Our lab focuses on the study of the relationship between variation in morphology and the physiological performance of complex mechanical systems. We are currently concentrating on the function and evolution of the vertebrate cranio-mandibular apparatus. Using a mix of experimental and computational approaches we seek to understand how biological function, such as skeletal movement, is modulated by muscle activation patterns as well as constrained by morphological features (e.g., skeletal morphology and/or ligaments). The relative importance of these factors are evaluated within phylogenetic and ecological contexts, to better understand the evolutionary consequences of morphological variation of complex systems. We are currently focusing on the function and evolution of the vertebrate cranio-mandibular apparatus, but we also study other complex system, such as the limiting mechanics to locomotor performance during terrestrial and aerial locomotion.
