Overview
My primary areas of interest are the ontogeny of locomotion, trabecular bone remodeling, and the evolution and functional morphology of the hands and feet. I am interested in how forces incurred during locomotion influence the microarchitecture of trabecular bone. In particular, my research aims to 1) determine the magnitude and direction of forces that travel through bones during locomotion, 2) use advanced imaging techniques to identify evidence of ground reaction, muscle, and joint reaction forces as preserved in trabecular bone patterning, and 3) apply this method to the study of fossil hominins as an innovative way of reconstructing locomotor behavior in extinct species.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Evolutionary Anthropology
·
2021 - Present
Evolutionary Anthropology,
Trinity College of Arts & Sciences
Recent Publications
Biomechanical and morphological determinants of maximal jumping performance in callitrichine monkeys.
Journal Article J Exp Biol · September 15, 2024 Jumping is a crucial behavior in fitness-critical activities including locomotion, resource acquisition, courtship displays and predator avoidance. In primates, paleontological evidence suggests selection for enhanced jumping ability during their early evo ... Full text Link to item CiteVariable gearing at the ankle during walking in adults and young children: implications for foot development and evolution
Journal Article Frontiers in Earth Science · January 1, 2024 Introduction: The human foot has evolved over the past seven million years from a relatively mobile, grasping appendage to a highly derived structure with a heel pad and longitudinal arch that can absorb shock at heel strike and weight-bearing yet also fun ... Full text CiteVertical jumping agility as a key measure of performance in strepsirrhine primates
Conference AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY · 2024 CiteRecent Grants
Collaborative Research: Measuring Leaping Performance, Evaluating its Anatomical Correlates, and Reconsidering the Importance of Leaping in Primate Origins and Early Evolution
ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by National Science Foundation · 2021 - 2025Foot posture in orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) and the evolution of human heel strike?
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by L.S.B. Leakey Foundation · 2022 - 2025Biomechanics of humeral curvature in the evolution of primate locomotion
ResearchCo-Principal Investigator · Awarded by L.S.B. Leakey Foundation · 2022 - 2023View All Grants
Education, Training & Certifications
University of Texas, Austin ·
2013
Ph.D.