Dr Robin Morrison
rmorrison@gorillafund.org
EDUCATION
PhD in Biological Anthropology
Darwin College, University of Cambridge 2015 – 2019
Thesis: Western gorilla social structure and inter-group dynamics
Supervisors: Dr Jacob Dunn and Dr Peter Walsh, co-supervisor: Dr Magdalena Bermejo
BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences (Evolutionary Biology), First Class
University of Edinburgh 2010-2014
PhD in Biological Anthropology
Darwin College, University of Cambridge 2015 – 2019
Thesis: Western gorilla social structure and inter-group dynamics
Supervisors: Dr Jacob Dunn and Dr Peter Walsh, co-supervisor: Dr Magdalena Bermejo
BSc (Hons) Biological Sciences (Evolutionary Biology), First Class
University of Edinburgh 2010-2014
ACADEMIC POSITIONS
2023 - 2027 Ambizione Research Fellow, University of Zurich
2019 - 2023 Post-doctoral Researcher, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund
2019 - 2023 Honorary Research Fellow, University of Exeter
2017 Interim Site Manager, Mbeli Bai Study, Wildlife Conservation Society
2014 – 2015 Junior Researcher, Ngaga Research Site
2023 - 2027 Ambizione Research Fellow, University of Zurich
2019 - 2023 Post-doctoral Researcher, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund
2019 - 2023 Honorary Research Fellow, University of Exeter
2017 Interim Site Manager, Mbeli Bai Study, Wildlife Conservation Society
2014 – 2015 Junior Researcher, Ngaga Research Site
PRIZES
2021 Ben Barres Spotlight Award from the journal eLife
2020 Napier Medal Biennial award from the Primate Society of Great Britain for the best PhD thesis in the last 2 years.
2018 Linda Mealey Award Biennial award from the International Society for Human Ethology to a junior scientist for new research in human ethology.
Charles A. Lockwood Prize Best student podium presentation at the Primate Society of Great Britain spring meeting.
2016 James F. Nacey Fellowship For doctoral field research from The Nacey Maggioncalda Foundation.
2015 Owen F. Aldis Award For graduate studies in human ethology from the International Society for Human Ethology.
2014 Ashworth Prize and Class Medal Best overall performance in the Evolutionary Biology honours programme at the University of Edinburgh.
2021 Ben Barres Spotlight Award from the journal eLife
2020 Napier Medal Biennial award from the Primate Society of Great Britain for the best PhD thesis in the last 2 years.
2018 Linda Mealey Award Biennial award from the International Society for Human Ethology to a junior scientist for new research in human ethology.
Charles A. Lockwood Prize Best student podium presentation at the Primate Society of Great Britain spring meeting.
2016 James F. Nacey Fellowship For doctoral field research from The Nacey Maggioncalda Foundation.
2015 Owen F. Aldis Award For graduate studies in human ethology from the International Society for Human Ethology.
2014 Ashworth Prize and Class Medal Best overall performance in the Evolutionary Biology honours programme at the University of Edinburgh.
PEER REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
(8) Morrison, RE., Eckardt W., Stoinski TS., Rosenbaum, S (2023) Cumulative early-life adversity does not predict reduced adult longevity in wild gorillas. Current Biology . doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2023.04.051
(7) Morrison, RE., Hirwa JP., Ndagijimana F., Vecellio V., Eckardt W., Stoinski TS. (2022) Cascading effects of social dynamics on the reproduction, survival, and population growth of mountain gorillas. Animal Conservation. doi.org/10.1111/acv.12830
(6) Morrison, RE., Mushimiyimana, Y., Stoinski, TS., Eckardt, WE. (2021). Rapid transmission of respiratory infections within but not between mountain gorilla groups. Scientific Reports. doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-98969-8
(5) Morrison, RE., Eckardt, W., Colchero, F., Vecellio, V., Stoinski, TS. (2021). Social groups buffer maternal loss in mountain gorillas. ELife. elifesciences.org/articles/62939
(4) Morrison, RE., Hirwa, JP., Mucyo, JPS., Stoinski, TS., Vecellio, V., Eckardt, W. (2020). Inter-group relationships influence territorial defence in mountain gorillas. Journal of Animal Ecology. doi.org//10.1111/1365-2656.13355
(3) Morrison, RE., Eckardt, W., Stoinski, TS., Brent, LJN. (2020). Comparing measures of social complexity: larger mountain gorilla groups do not have a greater diversity of relationships. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2020.1026
(2) Morrison, RE., Dunn, J., Bermejo, M., Walsh, PD. (2020). Western gorilla space use suggests territoriality. Scientific Reports. doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-60504-6
(1) Morrison, RE., Groenenberg, M., Breuer, T., Manguette, M., Walsh, PD. (2019). Hierarchical Social Modularity in Gorillas. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2019.0681
(8) Morrison, RE., Eckardt W., Stoinski TS., Rosenbaum, S (2023) Cumulative early-life adversity does not predict reduced adult longevity in wild gorillas. Current Biology . doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2023.04.051
(7) Morrison, RE., Hirwa JP., Ndagijimana F., Vecellio V., Eckardt W., Stoinski TS. (2022) Cascading effects of social dynamics on the reproduction, survival, and population growth of mountain gorillas. Animal Conservation. doi.org/10.1111/acv.12830
(6) Morrison, RE., Mushimiyimana, Y., Stoinski, TS., Eckardt, WE. (2021). Rapid transmission of respiratory infections within but not between mountain gorilla groups. Scientific Reports. doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-98969-8
(5) Morrison, RE., Eckardt, W., Colchero, F., Vecellio, V., Stoinski, TS. (2021). Social groups buffer maternal loss in mountain gorillas. ELife. elifesciences.org/articles/62939
(4) Morrison, RE., Hirwa, JP., Mucyo, JPS., Stoinski, TS., Vecellio, V., Eckardt, W. (2020). Inter-group relationships influence territorial defence in mountain gorillas. Journal of Animal Ecology. doi.org//10.1111/1365-2656.13355
(3) Morrison, RE., Eckardt, W., Stoinski, TS., Brent, LJN. (2020). Comparing measures of social complexity: larger mountain gorilla groups do not have a greater diversity of relationships. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2020.1026
(2) Morrison, RE., Dunn, J., Bermejo, M., Walsh, PD. (2020). Western gorilla space use suggests territoriality. Scientific Reports. doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-60504-6
(1) Morrison, RE., Groenenberg, M., Breuer, T., Manguette, M., Walsh, PD. (2019). Hierarchical Social Modularity in Gorillas. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2019.0681
INVITED TALKS
University College London - University of Oxford - University of Chester - University of Exeter - University of Victoria
University of Cambridge - University of Rwanda - Anglia Ruskin University - Karisoke Research Center
Primate Society of Great Britain - Southern California Primate Research Forum
University College London - University of Oxford - University of Chester - University of Exeter - University of Victoria
University of Cambridge - University of Rwanda - Anglia Ruskin University - Karisoke Research Center
Primate Society of Great Britain - Southern California Primate Research Forum
