire issue is now available for FREE here

    Chimpanzee female social relationships are constrained by males.

    In prep. Fox SA, Muller MNM, Camargo Peña N, Machanda Z, OtaliE, Wrangham R, Emery Thompson M.

    Selective social tolerance drives differentiated relationships among wild female chimpanzees.

    Accepted. Fox SA, Muller MNM, Camargo Peña N, Thompson Gonzalez N, Machanda Z, Otali E, Wrangham R, Emery Thompson M. Animal Behaviour.

    Non-reproductive sexual behavior in wild white thighed colobus monkeys (Colobus vellerosus).

    2023. Teichroeb JA, Fox SA, Smartino S, Wikberg EC, Sicotte P. Archives of Sexual Behaviour.

    New perspectives on the evolution of women’s cooperation.

    2022. Fox SA, Scelza B, Silk J, Kramer KL. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B.

    Weak, but not strong, ties support coalition formation among wild female chimpanzees.

    2022. Fox SA, Muller MN, Thompson González N, Enigk DE, Machanda ZP, Otali E, Wrangham RW, Emery Thompson M. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B.

    Aggression, stress, and the chronic costs of status competition for wild male chimpanzees.

    2021. Muller MN, Enigk DE, Fox SA, Lucore J, Machanda ZP, Wrangham RW, Emery Thompson M. Hormones and Behaviour.

    Direct stacked investment is a flexible reproductivestrategy for female Colobus vellerosus.

    2020. Vayro JV, Ziegler TE, Fedigan LM, Crotty A, Fox SA, Sicotte P. International Journal of Primatology.

    Aging of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis inwild chimpanzees.

    2020. Emery Thompson M, Fox SA, Berghänel A, Sabbi K, Phillips-Garcia, Enigk DK, Otali E, Machanda ZP, Wrangham RW. PNAS.

    Evaluating the impact of physical frailty during aging in wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii).

    2020. Emery Thompson M, Machanda ZP, Fox SA, Sabbi KH, Otali E, Thompson NA, Muller MN, Wrangham RW. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B

    Human‐like adrenal development in wild chimpanzees: A longitudinal study of urinary dehydroepiandrosterone‐sulfate and cortisol.

    2020. Sabbi KH, Muller MN, Machanda ZP, Otali E, Fox SA,Wrangham RW, Emery Thompson M. American Journal of Primatology.

    Infanticide pressure accelerates infant development ina wild primate.

    2016. Badescu I, Wikberg EC, MacDonald LJ, Fox SA,Vayro JV, Crotty AC, Sicotte P. Animal Behaviour

    The influence of male takeovers on female dispersal in Colobus vellerosus.

    2015. Sicotte P, Teichroeb JA, Vayro JV, Fox SA,Badescu I, & Wikberg EC. American Journal of Primatology.

  • Outreach

    Academia is a better place when we welcome and listen to diverse voices. This is why I prioritize outreach and mentorship for young people in STEM, particularly women, in parallel to my research career. Through organizing mentorship workshops, speaker series and one-on-one mentorship, I aim to build platforms for young women as leaders in their communities and simultaneously provide visible role models for younger scientists.

    I also regularly give presentations for undergraduate, high school and elementary classes around the world where I talk about primatology, anthropology, conservation, and careers in science. If you're interested having me visit your classroom, please contact me!

  • Funding

    My research has been funded by:

    The Leakey Foundation

    The Wenner-Gren Foundation

    Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada

    Sigma Xi

    American Society for Primatologists 

     

  • Connect with me

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    safox@ucsb.edu

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    Department of Anthropology
    University of California Santa Barbara
    Santa Barbara, CA, 93106
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    stephanielookingup field blog

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    stephanielookingup fieldgram!