Adam van Casteren
Group leader
Department of Human Origins
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
Deutscher Platz 6
04103 Leipzig
phone: +49 (0) 341 3550 857
e-mail:
adam_van_casteren@[>>> Please remove the text! <<<]eva.mpg.de
Research Interests
Adam’s research is focused on evolutionary and ecological biomechanics. He is fascinated by how the physical world has influenced the evolutionary trajectory of humans and our closest primate relatives. Adam is an enquiry driven scientist who has used experimental biomechanics in both the laboratory and the field to investigate a diverse array of topics including: primate locomotion, primate feeding biomechanics, the mechanics of dental microwear and masticatory energetics.
Curriculum Vita
Academic Positions
| 2023– Present | Group Leader – Human and Ape Biomechanics Department of Human Origins, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Germany. |
| 2022 – 2023 | Research Associate The School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, UK. |
| 2018 – 2020 | Lecturer Department of Anthropology, Washington University in Saint Louis, USA |
| 2014 – 2018 | Postdoctoral Research Fellow Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Germany. |
| 2013 – 2014 | Postdoctoral Research Fellow Dental Faculty, Kuwait University, Kuwait. |
Education
| 2008 – 2012 | PhD, University of Manchester, UK, Thesis title: “The mechanical behaviour of trees in relation to Orangutan locomotion and nest building”. |
| 2007 – 2008 | Biomechanics MSc, University of Manchester, UK. |
| 2004 – 2007 | Zoology BSc (Hons), University of Manchester, UK. |