Margaret Bryer, Ph.D.
Curriculum Vitae
CONTACT INFORMATION
Email: margaret.bryer (at) gmail.com
mbryer (at) wisc.edu
EDUCATION
Ph.D., 2020
Anthropology
The Graduate Center of the City University of New York
Dissertation: Nutritional strategy and social environment in redtail monkeys (Cercopithecus ascanius)
Committee: Jessica Rothman (adviser), Larissa Swedell, Andrea Baden, Marina Cords, David Raubenheimer
M.Phil., 2016
Anthropology
The Graduate Center of the City University of New York
M.A., 2012
Anthropology
Hunter College of the City University of New York
Thesis: Redtail monkey (Cercopithecus ascanius) spatial patterns and insectivory in Uganda
Thesis adviser: Jessica Rothman
B.A., 2007
History
Evolutionary Biology of the Human Species
Columbia University, New York, NY
APPOINTMENTS
2022-2023
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Psychology, Biopsychology, University of Michigan
PI: Alexandra Rosati
2020-2022
Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Joint Appointment, Departments of Psychology, Carnegie Mellon University and
University of California, Berkeley
PIs: Jessica Cantlon and Steven Piantadosi
PEER-REVIEWED JOURNAL ARTICLES
Rosati, AG, Sabbi KH, Bryer MAH, Barnes P, Rukundo J, Mukungu T, Sekulya P, Ampeire I, Aligumisiriza H, Kyama S, Masereka J, Nabukeera W, Okello A, Waiga B, Atwijuze S, Camargo Peña N, Cantwell A, Felsche E, Flores-Mendoza K, Mohamed S, Monroe I, Mulhinch M, O'Gorman K, Salamango J, Shamah R, Otali E, Wrangham RW and ZP Machanda (in press) Observational approaches to chimpanzee behavior in an African sanctuary: implications for research, welfare, and capacity-building. American Journal of Primatology, e23534.
Bryer MAH, Koopman SE, Cantlon JF, Piantadosi ST, MacLean EL, Baker JM, Beran MJ, Jones SM, Jordan KE, Mahamane S, Nieder A, Perdue BM, Range F, Stevens JR, Tomonaga M, Ujfalussy DJ, and J Vonk. (2022) The evolution of quantitative sensitivity. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 377: 20200529. DOI:10.1098/rstb.2020-0529
Ross AC, Bryer MAH, Chapman CA, Rothman JM, Nevo O, and K Valenta. (2022) Why eat flowers? Symphonia globulifera flowers provide a fatty resource for red-tailed monkeys. Folia Primatologica. DOI:10.1163/14219980-20211003
Bryer MAH, Chapman CA, Raubenheimer D, Lambert JE, and JM Rothman. (2015) Macronutrient and energy contributions of insects to the diet of a frugivorous monkey (Cercopithecus ascanius). International Journal of Primatology, 36:839-854.
Rothman JM, Raubenheimer D, Bryer MAH, Takahashi M and CC Gilbert. (2014) Nutritional contributions of insects to primate diets: implications for primate evolution. Journal of Human Evolution, 71: 59-69.
Bryer MAH, Chapman CA, and JM Rothman. (2013) Diet and polyspecific associations affect spatial patterns of redtail monkeys (Cercopithecus ascanius). Behaviour, 150:277-293.
BOOK CHAPTERS & EDITED VOLUMES
Bryer MAH. (in press) Applying a framework of social nutrition to primate behavioral ecology. In: Lambert JE, Rothman JM, Bryer MAH, eds. How Primates Eat: A Synthesis of Nutritional Ecology Across a Mammal Order. University of Chicago Press.
Lambert JE, Rothman JM, Bryer MAH. (in press) How Primates Eat: A Synthesis of Nutritional Ecology Across a Mammal Order. University of Chicago Press.
Rothman JM and Bryer MAH. (2019) The effects of humans on the primate nutritional landscape: A review. In: Behie A, Teichroeb J, Malone N, eds. Primate Research and Conservation in the Anthropocene. Cambridge Studies in Biological and Evolutionary Anthropology, 82, 199-215.
Rothman JM, Nkurunungi JB, Shannon B and MAH Bryer. (2014) High altitude diets: implications for the feeding and nutritional ecology of mountain gorillas. In: Gursky S, Grow, N, eds. High altitude primates. Springer Series Developments in Primatology, 247-264.
BOOK REVIEWS & ESSAYS
Higham JP, Amann AL, Bryer MAH, Thompson NA and S Winters. (2013) Review of The Evolution of Primate Societies (Eds. John C. Mitani, Josep Call, Peter M. Kappeler, Ryne A. Palombit, and Joan B. Silk). International Journal of Primatology, 34:1298-1303.
Bryer, M and S Schwartz (2010) The National Zoo's O Line: The enrichment value of an orangutan transit system. Animal Keepers' Forum 37(2): 73-76.
GRANTS & AWARDS
2015-2016
NSF Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant, $15,719
2015
City University of New York Doctoral Student Research Grant, $700
2012-2015
NSF New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology (NYCEP)-Integrative Graduate Education and Research Training (IGERT) Trainee
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Carnegie Mellon University, Department of Psychology:
Animal Minds (co-instructor of record, Spring 2021, Spring 2022)
Hunter College of the City University of New York, Department of Anthropology:
Human Biology Senior Capstone (instructor of record, Summer 2020)
The Human Species (instructor of record, Summer 2016, Fall 2017, Winter 2017)
Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, Department of Anthropology & Archaeology:
Anthropology of Sex (designed course and instructor of record, Fall 2013, Spring 2014)
Human Origins (instructor of record, Fall 2014)
I have also taught laboratory sections for The Human Species (Fall 2018, Spring 2018, Fall 2017, Spring 2017) and Introduction to Human Evolution at Hunter College (Fall 2018, Spring 2018, Fall 2016, Spring 2012, Fall 2011).
TEACHING TRAINING
2020-2021
Completed Future Faculty Program, Eberly Center for Teaching Excellence and Educational Innovation, Carnegie Mellon University
2013-2014
City University of New York Graduate Teaching Fellow
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
Bryer, MAH and Rothman JM. 2023. Social dynamics and nutritional ecology of redtail monkeys in Kibale National Park. Uganda Wildlife Authority Research Symposium, Fort Portal, Uganda.
Bryer MAH, Barnes P, Sabbi KH, Rukundo J, Machanda ZP, and Rosati AG. 2023. Sex differences in semi-free ranging chimpanzees: Insights into evolution of chimpanzee social behavior. Annual Meeting of the American Association of Biological Anthropologists, Reno, NV.
Bryer MAH, Barnes P, Sabbi KH, Rukundo J, Machanda ZP, and Rosati AG. 2022. Sex differences in semi-free ranging chimpanzees: Insights into evolution of chimpanzee social behavior. Midwest Primate Interest Group Annual Meeting, Ann Arbor, MI.
Camargo Peña N, Brodnan S, Bryer MAH, Otali E, Muller MN, Emery Thompson M, Wrangham RW, Rosati AG, and Machanda ZP. 2022. Individual variation in patterns of tool use in wild Ugandan chimpanzees. Midwest Primate Interest Group Annual Meeting, Ann Arbor, MI.
Conti, JJ, Bryer, MAH, Piantadosi ST, and Cantlon JF. 2022. Comparing learning capacity across species and age to identify origins of human uniqueness. Cognitive Development Society Bi-Ennial Conference, Madison, WI.
Bryer, MAH and Rothman JM. 2020. Extrinsic and intrinsic effects on nutritional strategy in redtail monkeys (Cercopithecus ascanius). Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists, Virtual Throwback Program 2021.
Bryer, MAH and Rothman JM. 2019. Do polyspecific associations influence nutritional intake of female redtail monkeys (Cercopithecus ascanius)? Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists, Cleveland, OH.
Bryer, MAH, Raubenheimer D, Rothman JM. 2017. Nutritional strategies of female redtail monkeys (Cercopithecus ascanius) in Uganda. Annual Meeting of the American Society of Primatologists, Washington, DC.
Bryer MAH, Raubenheimer D, Rothman JM. 2017. Nutritional strategies of female redtail monkeys. Women in Science and Engineering (WiSE) at the City University of New York: Research and Progress Summit, Long Island City, NY.
Bryer MAH, Raubenheimer D, Rothman JM. 2017. Nutritional strategies of female redtail monkeys (Cercopithecus ascanius). Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists, New Orleans, LA.
Bryer MAH and Rothman JM. 2016. The effects of humans on primate nutritional landscapes. Symposium: Reconciling Research and Conservation Priorities: Lessons Learned and Future Directions. Joint Meeting of the International Primatological Society and the American Society of Primatologists, Chicago, IL.
Bryer MAH, Swedell L, Chowdhury S. 2016. Fatty food or fertile females? Consortships and raiding behavior in male chacma baboons in the Cape Peninsula, South Africa. Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists, Atlanta, GA.
Bryer MA, Raubenheimer D, Chapman CA, Rothman JM. 2012. Invertebrates provide substantial energy and protein for redtail monkeys (Cercopithecus ascanius) in Uganda. Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists, Portland, OR.
Bryer MA, Chapman CA, Rothman JM. 2011. Diet and polyspecific associations affect nearest-neighbor distances of redtail monkeys in Kibale National Park, Uganda. Annual Meeting of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists, Minneapolis, MN.
Bryer MA. The National Zoo’s O Line: The enrichment value of an orangutan transit system. 2009. Association of Zoos and Aquariums Annual Conference, Portland, OR.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
2023
Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, Uganda
Assisted with biological sample collection and ran cholesterol point-of-care analysis during chimpanzee annual health checks; processed urine and fecal samples in preparation for export.
Met with sanctuary staff about ongoing Rosati research group collaboration with sanctuary in observational data collection.
PI: Alexandra Rosati (University of Michigan)
2022
Tchimpounga Chimpanzee Sanctuary, Republic of Congo
Observational and experimental data collection on chimpanzee social dynamics and cognition
PI: Alexandra Rosati (University of Michigan)
2020-2022
Concepts, Actions and Objects Lab & the computation and language lab
Data collection of behavioral data from touchscreen cognitive tasks by rhesus macaques; meta-analyses and modeling of comparative data using Bayesian and phylogenetic methods
PIs: Jessica Cantlon (Carnegie Mellon), Steve Piantadosi (UC Berkeley)
2016-2018
Primate Nutritional Ecology Lab
Nutritional chemistry analyses for dissertation and training of undergraduate
research assistants
PI: Jessica Rothman (Hunter College of the City University of New York)
2015-2016
Kibale National Park, Uganda
Dissertation research on nutrition and behavior in guenons
PI: Jessica Rothman, (Hunter College of the City University of New York)
2011-2012
Kibale National Park, Uganda
Master’s thesis on nutrition and behavior in guenons
PI: Jessica Rothman (Hunter College of the City University of New York)
2010
Tokai Forest, Cape Town, South Africa
Research assistant: behavioral data on chacma baboons (Papio ursinus)
PI: Shahrina Chowdhury (Brooklyn College of the City University of New York)
2009
Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park, Washington, DC
Internship: orangutan behavioral research and conservation outreach
PI: Amanda Bania (Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park)
2008
Tiputini Biodiversity Station, Ecuador
Research assistantship collecting behavioral and ranging data on woolly
monkeys (Lagothrix lagotricha) at Tiputini Biodiversity Station, Ecuador
(PI: Anthony Di Fiore, University of Texas-Austin)
OUTREACH
2019-2018
Scientist pen pal with a middle school public school student as part of Letters to a Pre-Scientist program.
2016
Co-led workshop with New Nature Foundation, local conservation educators, children and elders in community next to Kibale National Park, Uganda, to foster conservation communication across generations
2016
Taught classes on Ugandan primate diversity and conservation to primary and middle school students at Green Circle School in Fort Portal, Uganda. Also developed and distributed primate conservation education materials at the request of Ugandan instructors.
2015
Presented research by the Hunter College Primate Nutrition Project to field school undergraduates at Makerere Biological Field Station, Uganda.
2013
Presented on primate diversity to a pre-kindergarten class, Brooklyn, NY.
2009
Presented orangutan behavior research and spoke to the public about primate conservation at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute’s Autumn Conservation Festival, Front Royal, VA.
2008
Presented information on Tiputini Biodiversity Station’s primate populations to field school students in Ecuador.
SERVICE
Reviewed manuscripts: African Journal of Ecology (1), American Journal of Primatology (3), Behavioral Ecology (1), Canadian Journal of Zoology (1), Ecology and Evolution (1), International Journal of Primatology (5), Journal of Human Evolution (1), Oecologia (1), PLOS ONE (2)
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
American Association of Biological Anthropologists, International Primatological Society, The Wildlife Society, Cognitive Science Society