Quantitative Morphology Group

Quantitative Morphology Group - University of Adelaide Australia

PhD Students

Tory Botha
"Morphology and ecology of Ediacaran fossils from Nilpena Station (Ediacara Conservation Park, Flinders Ranges, South Australia)"
Supervised with Diego Garcia-Bellido (SA Museum) and Mary Droser (UC Riverside)

The primary aim of my PhD project is to gain a better understanding of the morphology, growth, preservation, and ecology of three enigmatic, radial Ediacaran taxa:

Eoandromeda octobrachiata
Tribrachidium heraldicum
Rugoconites

I use 3D scanning, geometric morphometrics, spatial analysis and mathematical approaches to best study their forms.

Nuttakorn (Win) Taewcharoen
"Biomechanics and Morphology of Lagmorphs"

My prospect research theme will be about lagomorph' poscranial skeleton (vertebral column and limbs) and their locomotive trajectories using newly proposed method for analysis of complex articulated structures

Matthew Patterson
"Cranial evolution in the Pygopodidae – ontogeny, ecology and divergence in skull shape of legless lizards"
Supervised with Natalie Warburton and Trish Fleming (Murdoch University)

My PhD will examine skull and jaw morphology and head musculature of Pygopodid lizards, to study their biomechnics, ontogenetic patterns, and relating it to other aspects of their ecology.

Bachelor of Science Honours Students

Ammresh
"The Jaw dropping world of tiger snakes: A tale of two populations and how they are affected by phenotypic plasticity"

I am interested in researching reptile evolution and for my honours project I am studying how different diets may affect the jaw morphology of tiger snakes from Carnac island and Herdsman lake. I will also be looking at their phenotypic plasticities and the canalisation of these traits. My methods will include landmarking microCT scanned specimens of tiger snake skulls and analysing them for shape variation

Amy Green
"A tale of tails: using morphometric methods to assess tail evolution between species in a group of Australian geckos (Oedura)"

My honours project is looking at the shape differences in the tails of Australian geckos through the use of morphometric methods. I am currently looking at the Oedura genus and investigating how ecological factors may have influenced variation in the tail shape amongst the group. I will be assessing the tail shape in a 3D context, with the use of 3D surface scanning and micro-CT in order to best capture the form of the tail in each species.

Ellen Martin
"The Fast and the Furriest: What variation in lagomorph postcranial morphology can tell us about adaptations for running"

My honours research will examine the skeletal morphology of European hares and rabbits in Australia alongside three American lagomorphs, with the overall aim of identifying how their limbs are adapted to differing levels of cursoriality. These evolutionary inferences will be made by comparing the length ratios, density, and morphological integration of limb bones, which will be obtained from CT scans of lagomorph specimens.

Tamika Nash-Hahn
"Slithering up the right tree: Exploring the inconspicuous world of arboreal colubrid vertebrae"

My honours project is focussed in exploring the vertebral column of arboreal snakes. My aim is to identify if arboreal snakes have a specific and distinct vertebral column. I will also be exploring regionalisation in the vertebral column and the position of the heart relative to these regions. I will use morphometrics to establish how the vertebral column of arboreal snakes compares to that of terrestrial snakes.

Visiting Researchers

Philip Stott
Australia's expert on invasive European hares, Philip studies their ecology, locomotion and behaviour

I’m a retired academic most recently employed at the City University of Hong Kong but prior to that at The University of Adelaide. I have a wide range of interests including morphology, and Emma has most graciously provided me with a refuge from retirement so that I can potter around with research on the European hare (the main subject of my own PhD), a species that also interests Emma.
At present I’m investigating the rapid turns made by hares to elude chasing predators. Hares are capable of turning through 120 deg in 0.3 seconds and I’m trying to relate the function (the turn) with the morphology (the musculature enabling such turns). Manoeuvrability is only one factor influencing the outcome of terrestrial pursuits in open grassland habitats, but the ability of the hare to survive in the presence of cheetahs and greyhounds suggests that lagomorphs might possess unique adaptations to facilitate manoeuvrability, and if so, it seems likely that they’d be best developed in the cursorial species (the hares). It’s those putative musculoskeletal adaptations that I seek.

Qamariya Nasrullah
I am an evolutionary developmental (evo-devo) biologist. I recently completed a PhD looking at the evolution and development of teeth in mammals at Monash University. This included scanning wallaby teeth at the Australian synchrotron, and growing fluorescent mice teeth in petri dishes in Finland. I also have a background in palaeontology and phylogenetics, studying extinct short-faced kangaroos at Flinders University. Currently I am working on the geometric morphometrics of rabbit skull asymmetry. I am seeking new opportunities for post-doc research in Australia and overseas.

Three-dimensional mammalian tooth development using diceCT

Student opportunities in the Quantitative Morphology Group at University of Adelaide:
Australian BSc. Honours program | PhD Scholarships | Summer Scholarships | BSc. Science (Advanced) Principles & Practices of Research III
Contact me if you are interested! emma [dot] sherratt [at] adelaide [dot] edu [dot] au

CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES CLICK FOR DETAILS!

I mentor and supervise by a mix of coaching and participative approaches: everyone has a voice, and I'll give you all the support and guidance to find yours.