My main research interests lie in understanding the relationship between form and function in biological organisms in order to gain insight into the selective pressures that mold the ecology and evolution of species. While most ecomorphological research has focused on adult phenotypes, a growing body of literature demonstrates that the relationship between morphology and performance changes as the challenges facing individuals shift throughout ontogeny.My research takes an integrative approach, combining behavioral, morphological and performance data to understand ontogenetic shifts in members of the Order Carnivora.

My dissertation research focused on developmental changes in skull morphology and feeding behavior in the spotted hyena. Additionally, I have investigated ontogenetic patterns of and proximate influences on play behavior in this unique species.This research involved extensive field work in order to collect behavioral and performance data. I used geometric morphometrics to investigate changes in skull size and shape and utilized CT scans and finite-element analysis to investigate patterns of stress distribution in the skull during feeding.

Currently, we are seeking funding to investigate the effect of sociality on the link between fitness and performance in two members of the Family Herpestidae, meerkats and yellow mongoose.