Research

I am interested in the evolution of humans and our closest relatives, apes and monkeys. My research focuses on fossils from East and South Africa, primarily Kenya. I take a mechanical approach to the interpretation of the postcranial skeleton, and use these principles to reconstruct the behavior of extinct animals. My overall research goal is to understand human origins.

One of my current areas of research involves studying a great radiation of apes that lived in the early Miocene (about 18 million years ago), out of which came human ancestors. I am currently describing new fossils of Rudapithecus hungaricus from Rudabanya, Hungar, Australopithecus afarensis from Hadar and Dikika, Ethopia, A. anamensis from Kanapoi, Kenya, as well as postcranial remains of hominins dated from 2.0-1.5 Ma from Kenya. I am preparing a monograph describing all of the postcranial remains from Koobi Fora, Kenya, along with several collaborators. I study not only their locomotion, but am interested in their jaw structure and patterns of body size and canine sexual dimorphism as well.

Working with Dr. Mike Plavcan and his colleagues at the Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies at the University of Arkansas, I am using novel non-landmarked based 3D analyses of continuous laser scan data to quantify shapes in damaged specimens and of complex surfaces, and to study comparative functioanl morphology in ways not previously possible. We are applying these techniques to the Koobi Fora hominins as well as to the pelvis of Rudapithecus. These projects are funded by the LSB Leakey Foundation and the Wenner Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research.

I am funded by the National Science Foundation to study the evolution of the hominoid torso. This project involves quantifyin thoracic and whole torso shape of extant primates from 3D reconstructions of CT scan data, and comparing that with landmark data from the pelvis, ribs, vertebrae sternum, clavicle and scapula to discern how torsos vary among anthropoids, and how much integration there is among these elements. These data will inform us about interpreting similaritive and differences in body plan in hominoids known from relatively few elements, providing us with a more solid basis for intpreting the evolution of the torso and locomotion in hominoids.

On a smaller scale, I also am currently collaborating with orthopedic surgeons and an engineer to use three dimensional image analysis and finite element modeling to study the spinal mechanics as well as femoral instrumentation design. I am also embarking on a new collaborative research project to study the effects of mechanical loads on the ontogeny of joint size and shape under the chondral modeling theory.

I teach anatomy to undergraduate, medical, physical and occupational therapy students. I also advise graduate students, in the past through the Department of Anthropology, and soon through the Integrative Anatomy group in the Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences

Research in Progress

• Torso morphology and evolution in hominoids New Koobi Fora hominin postcranial fossils, and analysis of size and shape in all fossils from the sample (with JM Plavcan, F Kirera, M Leakey, F Spoor)
• Koobi Fora postcranial fossils monograph (with L Hlusko, A Walker & C Ruff)
• A new pelvis of Rudapithecus from Rudabanya, Hungary (with D Begun & L Kordos)
• New Australopithecus anamensis fossils from Kanapoi, Kenya (with FK Manthi) Novel 3D analytic methods for quantifying pelvic form (with JM Plavcan & J Cothran)
• Sexual dimorphism in canine tooth crown and root proportions and facial morphology in anthropoids (with JM Plavcan)
• Novel intramedullary nail design for femoral fractures (with J Arnone, G Della Rocca, B Crist, S Al-Gizawy)
• Three-dimensional image analysis and finite element modeling of lumbar spinal mechanics & dynamic anatomy (with F Pfeiffer, D Smith, D Alander & J Parker)
• Effect of exercise on articular and diaphyseal morphology in mice and swine (with A Hammond, B Grosdidier, J Plochocki, C Phillips, J Organ, M Drapeau, M Streeter, T Nalley, K Barker, MJ Ravosa, K Congdon)
• Re-assessment of hominoid phylogeny (with D Begun, A Deane & K Barker)
• Description and analysis of large-bodied Plio-Pleistocene colobines from Kenya (with A Hammond, N Ting, S Frost & M Leakey)

Field Experience

• 2005 Paleontological survey, Croatia, with international team from National Museums Croatia and University of Toronto, exploring sedimentary deposits to identify fossiliferous localities likely to yield fossils of Miocene apes
• 2004 Paleontological fieldwork, Felsötarkàny, Hungary, with team from the Hungarian Geologic Survey and University of Toronto, excavating Miocene mammal locality
• 1990 Paleontological field work, Koobi Fora project, Koobi Fora, Kenya, excavating fossils of Australopithecus boisei
• 1990 Paleontological field work, West Turkana project, Lothagam, Kenya, surveying and excavating 6 million year old mammalian fossils
• 1985 Contract Archeology, Center for American Archeology, Kampsville, IL
  

Research Grants, Awards and Honors

• 2009-2010 LSB Leakey Foundation, “Novel 3D analysis of Koobi Fora hominin postcranial fossils,” $18,980 (JM Plavcan, co-PI)
• 2009-2010 Wenner-Gren Foundation Conference Grant, “Description and interpretation of hominin postcranial fossils from Sterkfontein, South Africa,” $15,000 (B Richmond and B Zipfel, co-organisers)
• 2009-2010 Ford Foundation Conference Grant, “Description and interpretation of hominin postcranial fossils from Sterkfontein, South Africa,” $17,500 (B Richmond and B Zipfel, co-organisers)
• 2009-2010 University of Missouri Research Board, “Novel femoral intramedullary nail design,” $22,000 (G Della Rocca, B Crist, Y Murtha, S El-Gizawy, co-PIs)
• 2009-2010 Wenner-Gren Foundation, “Novel 3D analysis of Koobi Fora hominin postcranial fossils,” $17,785 (JM Plavcan, co-PI)
• 2008-2009 LSB Leakey Foundation, “The pelvis of Dryopithecus fontani: novel 3D analysis of an incomplete fossil,” $15,000 (JM Plavcan, co-PI)
• 2008-2010 National Science Foundation, “Torso morphology and evolution in hominoids,” $199,476.
• 2006-Present Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science
• 2005 Wenner-Gren Foundation, “Canine root and crown proportions in anthropoids,” $24,990 (J. M. Plavcan, co-PI).
• 2005 University of Missouri-Columbia Research Council, Summer Research Fellowship: “Canine root and crown proportions in anthropoids,” $5000 summer salary.
• 2005 University of Missouri-Columbia College of Engineering Research Initiation Funds, “Biomechanics of the Spine,” $15,800 (D.E. Smith, co-PI).
• 2005 University of Missouri-Columbia Research Council, “Miocene Paleontologic Fieldwork in Croatia,” $5,200.
• 2004 DePuy Corporation, “Clinical significance of lumbosacral transitional vertebrae,” $8,500 (J. Parker, co-PI).
• 2003-2004 Sigma Xi Distinguished Lecturer.
• 2002 University of Missouri Research Council, "Finite Element Scaling Analysis of the Chondral Modeling Hypothesis," $1200 (D. Smith, co-PI).
• 2000 University of Missouri-Columbia Research Council, Research Leave and travel funds.
• 1998-1999 University of Missouri System Research Board, "Limb strength and locomotion in the earliest hominids".
• 1996-1999 National Science Foundation Grant, "New postcranial fossils of Australopithecus afarensis and A. anamensis".
• 1993-1995 University of Missouri System Research Board, "Giant cercopithecids from the African Plio-Pleistocene".
• 1992-1993 University of Missouri-Columbia Research Council, "Effect of a loss of lumbar vertebrae in human evolution".
• 1992 University of Missouri-Columbia Research Council, Summer Research Fellowship.
• 1991-1992 L.S.B. Leakey Foundation, "Comparative functional anatomy of Afropithecus and Proconsul postcrania".
• 1991-1992 University of Missouri-Columbia Research Council, "Evolution of human spinal mechanics".
• 1989-1990 National Science Foundation Dissertation Improvement Grant.
• 1989-1990 Boise Fund Grant.
• 1989-1990 L.S.B. Leakey Foundation Grant.
• 1989 Sigma Xi Grant-In-Aid of Research.
• 1986-1990 Lucille P. Markey Charitable Trust Fellowship, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, full stipend.

 
Current Students
 

Contact Web Editor

Web Credits