I am a palaeoanthropologist, and my research is primarily focused on understanding the evolution of bipedalism and reconstructing locomotion among early fossil human relatives (hominins).
My lab uses analysis of skeletal morphology in combination with biomechanical studies to explore the functional morphology of the human and ape skeleton and reconstruct locomotor and tool use behaviour of fossil hominins. This research is largely focused on understanding how behaviour shapes the skeleton, and how we can use plastic features to reconstruct locomotor behaviour in the past. Key areas of ongoing research include the functional morphology of the foot, how the skeleton changes during growth, and inter- and intra-specific variability in internal bone morphology.
I was awarded my Ph.D. from Leipzig University and completed postdoctoral research at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (2018-2021) and the University of Kent (2022-2023).
Please email me if you are interested in working in my lab, applications are welcome from potential undergraduate interns, graduate students and postdoctoral researchers.
Leipzig University and Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
Germany
PhD - Biology
2018
University College London
UK
MSc - Human Evolution and Behaviour
2012
University of Cambridge
UK
BA - Natural Sciences
2009
Cortical bone architecture of hominid intermediate phalanges reveals functional signals of locomotion and manipulation.
Cortical bone architecture of hominid intermediate phalanges reveals functional signals of locomotion and manipulation. Am J Biol Anthropol. 2024 May; 184(1):e24902.
PMID: 38400773
Cortical bone distribution of the proximal phalanges in great apes: implications for reconstructing manual behaviours.
Cortical bone distribution of the proximal phalanges in great apes: implications for reconstructing manual behaviours. J Anat. 2023 11; 243(5):707-728.
PMID: 37358024
Ontogenetic changes to metacarpal trabecular bone structure in mountain and western lowland gorillas.
Ontogenetic changes to metacarpal trabecular bone structure in mountain and western lowland gorillas. J Anat. 2022 07; 241(1):82-100.
PMID: 35122239
Ontogeny and variability of trabecular bone in the chimpanzee humerus, femur and tibia.
Ontogeny and variability of trabecular bone in the chimpanzee humerus, femur and tibia. Am J Phys Anthropol. 2018 12; 167(4):713-736.
PMID: 30159927
Systemic patterns of trabecular bone across the human and chimpanzee skeleton.
Systemic patterns of trabecular bone across the human and chimpanzee skeleton. J Anat. 2018 04; 232(4):641-656.
PMID: 29344941
Trabecular and cortical bone structure of the talus and distal tibia in Pan and Homo.
Trabecular and cortical bone structure of the talus and distal tibia in Pan and Homo. Am J Phys Anthropol. 2017 08; 163(4):784-805.
PMID: 28542704
Human evolution. Response to Comment on "Human-like hand use in Australopithecus africanus".
Human evolution. Response to Comment on "Human-like hand use in Australopithecus africanus". Science. 2015 Jun 05; 348(6239):1101.
PMID: 26045429
Human evolution. Human-like hand use in Australopithecus africanus.
Human evolution. Human-like hand use in Australopithecus africanus. Science. 2015 Jan 23; 347(6220):395-9.
PMID: 25613885
Trabecular bone structure correlates with hand posture and use in hominoids.
Trabecular bone structure correlates with hand posture and use in hominoids. PLoS One. 2013; 8(11):e78781.
PMID: 24244359