I am interested in human evolution in general, and specifically in the events surrounding the origin and diversification of early hominins in the Mio-Pliocene and how these processes were shaped by underlying environmental and ecological factors. The big questions my research seeks to explore concern the evolutionary history of the earliest human ancestors subsequent to the human-ape split about 7 million years ago. I attempt to discern phylogenetic relationships and patterns of species diversity among early hominins by deciphering their anatomical, behavioral, locomotor, and dietary adaptations. Yet, the paleobiology of these early hominins cannot be fully understood without comprehending the paleoenvironmental and paleoecological context within which these evolutionary processes took place. Hence the need to understand their biotic and abiotic environments by studying the associated fauna, which is another important aspect of my research. I am also interested in the evolutionary history of the non-human primates (cercopithecidae) that are often encountered in Plio-Pleistocene hominin sites.
To accomplish these goals I undertake the following:
Fieldwork: Discovery of hominin and nonhuman fossils by leading an international and multidisciplinary field project at Plio-Pleistocene sites;
Laboratory work: Preparation, curation, and analysis of original extant and fossil primates, including hominin remains, at various museums around the world;
Analytical work: Application of recent imaging and visualization techniques to investigate internal and external fossil anatomies;
Faunal study: Fossil faunal analysis to explore environmental and ecological factors affecting human and primate evolution.
Check out Zeray's Ted talk entitled "The Search for Humanity's Roots."
http://www.ted.com/talks/zeresenay_alemseged_looks_for_humanity_s_roots
University of Paris VI and National Museum of Natural History
Paris, France
PH.D - Paleoanthropology
1998
University of Montpellier II
Montpellier, France
M.SC - PALEONTOLOGY
1994
Cavilam de Vichy International School of Language
Vichy, France
DIP - FRENCH
1993
Addis Ababa University
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
B.SC - GEOLOGY
1990
Statistical estimates of hominin origination and extinction dates: A case study examining the Australopithecus anamensis-afarensis lineage.
Du A, Rowan J, Wang SC, Wood BA, Alemseged Z. Statistical estimates of hominin origination and extinction dates: A case study examining the Australopithecus anamensis-afarensis lineage. J Hum Evol. 2019 Nov 20; 138:102688.
PMID: 31759257
Comparative morphology and ontogeny of the thoracolumbar transition in great apes, humans, and fossil hominins.
Nalley TK, Scott JE, Ward CV, Alemseged Z. Comparative morphology and ontogeny of the thoracolumbar transition in great apes, humans, and fossil hominins. J Hum Evol. 2019 Sep; 134:102632.
PMID: 31446973
Temporal evidence shows Australopithecus sediba is unlikely to be the ancestor of Homo.
Du A, Alemseged Z. Temporal evidence shows Australopithecus sediba is unlikely to be the ancestor of Homo. Sci Adv. 2019 05; 5(5):eaav9038.
PMID: 31086821
A missing piece of the Papio puzzle: Gorongosa baboon phenostructure and intrageneric relationships.
Martinez FI, Capelli C, Ferreira da Silva MJ, Aldeias V, Alemseged Z, Archer W, Bamford M, Biro D, Bobe R, Braun DR, Habermann JM, Lüdecke T, Madiquida H, Mathe J, Negash E, Paulo LM, Pinto M, Stalmans M, Tátá F, Carvalho S. A missing piece of the Papio puzzle: Gorongosa baboon phenostructure and intrageneric relationships. J Hum Evol. 2019 May; 130:1-20.
PMID: 31010537
Connecting palaeoscientists in eastern Africa and the wider world.
Alemseged Z, Njau J, Pobiner B, Ndiema E. Connecting palaeoscientists in eastern Africa and the wider world. Nat Ecol Evol. 2019 03; 3(3):330-331.
PMID: 30718855
Diversity analysis of Plio-Pleistocene large mammal communities in the Omo-Turkana Basin, eastern Africa.
Du A, Alemseged Z. Diversity analysis of Plio-Pleistocene large mammal communities in the Omo-Turkana Basin, eastern Africa. J Hum Evol. 2018 11; 124:25-39.
PMID: 30153945
A nearly complete foot from Dikika, Ethiopia and its implications for the ontogeny and function of Australopithecus afarensis.
DeSilva JM, Gill CM, Prang TC, Bredella MA, Alemseged Z. A nearly complete foot from Dikika, Ethiopia and its implications for the ontogeny and function of Australopithecus afarensis. Sci Adv. 2018 07; 4(7):eaar7723.
PMID: 29978043
Thoracic vertebral count and thoracolumbar transition in Australopithecus afarensis.
Ward CV, Nalley TK, Spoor F, Tafforeau P, Alemseged Z. Thoracic vertebral count and thoracolumbar transition in Australopithecus afarensis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2017 06 06; 114(23):6000-6004.
PMID: 28533391
Dietary flexibility of Australopithecus afarensis in the face of paleoecological change during the middle Pliocene: Faunal evidence from Hadar, Ethiopia.
Wynn JG, Reed KE, Sponheimer M, Kimbel WH, Alemseged Z, Bedaso ZK, Campisano CJ. Dietary flexibility of Australopithecus afarensis in the face of paleoecological change during the middle Pliocene: Faunal evidence from Hadar, Ethiopia. J Hum Evol. 2016 10; 99:93-106.
PMID: 27650582
Reply to Almécija: A new direction for reconstructing our last common ancestor with chimpanzees.
Young NM, Capellini TD, Roach NT, Alemseged Z. Reply to Almécija: A new direction for reconstructing our last common ancestor with chimpanzees. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2016 Feb 23; 113(8):E945.
PMID: 26862164
Donald N. Pritzker Professorship
THE UNIVERSITY of CHICAGO
2018
EXPERT
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
2014
FELLOW
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION for the ADVANCEMENT of SCIENCE
2013
fellow
California Academy of Sciences
2011
Emerging Explorer
National Geographic Society
2004
Full Scholarship
Centre National des Oeuvres Universitaires
1993 - 1998