I am interested in the macroevolutionary dynamics of ecological shifts and their impact on the evolution of phenotypic and phylogenetic diversity across vertebrates. These ecological shifts can range from single profound changes such as the invasion of a new adaptive zone through to the complex dynamics of repeated ecological transitions throughout the evolutionary history of a clade but always alter the selective constraints experienced by the taxon. I am currently working on a broad variety of questions ranging from the effect of coral reefs on the evolution of functional morphological diversity in fishes through to the impact of diet on mammalian speciation and body size evolution. This research involves using modern phylogenetic comparative methods to incorporate the relationships between species and the timing of origination events into statistical analyses of traits. For more detailed descriptions of my current and recent projects, please see my research page.

I am also working to promote the synthesis of paleontological and neontological approaches to macroevolution both within my own research and within the wider scientific community. Starting May 2013 I have a collaborative NSF grant from DEB to investigate the impact of diet on mammalian diversification through the combination of fossil and extant phylogenetic evidence. I also co-organized a NESCent catalysis meeting in April 2013 that brought together 35 macroevolutionary researchers working on fossil and/or phylogenetic approaches to discuss how integrate such different data and methods. In 2014 we also organized a half-day symposium at the SSE meeting in Raleigh “Uniting fossil and phylogenetic approaches to macroevolution” and ran a NESCent Academy workshop.