Conservation & Science Staff Bios

Matthew Heintz

  Research Associate
Lester E. Fisher Center for the Study and Conservation of Apes; Davee Center for Epidemiology and Endocrinology

Education

  • Ph.D. Candidate – Evolutionary Biology, University of Chicago
  • B.S. – Zoology, Michigan State University

Areas of Expertise

  • Animal behavior
  • Primatology
  • Endocrinology

About Matthew Heintz:

As an undergraduate at Michigan State University, Matthew spent two summers studying the behavior of Belding’s ground squirrels. Afterwards, he spent three years working as a research specialist for Lisa Parr, Ph.D., at Yerkes National Primate Research Center. During this time, he was involved in a range of experiments, including match-to-sample computerized tasks studying the social and emotional cognition of nonhuman primates.

Currently, Matthew is a graduate student in the Committee on Evolutionary Biology at the University of Chicago. His research is studying the immediate and long-term benefits of play behavior in chimpanzees. He is examining how levels of play influence (1) levels of stress, health and development (immediate benefits) and (2) stress, dominance and reproductive success (long-term benefits). His research is funded by the NSF Graduate Fellowship, Leakey Foundation and Wenner-Gren Foundation.

Publications

Santymire, R.,  E.W. Freeman, E. Lonsdorf, M. Heintz, and D. Armstrong. 2012. Assessment of adrenocortical activity after ACTH challenge in diverse African wildlife species. International Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances 4(2): 99-108.
Heintz, M.R., Santymire, R.M., Parr, L.A., Lonsdorf, E.V. 2011. Validation of cortisol enzyme immunoassay and characterization of salivary cortisol circadian rhythm in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). American Journal of Primatology, 73: 1-6.
Parr, L.A, Heintz, M., Lonsdorf, E.V., Wroblewski, E. 2010. Visual kin recognition in nonhuman primates: inbreeding avoidance or male distinctiveness. Journal of Comparative Psychology, 4: 343-350.