Paleoanthropology, Paleoneurology, Comparative Anatomy

My research program is aimed at understanding how and when key changes in primate sensory anatomy occurred during primate and anthropoid evolution. My approach uses comparative anatomy (via CT scans) and ecology of living animals as a reference to reconstruct the functional and adaptive implications of anatomical and behavioral changes in extinct species. Currently, this work centers on two primary areas of study: the semicircular canals of the inner ear and the evolution of the brain.  

I am also a field paleontologist with two research sites in Peru (Peruvian Amazonia) and Kenya (Maboko Island). These sites are aimed at recovering primate and vertebrate fossils during the Middle Miocene. Both localities document a critical period known as the Middle Miocene Climacic Optimum (MMCO), a brief period of global warming followed by a sharp drop in temperatures and increased aridification. At this time many modern taxa, including primates and rodents, make a first appearance. As part of this work, my lab has begun a large mass digitization project aimed at creating a 3-dimensional archive of fossils collected at both sites. The goal is to expand this part of the project into outreach workshops aimed at introducing free digital anatomy collections to rural communities and classrooms. 

Digital anatomy, CT imaging, Topographic analyses, Field survey and site excavation