Expertise
Vertebrate evolution, paleontology, biomechanics, comparative anatomy, phenomics
Research Interests
My current research goal is to understand muscle function during feeding, and how this varies across species and behaviors. Using rodents as a model system, I combine data from live animal X-ray videos and isolated muscle experiments to link muscle physiology and mechanics to animal feeding performance.
Education
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) - University of Manchester
- Master of Science (M.Sc.) Palaeobiology - University of Bristol
- Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Natural Sciences - University of Cambridge
Biosketch
I am a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Biological Sciences at UMass Lowell (Principle Investigator: Associate Professor Nicolai Konow). Robert's background is in evolutionary biology, biomechanics and paleontology trying to answer the questions "how do animals work?” and “why do they look like that?" I use a combination of experimental and computational methods to address major questions in vertebrate biology, and understand major transitions in vertebrate evolution.