People

I am an Assistant Professor of Biology at Fairfield University interested in how evolution has shaped the remarkable sensory systems that allow us to move, perceive, and communicate. My lab studies the interplay of structural constraints, developmental processes, and adaptive pressures that influence the form and function of these systems, and how they ultimately shape human perception and behavior.

Our current research centers on the inner ear and vocal anatomy of primates and other mammals, using living species to establish an evolutionary foundation to interpret the fossil record. We integrate 3D imaging, digital reconstruction, morphometrics, phylogenetic analysis, biomechanics, and fossil evidence to investigate how changes in sensory and communicative anatomy relate to major transitions in human evolution. These include the evolution of bipedalism, spatial orientation, hearing, and vocal communication.