Employment History

New York University, Associate Professor of Anthropology, 1998 - 2005

New York University, Assistant Professor of Anthropology, 1992 - 1998

Education

MA, Harvard University, Department of Anthropology, 1985 - 1987

BA, Cornell University, Interdisciplinary Major in Anthropology, Computer Science, and Mathematics, summa cum laude, 1981-1985
 

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Research Interests

My research interests are centered upon the theme of primate and human evolution, at all levels from the populational to the supra-ordinal. They encompass the following major areas:

Primate evolution, molecular evolution, mammalian evolution, molecular systematics, phylogenetic analysis, population genetics, phylogeography, computer modeling, human evolution, human variation, history of anthropology
 

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Research Experience

New York University, Department of Anthropology. 1992 - present

Molecular genetics, systematics, and evolution of primates, Human and non-human primate population genetics, primate conservation, analytical techniques and modeling, mammalian systematics

Molecular genetics laboratory research under the direction of M. Ruvolo and R.L. Honeycutt, 1989-1992

Paleontological fieldwork in the Potwar Plateau of Pakistan under D.R. Pilbeam and J.C. Barry, 1986-1987

Paleoanthropological research on South Asian hominins under K.A.R. Kennedy, 1983-1985
 

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Courses Taught

Professional Organizations

Editorial Boards

Dissertation

Publications

Li J, Han K, Xing J, Kim H-S, Rogers J, Ryder OA, Disotell T, Yue B, Batzer MA. Phylogeny of the macaques (Cercopithecidae: Macaca) based on Alu elements. Gene Epub ahead of print, 2009.

Hodgson JA, Sterner KN, Matthews LJ, Burrell AS, Jani RA, Raaum RL, Stewart CB, Disotell TR. Successive radiations, not stasis, in the South American primate fauna. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 106:5534-5539, 2009. [abstract]

Burrell AS, Jolly CJ, Tosi AJ, Disotell TR. Mitochondrial evidence for the hybrid origin of the kipunji, Rungwecebus kipunji (Primates: Papionini). Mol Phylogenet Evol 51:340-348, 2009. [abstract]

Di Fiore A, Disotell TR, Gagneux P, Ayala FJ. Primate malarias: Evolution, adaptation, and species jumping. in Huffman MA, Chapman CA (eds). In: Primate Parasite Ecology: The Dynamics and Study of Host-Parasite Relationships. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2009. [book abstract]

Bilgin R, Karatas A, Coraman E, Disotell T, Morales JC. Regionally and climatically restricted patterns of distribution of genetic diversity in a migratory bat species, Miniopterus schreibersii (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae). BMC Evolutionary Biology 8:209, 2008. [abstract]

Hodgson JA, Disotell TR. No evidence of Neanderthal contribution to modern human diversity. Genome Biology 9:206, 2008. [abstract]

Disotell TR. Primates phylogenetics. Encyclopedia of Life Sciences. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, 2008. [abstract]

Disotell TR. Modern human origins and evolution. Encyclopedia of Life Sciences. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, in press. [abstract]

Ting N, Tosi, AJ, Li Y, Zhang Y-P, Disotell TR. Phylogenetic incongruence between nuclear and mitochondrial markers in the Asian colobines and the evolutiona of the langurs and leaf monkeys. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 46:466-474, 2008. [abstract]

Disotell TR, Tosi AJ. The monkey's perspective. Genome Biology 8:226, 2007. [abstract]

Disotell TR. Phylogenetic Relationships (Biomolecules). in Henke W, Tattersall I (eds). Handbook of Paleoanthropology, Vol. 3: Phylogeny of Hominids. Berlin: Springer-Verlag, 2007. [book abstract]

Listman JB, Malison RT, Sughondhabirom A, Yang BZ, Raaum RL, Thavichachart N, Sanichwankul K, Kranzler HR, Tangwonchai S, Mutirangura A, Disotell TR, Gelernter J. Demographic changes and marker properties affect detection of human population differentiation. BMC Genetics 8:21, 2007. [abstract]

Xing J, Wang H, Zhang Y, Ray DA, Tosi AJ, Disotell TR, Batzer MA. A Mobile Element Based Evolutionary History of Guenons (Tribe Cercopithecini). BMC Biology 5:5, 2007. [abstract]

Disotell TR. 'Chumanzee' evolution: the urge to diverge and merge. Genome Biology 7:240, 2006. [abstract]

Gonder MK, Disotell TR, Oates JF. New genetic evidence on the evolution of chimpanzee populations and implications for taxonomy. International Journal of Primatology 27:1103-1127, 2006. [abstract]

Gonder MK, Disotell TR. Contrasting Phylogeographic Histories of Chimpanzees in Nigeria and Cameroon: A Multi-Locus Genetic Analysis. in Lehman SM and Fleagle J (eds). Primate Biogeography: Progess and Perspectives. New York: Springer, 2006. [book abstract]

Sterner KN, Raaum RL, Zhang Y-P, Stewart C-B, Disotell TR. Mitochondrial Data Support an Odd-Nosed Colobine Clade. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 40:1-7, 2006. [abstract]

Sutton WK, Knight A, Underhill PA, Neulander JS, Disotell TR, Mountain JL. Toward resolution of the debate regarding purported crypto-Jews in a Spanish-American population: evidence from the Y-chromosome. Annals of Human Biology 33:100-111, 2006. [abstract]

Xing J, Wang H, Han K, Ray DA, Huang CH, Chemnick LG, Stewart C-B, Disotell TR, Ryder OA, Batzer MA. A Mobile Element Based Phylogeny of Old World Monkeys. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 37:872-80, 2005. [abstract]

Tosi AJ, Detwiler KM, Disotell TR. Y-chromosomal markers suitable for non-invasive studies of guenon hybridization. International Journal of Primatology 36:58-66, 2005. [abstract]

Raina SZ, Faith JJ, Disotell TR, Seligmann H, Stewart CB, Pollock DD. Evolution of base-substiution gradients in primate mitochondrial genomes. Genome Research 15:665-673, 2005. [abstract]

Raaum RL, Sterner KN, Noviello CM, Disotell TR, Stewart C-B. Catarrhine Primate Divergence Dates Estimated from Complete Mitochondrial Genomes: Concordance with Fossil and Nuclear DNA Evidence. Journal of Human Evolution 48:237-257, 2005. [abstract]

Tosi AJ, Melnick DJ, Disotell TR. Sex chromosome phylogenetics indicate a single transition to terrestriality in the guneons (tribe Cercopithecini). Journal of Human Evolution 46:223-237, 2004. [abstract]

Wildman DE, Bergman TJ, al-Aghbari A, Sterner, KN, Newman TK, Phillips-Conroy JE, Jolly CJ, Disotell TR. Mitochondrial Evidence for the Origin of Hamadryas Baboons. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 32:287-296, 2004. [abstract]

Disotell TR. Primates: phylogenetics. Encyclopedia of the Human Genome. London: Nature Publishing Group, 2003. [abstract]

Disotell TR. Modern humans: origin and evolution. Encyclopedia of the Human Genome. London: Nature Publishing Group, 2003. [abstract]

Disotell TR. Humans: archaic and modern. Encyclopedia of the Human Genome. London: Nature Publishing Group, 2003. [abstract]

Rapp, R, Disotell TR. Teaching Four Fields: Gene Therapy for General Anthropology. General Anthropology 9:1-10, 2003.

Grubb P, Butynski TM, Oates JF, Bearder SK, Disotell TR, Groves CP, Struhsaker TT. An Assessment of the diversity of African primates. International Journal of Primatology24:1301-1358, 2003. [abstract]

Disotell TR. Discovering human history from stomach bacteria. Genome Biology 4:213.1-213.4, 2003. [abstract]

Telfer PT, Souquiere S, Clifford SL, Abernathy KA, Bruford MW, Disotell TR, Sterner KN, Roques P, Marx PA, Wickings EJ. Molecular evidence for deep phylogenetic divergence in Mandrillus sphinx. Molecular Ecology 12:2019-2024, 2003. [abstract]

Tosi AJ, Disotell TR, Morales JC, Melnick DJ. Cercopithecine Y-chromosome data provide a test of competing morphological evolutionary hypotheses. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 27:510-521, 2003. [abstract]

Disotell TR and Raaum R. Molecular Timescale and Gene Tree Incongruence in the Guenons. in Glenn ME and Cords M (eds). The Guenons: Diversity and Adaptation in African Monkeys. New York: Plenum, 2003. [book abstract]

Oates JF, McFarland KL, Groves JL, Bergl RA, Linder JM, Disotell TR. The Cross River Gorilla: The natural history and status of a neglected and crtitically endagered subspecies. in Taylor A and Goldsmith M (eds). Gorilla Biology: A Multidisciplinary Perspective. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002. [abstract]

Disotell TR. Biological Anthropology and Race.  Ann N Y Acad Sci. 925:9-24, 2000. [abstract]

Disotell TR. Human genomic variation. Genome Biology 1:2004.1-2004.3, 2000. [abstract]

Disotell TR. Molecular Systematics of Old World Monkeys. in Whitehead, PF and Jolly, CJ (eds). Old World Monkeys. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2000. [book abstract]

Hey J, Harris EE, Disotell TR. Origins of modern humans still look recent [Correspondence]. Current Biology 10: R8-9, 2000.

Disotell TR. Human evolution: The southern route to Asia. Current Biology 9: R925-R928. 1999. [abstract]

Disotell TR. Human evolution: Origins of modern humans still look recent. Current Biology 9:R647-R650, 1999. [abstract]

Moya-Sola S, Kohler M, Alba, DM, Stewart C-B, Disotell TR. Primate evolution - in and out of Africa [Correspondence]. Current Biology 9:R547-550, 1999.

Jablonski NG, Zhang Y, Ryder OA, Stewart C-B, Disotell TR. Primate evolution - in and out of Africa [Correspondence]. Current Biology 9:R119-122, 1999.

Szmulewicz MN, Andino LM, Reategui EP, Woolley-Barker T, Jolly CJ, Disotell TR, Herrera RJ. An Alu insertion polymorphism in a baboon hybrid zone. American Journal of Physical Anthropolog 109:1-8, 1999. [abstract]

Melnick DJ, Disotell TR, Morales JC. Molecular Phylogenetic Studies of Nonhuman Primates. in Fuentes A and Dolhinow P (eds). The Nonhuman Primates. Mountain View: Mayfield Press. 1999. [abstract]

Disotell TR. Sex-specific contributions to genome variation. Current Biology. 9: R29-R31, 1999. [abstract]

Miyamoto MM, Young TS, Ward C, Zihlman AL, Lowenstein JM, Groves C, Covert H, Stewart C-B, Disotell TR. Primate evolution - in and out of Africa. Current Biology 8:R745-6; discussion 746-8, 1998.

Stewart C-B, Disotell, TR. Primate evolution - In and out of Africa Current Biology 8:R582-R587, 1998. [abstract]

Skryabin BV, Kremerskothen J, Vassilacopoulou D, Disotell TR, Kapitonov VV, Jurka J, Brosius J. BC200 RNA gene and its neural expression is conserved in the Anthropoidea (Primates). Journal of Molecular Evolution 47:677-685, 1998. [abstract]

Harris EE, and Disotell TR. Nuclear Gene Trees and the Phylogeny of Mangabeys (Primates: Papionini). Molecular Biology and Evolution 15:892-900, 1998. [abstract]

Jolly CJ, Woolley-Barker T, Disotell TR, Beyene S, Phillips-Conroy JE. Intergeneric Hybrid Baboons, International Journal of Primatology 18:597-627, 1997. [abstract]

Gonder K, Oates JF, Disotell TR, Forstner MJ, Morales JC, Melnick DJ. A new west African chimpanzee subspecies? Nature 388:337, 1997. [abstract]

Disotell TR. The Phylogeny of Old World Monkeys. Evolutionary Anthropology 5:18-24, 1996. [abstract]

Adkins RM, Honeycutt RL, Disotell, TR. Evolution of Eutherian Cytochrome cOxidase Subunit II: Heterogeneous Rates of Protein Evolution and Altered Interaction with Cytochrome c. Molecular Biology and Evolution. 13:1393-1404,1996. [abstract]

Jolly CJ, Oates JF, Disotell TR. Chimpanzee Kinship (Letters). Science 268:185-186, 1995. [abstract]

Ruvolo M, Pan D, Zehr S, Goldberg T, Disotell TR, von Dornum M. Gene Trees and Hominoid Phylogeny. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 91:8900-8904, 1994. [abstract]

Disotell TR. Generic Level Relationships of the Papionini (Cercopithecoidea). American Journal of Physical Anthropology 94:47-57, 1994. [abstract]

Disotell TR, Zehr SM, Ruvolo M. Double-Stranded Dideoxy Sequencing From "Dirty" DNA - Done In A Day. BioTechniques 13(1):48-49, 1992. [abstract]

Disotell TR, Honeycutt RL, Ruvolo M. Mitochondrial DNA Phylogeny of the Old World Monkey Tribe Papionini. Molecular Biology and Evolution 9(1):1-13, 1992. [abstract]

Ruvolo M, Disotell TR, Allard MW, Brown WM, Honeycutt RL. Resolution of the African hominoid trichotomy by use of a mitochondrial gene sequence. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 88:1570-1574, 1991. [abstract]

Kennedy KAR, Deraniyagala SU, Roertgen WJ, Chiment J, and Disotell T. Upper Pleistocene Fossil Hominids From Sri Lanka. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 72:441-461, 1987. [abstract]

Kennedy KAR, Disotell T, Roertgen WJ, Chiment J, Sherry J. Biological anthropology of Upper Pleistocene Hominids from Sri Lanka: Batadomba Lena and Beli Lena Caves. Ancient Ceylon 6, 1986.

Kennedy KAR, Chiment J, Disotell T, Meyers D. Principal-Components Analysis of Prehistoric South Asian Crania. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 64:105-118, 1984. [abstract]

Grants

Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research: Timing the Primate Colonization of Bioko Island Through the Use of Multiple Molecular Markers, $22,500, 2008-2009.

NSF: Molecular Systematics of the Mangabeys (Cercocebus and Lophocebus), with AJ Tosi (Co-PI), $209,814, 2007-2008.

NSF: Doctoral Disseration Improvement. Primate Innate Immune Defense and Adaptation to SIV/HIV Infection, for KN Sterner, $9789, 2007

NSF: Doctoral Dissertation Improvement. Genetic Marker Bias Effects on Inferences of Human Evolutionary History, for JB Listman, $10,023, 2006-2007.

NSF: Collective action, reciprocity and kinship in blue monkey society, with M Cords (PI), $301,311, 2006-2009.

NYU Research Challenge Award, Macaque Evolution and Malarial Genetics, $10,000, 2005-2006.

NSF: Doctoral Disseration Improvement. Molecular systematics of red colobus monkeys (Procolobus: Primates, Cercopithecidae), with E Delson, J Oates, for N Ting, $8,500, 2005-2006.

NSF: Doctoral Disseration Improvement. Phylogenetic relationships and gene flow among southern African baboons, with Cliff Jolly, for AS Burrell, $5,600, 2005.

NSF: Acquisition of a Molecular Primatology DNA Analysis System, $428,560 ($299,992 NSF + $128,508 NYU), 2004-2005.

NSF: Doctoral Disseration Improvement. Nucleotide Substitution Rate Variation in the Catarrhini (Order Primates), for RL Raam, $9,800, 2003-2004.

NYU Research Challenge Award, Phylogenetically based genetic database for New World Monkeys, with A DiFiore, $9,500, 2002-2003.

NIH R24GM065580: Mitochondrial-nuclear gene co-evolution and adaptation, with C-B Stewart (PI), LI Grossman, M Goodman, DD Pollock. $1,502,851 total project / $262,429 NYU subcontract, 2002-2006.

NSF: Dissertation Research. Genetic Transposition of Baboon Endogenous Virus (BaEV) in Hybrid Old World Monkeys (Primates: Papionini) for Eva Monica Uddin with C Jolly, $4800, 2001.

NIH RO1GM060760: Molecular Phylogeny of Old World Monkey Host Species, with C-B Stewart (PI), $1,100,125 total project / $542,698 NYU subcontract, 2000-2005.

NSF: Interdepartmental Genetic Analysis Facility, with D Fitch, N Kallenbach, R Borowsky, and E Chang, $115,045, 1998.

NYU Research Challenge Award, Ancient DNA Extraction Facility, $5,000, 1998.

NSF: Dissertation Research. Evolutionary Genetics of Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) in Nigeria and Cameroon for MK Gonder with J Oates, $12,000, 1997-1999.

NSF: Research Experience for Undergraduates Supplement. Molecular Evolution of Old World Monkeys, $4,000, 1997.

NSF: Genetic Structure of a Primate Hybrid Zone with C Jolly and J Phillips-Conroy, $403,707, 1997-2000.

NSF: SBER Equipment Grant. Automated Molecular Anthropological analysis with C Jolly, $44,800, 1996.

NSF: Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Grant. Molecular Evolution of Old World Monkeys: Research and Instruction, $197,895, 1995-2000.

NSF: Dissertation Research. Molecular Phylogeny of the Mangabeys for E Harris, $9000, 1995-1997.

NYU Whitehead Fellowship: Phylogeny of HIV/SIV receptor genes in Old World Monkeys, $15,000 1995.

NYU Curriculum Challenge Award, $5000, 1993-1994.

Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research Predoctoral Small Grant, $4000, 1990-1991.

NSF Doctoral Dissertation Award with M Ruvolo, $10,000, 1989-1990.

NSF Graduate Fellowship, 1985-1988.

Graduate Advisors

David Pilbeam, Harvard University

Rodney Honeycutt, Pepperdine University