Department of Human Evolution
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
Deutscher Platz 6
04103 Leipzig
phone: +49 (341) 3550 - 350
fax: +49 (0341) 3550 - 399
e-mail: streiber@[>>> Please remove the brackets! <<<]eva.mpg.de
Curriculum Vitae
Personal Information
Citizenship: | Canadian |
Education
2007 | Ph.D. University of Toronto, Dept. of Anthropology (Dr. David Begun) Thesis title: Ontogeny of the hominoid midcarpal joint and implications for the origin of hominin bipedalism |
2002 | M.A. University of Toronto, Dept. of Anthropology (Dr. David Begun) Thesis title: No longer enigmatic: Reevaluation of Oreopithecus bambolii positional repertoire |
2001 | Hon. B.Sc. University of Western Ontario/University of Toronto, Dept. of Anthropology |
Research Interests
- Origin of human bipedal locomotion
- Biomechanics of primate locomotion and limb morphology
- Developmental and functional morphology in living and fossil primates
- Miocene hominoid morphology and evolution
- Convergent evolution and morphological integration in the primate skeleton
Current Research
2009-present | Director of research on Homo naledi and Australopithecus sediba hand fossils: Comparative investigation of fossil hominin (australopiths to Neandertals) and Miocene hominoid hand remains using morphometric and micro-CT data. This research aims to shed light on locomotor and tool-use behaviours throughout the evolution of the human lineage. Collaborators: Matthew Skinner (UCL), Steve Churchill (Duke University), David Begun (University of Toronto). |
2009-present | Functional signals in trabecular and cortical bone structure: A comparative investigation of internal bony morphology of the primate hand to assess variation in joint loading patterns and how this reflects differences in locomotor and manipulative behaviours. Collaborators: Matthew Skinner (Kent), Dieter Pahr (Vienna University of Technology), Jean-Jacques Hublin (Max Planck Institute-EVA), Andrew Gee and Graham Treece (Cambridge) and Richard Lazenby (University of Northern British Columbia). |
2008-present | Biomechanics of ape locomotion: Investigation of variation in biomechanics of terrestrial and arboreal locomotion in gorilla, chimpanzees and bonobos in both captive and natural settings. Collaborators: Daniel Schmitt and Brian Hare (Duke University) and Roshna Wunderlich (James Madison University) and Sandra Nauwelaerts (Antwerp). |
2007-2011 | Biomechanics of lemur locomotion: Experimental analyses of aye-aye locomotion, as well as other lemur species, through an analysis of pressure and force experienced by the fore- and hindlimbs on inclined and horizontal substrates at the Duke Lemur Centre. Collaborators: Roshna Wunderlich (James Madison University), Daniel Schmitt (Duke University) and Jandy Hanna (West Virginia School of Medicine). |
Professional Employment
2014-present | Reader in Biological Anthropology, School of Anthropology and Conservation, The University of Kent |
2013-2014 | Lecturer in Biological Anthropology, School of Anthropology and Conservation, The University of Kent |
2013-present | Researcher, Dept. Human Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology |
2009-2013 | Junior Researcher, Dept. Human Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology |
2008-2009 | Postdoctoral Research Associate, Dept. Evolutionary Anthropology and Duke School of Medicine, Duke University |
2007-2009 | Researcher, Duke Lemur Centre, Duke University |
2007-2008 | Visiting Assistant Professor, Dept. of Biological Anthropology and Anatomy, Duke University |
2006 | Sessional Instructor, Dept. of Social Sciences, University of Toronto at Scarborough |
2006 | Sessional Instructor, Dept. of Anthropology, McMaster University |
2004-2005 | Sessional Instructor, Dept. of Anthropology, University of Toronto at Mississauga |
Grants, Awards and Scholarships
2014-2019 | European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant 2013 (€1 622 053) Principal Investigator, “GRASP, The evolution of the human hand: grasping trees and tools” Grant #336301 |
2009 | American Association of Anatomists Travel Award ($250) |
2009 | American Association of Anatomists Finalist for Postdoctoral Poster Presentation Award |
2007 | University of Toronto Doctoral Dissertation Completion Grant ($1200) |
2007 | University of Toronto Graduate Fellowship, Conference funding ($900) |
2006-2007 | General Motors Women in Science and Mathematics Award (3800) |
2006-2007 | University of Toronto Foundation Graduate Award ($600) |
2006 | University of Toronto Fellowship ($1250) |
2006 | University of Toronto Fellowship, Research and Conference funding ($1000) |
2004-2006 | Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) ($21 000/yr) |
2005-2006 | General Motors Women in Science and Mathematics Award ($4000) |
2005 | University of Toronto, School of Graduate Studies Travel Grant ($3000) |
2005 | University of Toronto Graduate Fellowship, Research/Conference funding ($500) |
2002-2004 | Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) ($21 000/yr) |
2004 | Baden-Württemberg Research Scholarship ($3200) |
2004 | Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) ($15 000 - declined) |
2003 | University of Toronto Graduate Fellowship, Research/Conference funding ($500) |
2003 | University of Toronto International Student Exchange Bursary ($220) |
2002 | Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) ($15 000 - declined) |
2002-2006 | University of Toronto Graduate Fellowship, Departmental top-up ($1200) |
2001 | Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) ($15 000) |
2001 | University of Toronto Graduate Fellowship, Departmental top-up ($5000) |
Teaching Experience
Graduate Course Instructorships
Duke University
- Human Gross Anatomy (dissection-based), Duke School of Medicine (2008)
- Oncoanatomy Education (Dept. of Radiation Oncology), Duke School of Medicine (2008-9)
- Special Topics in Human Anatomy (Ophthalmology and Ob-Gyn) (2008-9)
- Graduate Student Independent Study (2008-9)
Undergraduate Course Instructorships
Duke University
2008 | Introduction to Biological Anthropology |
2008 | Human Evolution |
2008 | Anthropology of the Skeleton |
2007 | The Human Body (dissection-based) |
University of Toronto
2006 | The Foundations and Theory of Human Origins |
2004-2005 | Human Origins |
McMaster University
2006 | Primate Evolution |
2006 | The Human Species: Becoming and Being Human |
Mentoring
Undergraduate honours thesis supervised
2008-09 | Michael Catalino "Primate limb conformation: Implications for mechanical energy conservation" |
2008-09 | Erik Stubberud "Relative distribution of force across limbs during descent in aye-ayes" |
2007-08 | Elizabeth Kramer "Palmar pressure distribution during locomotion of the aye-aye" |
Undergraduate honours thesis committee member
2008-09 | Kevin Hatala "Cross-sectional geometry of the subtrochanteric femur" |
2008-09 | Gail Ukato "Gender and race difference in osteoarthritis of the knee" |
2008-09 | Jasmine Swaniker "Muscle fibre architecture in great apes" |
2007-08 | Cassandra Kisby "The anatomy of breathing" |
2007-08 | Rita Baumgartner "Why do sifakas gallop?" |
2007-08 | Anita Pai Tuning mechanisms of primate locomotion" |
2007-08 | Elizabeth Kramer Identifying morphological changes of the aging glenoid labrum on MRIs" |
Lab Instructorships
University of Toronto
- Palaeoanthropology (2005, 2007)
- Human Evolutionary Anatomy (2003, 2005, 2006)
- Human Osteology (2004)
Teaching Assistantships
University of Toronto
- Human Biology and Evolution (2004, 2005-06)
- Introduction to Anthropology (2003-04)
- Health, Diet and Disease in the Past (2003)
- Introduction to Archaeology (2003)
Fieldwork Experience
2006 | Rudabánya: Hungarian Geological Institute, Budapest, Hungary Palaeontological excavation of late Miocene locality and Dryopithecus fossil remains with Dr. David Begun (University of Toronto) and Dr. Laszlo Kordos (Geological Museum of Hungary). |
2003 | Felsõtárkány: Hungarian Geological Institute, Budapest, Hungary Palaeontological excavation of new middle Miocene locality of Felsõtárkány with Dr. David Begun (University of Toronto) and in collaboration with Drs. Laszlo Kordos (Geological Museum of Hungary) and János Hír (Pásztó Municipal Museum, Pásztó Hungary). |
2001 | University of Cape Town, South Africa Collaborative research project in South Africa with Drs Susan Pfeiffer, Judy Sealy and representatives of the Khoisan Indigenous Peoples. Research included the analysis of indigenous southern African skeletal remains from a variety of Later Stone Age sites. |
2000 | Sterkfontein: University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa Palaeontological excavation of Pliocene fossil hominin remains. |
1999 | Sibudu Cave Shelter: University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa Archaeological excavation of Middle Stone Age site focusing on the origins of early human modernity (ACACIA Fieldschool). |