Evan MacLean

Biography

Evan MacLean is an Associate Professor of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Arizona. He is the founder and Director the Arizona Canine Cognition Center. Dr. MacLean received his Ph.D. in Evolutionary Anthropology from Duke University in 2012, where he was a James B. Duke Fellow. His research integrates methods from evolutionary biology and comparative psychology to address questions about the mechanisms through which animals represent and reason about the world. He also conducts applied work investigating how research on dog behavior, cognition, genetics, and neuroendocrinology can improve the processes through which dogs are selected, bred, and trained for roles in society. In addition to his work on animal behavior and cognition, Dr. MacLean studies the biological mechanisms of human-animal-interaction, with a focus on the neuropeptides oxytocin and vasopressin. He has led diverse projects on these topics which have been supported by the National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense, AKC Canine Health Foundation, and the Waltham Petcare Science Institute. His work has been highlighted in a wide range of media outlets including The New York Times, Washington Post, National Public Radio, the BBC, and National Geographic. 

Degrees

• Ph.D. Evolutionary Anthropology
• Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States
• B.S. Psychology
• Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, United States