SC Connecticut News

Yale evolutionary biologist Martha Muñoz has been named a 2024 MacArthur fellow, recognized for her work on the "brakes and motors" of evolution in reptiles, amphibians, and fishes. The fellowship, often referred to as the "genius" grant, is awarded annually by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to individuals with a track record of excellence across various fields.

The fellowship provides each recipient with an $800,000 stipend over five years to pursue their creative and professional interests. Recipients are nominated anonymously by leaders in their fields and evaluated by an anonymous selection committee.

Muñoz, an assistant professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at Yale University and assistant curator of Vertebrate Zoology at the Yale Peabody Museum, is noted for her research into how behavior and biomechanics affect evolutionary processes. Her study on tropical anole lizards revealed that behavioral differences allow these lizards to adapt to different thermal environments without significant physiological changes.

“Dr. Muñoz is an integrative evolutionary biologist whose research focuses on the ‘pacemakers’ of evolution,” said Professor David Vasseur, chair of Yale’s Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology. “Her work is essential for understanding how evolution has shaped contemporary species and predicting their responses to future environmental changes.”

Muñoz's research integrates field observations with lab-based analysis to understand why some organisms evolve rapidly while others remain unchanged for long periods. She discovered that mountain-dwelling lizards developed shorter hind legs and flatter skulls due to behavioral adaptations rather than physiological changes.

In another line of research, Muñoz found that biomechanical principles influence evolutionary rates in jointed systems like the mantis shrimp's raptorial appendage. She demonstrated that small changes in one component could significantly impact the overall function.

Currently, Muñoz's lab is studying plethodontid salamanders in the Appalachian Mountains to better understand behavior's role in evolutionary diversification.

Also honored this year was Dorothy Roberts ’77, a legal scholar at the University of Pennsylvania known for her work on racial inequities in health and social service systems. Roberts' scholarship includes books such as “Killing the Black Body” (1997) and “Torn Apart” (2022), which examine reproductive justice and child welfare system disparities.

“By uncovering the complex forces underlying social systems... Roberts creates opportunities to imagine more equitable ways to ensure child and family safety,” wrote the foundation.