My primary area of interest is evolutionary morphology, with the major focus on the form, function, development, and evolution of the vertebrate musculo-skeletal system. I employ phylogenetic principles and methods from several traditional fields of study (including anatomy, physiology, biomechanical engineering, evolutionary biology, and vertebrate paleontology) to address unique evolutionary questions that are not surmountable within any one discipline. In my current research I am studying:

1. means to assess longevity and growth rates in extinct and living reptiles (e.g. dinosaurs, crocodilians using skeletal growth markers and the use of these data for inferring heterochronic patterns,
2. crocodilian feeding biomechanics through bite-force experimentation,
3. how changes in the biomechanical structure and properties of tooth enamel (strength, wear resistance, fracture toughness) have facilitated changes in feedi ng capacities during vertebrate evolution,
4. the lives of dinosaurs using trace fossil evidence (bite marks, stomach and coprolite contents, tooth wear patterns).