Zeresenay Alemseged is a leading discoverer and primary interpreter of new fossil evidence for the earliest phases of human evolution, with one of the most productive field-based research programs in paleoanthropology in the world. His research, encompassing vertebrate paleontology, human anatomy, comparative anatomy, phylogeny, archaeology, geology, geochronology, and paleoecology, has made unique contributions in three areas of paleoanthropology: childhood physical development in ancient prehistory, the environmental context of the earliest phases of human evolution, and the earliest human durable technology, a near-unique combination of fossil discovery, description, and integrative, multidisciplinary interpretation.