RANDALL KYES, Ph.D


University of Washington

About Dr. Kyes

Dr. Kyes joined the University of Washington (UW) in 1993 following a Postdoctoral Fellowship at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and completion of his PhD in 1989 from the University of Georgia. Dr. Kyes is a Research Professor in the Department of Psychology and Adjunct Research Professor in the Departments of Global Health and Anthropology. He also is Founding Director of the university’s Center for Global Field Study, and Core Scientist and Head of the Division of Global Programs at the Washington National Primate Research Center. His research focuses on field-based studies of nonhuman primates and other wildlife in the areas of Conservation Biology and Global Health, at the human-environment interface.

All of Dr. Kyes’ research, teaching and service activities have a strong international focus. Since coming to the University of Washington, he has been responsible for helping to establish collaborative programs in a number of countries, including Indonesia, Nepal, China, Thailand, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mexico, and India, with developing programs in Brazil and Laos. These partnerships involve joint research and annual training programs (“field course in conservation biology & global health”) for local university students and professionals.

Dr. Kyes has worked in Indonesia for more than 25 years collaborating with Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) and their Primate Research Center (PSSP) as well as several other institutions including, Sam Ratulangi Univ., Udayana Univ., Gadjah Mada Univ., and a number of government offices and NGOs. He and his colleagues conduct annual field courses on Tinjil Island, Banten, Java (since 1990) and at the Tangkoko Nature Reserve, North Sulawesi (since 1998) which have provided training for over 400 Indonesian participants from more than 20 universities and organizations around Indonesia.

In 1995, Dr. Kyes established the International Field Study Program-Indonesia at the Univ. of Washington. This annual, month-long study abroad program in Indonesia (in collaboration with PSSP-IPB) provides field-based educational and research opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students from UW. The program is conducted on Tinijil Island in conjunction with the field course for Indonesian students thus allowing the students of both countries the opportunity for cultural exchange, language development, and future partnerships. To date, over 85 students from the U.S. have participated in this study abroad program. This program recently received a grant as part of the US-Indonesia Partnership Program (USIPP) from the IIE/U.S. State Dept. to help promote U.S. student participation during the 2012 program.