Prof. Wasserman’s research examines ecological and evolutionary relationships between wild primates and exogenous chemicals that interact with the endocrine system, including naturally-occurring phytosteroids and anthropogenic pesticides, with relevance to understanding the roles of endocrine disruptors in primate conservation, human evolution, and modern human morbidity, mortality, and reproduction. Specifically, this includes investigation of the prevalence of hormone-active chemicals, both naturally-occurring phytosteroids and anthropogenic endocrine-disrupting compounds, in the foods and environments of primates and how these chemicals influence physiology and behavior leading to differences in morbidity, mortality, and reproduction. His work also examines the effects of light pollution, ecotourism, research, forest fragmentation, and other ecological and anthropogenic factors on primates as measured by biomarkers of endocrine and immune functioning, the gut microbiome, and behavior.

Most of Dr. Wasserman’s research takes place at Kibale National Park in western Uganda, a tropical forest where he has worked since 2003, and in Costa Rica, where Wasserman first studied tropical ecology during a study abroad program in 2000. Funding from a National Science Foundation International Research Experience for Students (IRES) grant currently supports student research in Costa Rica, Panama, and Uganda.