George Washington University, Department of Anthropology
Supervisor: Dr. Bernard Wood
Thesis title: Enamel-dentine junction morphology of extant hominoid and fossil hominin lower molars

Simon Fraser University, Department of Archaeology
Thesis title: Age-related changes to the intervertebral discs of the modern human sacrum

Junior Researcher, Dept. Human Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Dept. Human Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology

Selective Excellence Fellowship in Hominid Paleobiology ($23,000/year)

Cotlow Research Grant, Dept Anthropology, George Washington University ($1,600)

Cotlow Research Grant, Dept Anthropology, George Washington University ($2,100)

Graduate Fellowship, George Washington University ($18,000/year)

Open Undergraduate Tuition Scholarship, Simon Fraser University (Tuition funded)

Albert A. Dahlberg Prize 2007, Dental Anthropology Association ($200)

Chair’s Essay Prize, Department of Archaeology, Simon Fraser University ($150)

Richard P. Brolly Essay Prize, Simon Fraser University ($350)

Chair’s Essay Prize, Department of Archaeology, Simon Fraser University ($150)

Introduction to Biological Anthropology - George Washington University

Introduction to Biological Anthropology - George Washington University

Training in virtual anthropology and morphometrics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany (Student: Katherine E. Schroer, Doctoral candidate, George Washington University, Washington, USA)

Training in virtual anthropology and morphometrics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany (Student: Julia Kobbe, Master’s student, University of Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany)

Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany: Guest lecture

Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany: Guest lecture

Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada: Guest lecture

Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki, Finland: Guest lecture

Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada: Graduate Student Seminar

Taxonomic and phylogenetic signals in hominin tooth crown morphology: The current focus of this research is on using the morphology of the enamel-dentine junction of hominin teeth, measured through a geometric morphometric methodology, to investigate hominin taxonomy and hominin phylogenetics. Results to date indicate that EDJ morphology is an excellent source of data for not only determining to which species a tooth belongs to but also in confirming the tooth’s position within the dental arcade. Collaborators: Dr. Jean-Jacques Hublin, Dr. Fred Spoor (MPI-EVA), Dr. Bernard Wood (George Washington University), Dr. Zeresenay Alemseged (California Academy of Science), Dr. Jacopo Moggi-Cecchi (Università di Firenze), Dr Fred Grine (Stony Brook University), Dr. David Begun (University of Toronto)

Application of developmental models of tooth development to primate dentitions: Using recently developed models of tooth growth to interpret morphological variation in extant primate and fossil hominin teeth. Results to date indicate that models of cusp patterning developed on murine teeth are applicable to interpreting cusp patterning in primate teeth. Collaborators: Dr. Jukka Jernvall (Stony Brook University), Dr. Philipp Gunz (MPI-EVA)

Understanding the developmental basis of tooth crown morphology: Assessing the relative contribution of early and late processes of dental development to the formation of tooth crown morphology present at the outer enamel surface of primate teeth. Current findings suggest that the majority of crown morphology appears early in the development of the tooth. Collaborators: Dr. Jukka Jernvall (Stony Brook University), Dr. Alistair Evans (Monash University)

Trabecular architecture of the primate hand: A comparative investigation of internal bony morphology of the primate hand to assess variation in joint loading patterns and how this reflects differences in positional behaviour. Collaborators: Dr. Tracy Kivell, Dr. Jean-Jacques Hublin (Max Planck Institute) and Dr. Richard Lazenby (University of Northern British Columbia)

Hominin life history: A review of the available of life history information in the hominin fossil record and an evaluation of the types of life history information that can be gleaned from fossils. Collaborators: Dr. Bernard Wood (George Washington University)

Ileret, Kenya - Drs. Meave Leakey and Louise Leakey

Asbole, Ethiopia – Dr. Zeresenay Alemseged

Dmanisi, Republic of Georgia - Dr. David Lordkipanidze

Felsotarkany, Hungary – Dr. David Begun

Geissenklosterle and Hohler Fels, Germany – Dr. Nicolas Conard

Pech de L’Aze IV, France – Dr. Harold Dibble and Dr. Shannon McPherron

RCMP Serious Crimes Unit, Port Coquitlam, Canada

United Nations Transitional Administration for East Timor, Dili, East Timor

Forensic Anthropology Field Assistant, Vancouver, Canada

Development of murine teeth, Dr. Jukka Jernvall, University of Helsinki

Dental histology, Dr. Don Reid, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

Archaeology lab technician, Department of Archaeology, Simon Fraser University