New York Institute of Technology

Faculty Member, Anatomy

Assistant Professor

New York College of Osteopathic Medicine

About

I'm a professor in the Anatomy Department of a large medical school (NYCOM) and have loved vertebrate paleontology and biomechanics since childhood. My father was a materials engineer, and I've always had a fascination with how animals and their tissues work. Growing up in Gainesville, FL, Miocene marine fossils were abundant in my backyard creek, and helped shape my interest in the evolution of aquatic vertebrates and the faunal history of eastern North America. My undergraduate advisor, David Webb, steered me to an interest in terrestrial artiodactyls, and my master's advisor, Daryl Domning, cultured my interest in Sirenia and Desmostylia. I've branched out a little since graduate school, and have recently spent more time studying cetaceans, otters, perissodactyls, and even multituberculates.

Research Interests - Mammalian Paleobiology. More specifically: Vertebrate transition from terrestrial to aquatic, particularly mammalian orders Sirenia and Desmostylia. Functional anatomy and histology, especially masticatory anatomy and mechanical properties of food tissues. Osteological correlates of soft tissues, and the testing of paleobiological inferences. Also, Tertiary artiodactyl groups (Protoceratidae, Camelidae, Antilocapridae, Palaeomerycidae) and their origins.

Contact Information