Erin Simons, Ph.D.

My research is focused on developing a better understanding of the structure-function relationship in bone and how this relates to different types of locomotion in extant birds. I am interested in how the morphology of a bone has changed to withstand the different loading environments associated with different locomotor modes over evolutionary time. In addition, much of the skeleton has developed before significant external loads from locomotion are applied to it, suggesting that growth is an important constraint on bone structure. Currently research is focused on the development of specific bone microstructure (laminarity) in a number of flighted and flightless birds.

Bone histology

Avian skeletal functional morphology

Comparative vertebrate anatomy