Scholars@Duke
Blythe A. Williams

Blythe A. Williams

Associate Professor of the Practice Emerita of Evolutionary Anthropology
Evolutionary Anthropology
blythe@duke.edu
Duke Box 90383, Durham, NC 27708-0383
0013 Bio Sci Bldg, Durham, NC 27708

Advising & Mentoring

Students Mentored

 

      Doctoral Dissertation Committees

  • Hannah Salomons (preliminary committee, 2018-2019)
  • Ethan Fulwood (in progress). Topic: Dietary adaptation and dental topography in Eocene primates.  Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University
  • Jackson Spradley (2017).  Topic: “Modeling Correlations of Bioclimate, Habitat Structure, and Ecomorphology in South American Mammals for Paleoenvironment Inference”. Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University
  • Lauren Gonzales (2015).  Topic: “Intra and Interspecific Variation in Semicircular Canal Morphology in Primates and Implications for Locomotor Behavior Reconstruction Models”. Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University
  • Kari Allen (2014).  Topic: “Endocranial Volume and Shape Variation in Early Anthropoid Evolution”. Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University
  • Edward Christopher Kirk (1999).  Topic: “Evolution of the Visual and Olfactory System in Primates”. Department of Biological Anthropology and Anatomy, Duke University.

 

      Master’s Thesis Committees

  • Ryan Risner (in progress).  Evolution of morality in humans and other primates.  Graduate Liberal Studies, Duke University. Principal Advisor
  • Laura Paulsen (2011). Development of spine scanning devise to identify and track progression of scoliosis in children. Biomedical Engineering, Duke University.

 

      Undergraduate Honors Thesis Committees

  • Connie Zhou (in progress). Topic: Dance in people with Parkinson’s Disease. Departments of Evolutionary Anthropology and Dance, Duke University.  Principal Advisor.
  • Kiera Lunn (in progress)
  • Ana Galvez (2018).  Topic: Does posture at death reveal behavior patterns?  Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University.
  • Miles Schaeffer (2018).  Topic:  Understanding the diversification of early primates by connecting jaw morphology, body size, and ecology in living and fossil Primates.
  • Breanna Polascik (2018).  Topic: Biomechanics of dance and dance injury: Impact forces and shockwaves associated with years of tap dancing experience. Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University.
  • Aidan Haney (2018).  Topic: Predicting locomotion with the radius: A study of functional morphology of the radius in apes and monkeys.  Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University.
  • Roshni Prakash (2016).  Topic: Musculoskeletal stress of Indian classical dance, Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University. Principal Advisor
  • Jennifer Margono (2015).  Topic: The effects of turnout compensation on foot pressure in classical ballet dancers”, Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University. Principal Advisor
  • Sruti Pisharody (2015).  Topic: “Conservation messaging strategies: efficacy across differing cultural contexts”. Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University.
  • Richa Lavingia (2014).  Topic: “Use of virtual endocasts to reconstruct primate brain proportions”.  Principal Advisor
  • Meredith Rahman (2014).  Topic:” Effects of habitual loading on bone materials properties”. Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University.
  • Avionna Baldwin (2012).  Topic: “A comparison of masseter and temporalis muscle architecture in male and female Cercocebus atys (sooty mangabey)”. Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University
  • Lida Cheng (2009).  Topic: “Acid etching on the surface of dental enamel”.  Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University.
  • Hannah Biederman (2008).  Topic: “Characterization of the Major Histocompatability Complex in Lemur catta”.  Department of Biological Anthropology and Anatomy, Duke University.
  • Francie Hardie (2008).  Topic: “Mastication and Diet: the influence of feeding habits on cranial morphology in the otters (subfamily Lutrinae)”.  Department of Biological Anthropology and Anatomy, Duke University. 
  • Nor Rashida Hashim (1997).  Topic: “Potential Techniques to Deter Crop-raiding by Non-human Primates in West Malaysia”.  Department of Biology, Duke University. Principal advisor
  • William Gonzalez (1997).  Topic: “The Optic Canal in Primates”, Dept. of Biological Anthropology and Anatomy, Duke University.

 

      Supervised Undergraduate Independent Research- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology (Biological Anthropology and Anatomy), Duke University

  • Christine Streisel (2016-2017) Development of a teaching module for primate anatomy 
  • Jennifer Margono (2014-2015) Biomechanics of movement
  • Roshni Prakash (2014-2015) Stress of Indian Dance on the Lower Limb
  • Meredith Rahman (2011-2012) Miocene Hominoid Phylogeny
  • Sandeep Sohal (1996-1997) Cercopithecoid Primate Evolution
  • Heather Moles (1995-1996) Evolution of Tertiary Primates
  • Erica Esterbrook (1995-1996) Evolution of Miocene Hominoids
  • Mike Epstein (1995-1996) Morphology & Ecology of Southern African mammals

 

      Supervised senior high school student research

  • Emily Salemi (2011-2012) Ardipithecus ramidus and the evolution of bipedalism.  Honors Thesis for the North Carolina School of Science and Math. Principal Advisor

 

   Collaborative Published Research Projects with Graduate Students

  • Prakash, R, Williams, B. A., Granatosky, M, Canizares. R.  (2017) Musculoskeletal effects and   injury risk in collegiate Indian classical and ballet dancers.  International Association of Dance Medicine and Science 27th Annual Conference, Houston, Texas.
  • Yapuncich, G., Williams, B.A., Boyer, D.M.  (2016) Phenetic affinities of Teilhardina (Primates, Omomyidae) from the Powder River Basin of Wyoming reveal the first known occurrences of Teilhardina brandti outside the Bighorn Basin.  American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 85th Annual Meeting issue, V.162. p. 416.
    • Sánchez-Villagra, M. and Williams, B.A. (1998) Levels of homoplasy in the evolution of the mammalian skeleton.  Journal of Mammalian Evolution, 5(2):113-126.
    • Sanchez-Villagra, M. and Williams, B.A. (1997) Levels of homoplasy in the evolution of the mammalian skeleton.  Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology.
    • Sanchez-Villagra, M. and Williams, B.A. (1996) Levels of homoplasy in mammalian evolution: dental, cranial, and postcranial characters compared.  American Journal of Physical Anthropology, Supp. 22, p. 206. Presented at the Annual Meetings of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists.
  • Jackson Spradley.  Spradley, J.P., Williams, B.A., Kay, R.F.  (2015) Environmental variables affecting primate richness in the neotropics.  American Journal of Physical Anthropology. V 156, p. 294.
  • Milan Kumar Sharma.  Patnaik, R, Sharma, K.M., Negi, L., Williams, B.A., Kay, R., Chatrath, P.  (2014) Additional vertebrate remains from the early Miocene of Kutch, Gujarat.  Journal of the Paleontological Society of India.
  • Alicia M. Kennedy.  Lewis, P.J., Williams, B.A., Kennedy, A.M.  (2007) Analysis of a small mammal fauna from the !Ncumsta Hills, western Ngamiland, Botswana. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, Supp. 44, p. 155.
  • E. Christopher Kirk.  Kirk, E.C., and Williams, B.A. (1998) Dental evidence for cheirogaleid affinities.  American Journal of Physical Anthropology, Supp. 26, p. 139. Presented at the Annual Meetings of the American Association of Physical Anthropologists.
  • Jonathan Perry.  Perry, J., Wall, C.E., Williams, B.A.  (2003) The anatomy of the masticatory muscles in two strepsirrhine primates and inference of muscle attachment areas from osteological material.  Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.  V. 23, Supp. 3, p. 86A.  Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontologists.
  • Marcelo Sanchez-Villagra