People
Principal Investigator

Zhe-Xi Luo
Professor
The research of Dr. Zhe-Xi Luo focuses on the evolutionary biology of Mesozoic mammals. The focus of this work is to decipher the origins of mammalian biological adaptations, evolutionary relationship of major lineages, ecological diversification, and developmental patterns. Of particular interest is the evolution of the mammalian middle ear and hyoid apparatus.
Staff

April Neander
Research Specialist
April Neander is a research specialist for the Luo Lab and PaleoCT Lab. Her work and responsibilities include scientific illustration and visualization, micro-CT operations, and lab management. April has been working in the Luo Lab since 2012.
Students

Isaac Magallanes
Graduate Student
Isaac Magallanes is a 3rd year graduate student in the Committee on Evolutionary Biology (CEB). He received his both his bachelor’s science degree at California State University, Fullerton and his master’s degree at the University of Florida in the Geological Sciences. Isaac is interested in studying the evolutionary patterns of mammalian tooth morphology. In particular, he is interested in studying potential shifts in the functional relationship between the tooth-crown and root structures across key morphological transitions, like the advent of the tribosphenic in therian mammals. For his research, Isaac uses geometric morphometrics and 3D visualization software to compare morphological variation and functional diversity between modern therian taxa and their non-therian predecessors.

Peishu Li
Graduate Student
Peishu is a third-year PhD student in the Luo lab. He is broadly interested in the functional basis underlying major macroevolutionary transitions. For his dissertation research, Peishu focuses on the evolution and biomechanics of the hyoid apparatus and surrounding musculature in mammals. His research utilizes linear morphometrics, diceCT and the XROMM workflow to study the morphological disparity of hyoids in primates and other mammals, and how such disparity may translate to variation in 3D hyoid kinematics and bolus propulsion mechanisms during swallowing. Before joining the Luo lab, Peishu has conducted research on the dental topography of extinct South American stem platyrrhines, the skeletal anatomy of newborn ursids, and the igneous petrology of Hawaiian basalts.
Past Students and Postdoctoral Associates
Julia Schultz
Past Postdoctoral Associate
Julia’s research interests focus on early mammalian evolution with emphasis on functional morphology of dentition and reconstruction of mastication patterns. She also works on the evolution of the mammalian middle and inner ear morphology using micro-computed tomography, 3D-reconstruction and virtual simulation.
Bhart-Anjan Bhullar
Past Postdoctoral Associate
Research on Cynodont/Mammaliaform evolution and mammalian skull morphogenesis.
Robert Burroughs
Past Graduate Student
Robert is interested in understanding various mechanisms by which macroevolution occurs. His research utilizes geometric morphometrics, molecular-based phylogeography, and experimental developmental biology to understand the mechanisms behind the evolution of rodent molars in the Cenozoic. In particular he works with muroid rodents. Robert also has an interest in functional morphology, biogeography, and phylogeny of testudinoid turtles.
Dr. Burroughs is now a Postdoctoral Fellow at Seattle Children’s Research Institute.
Jacqueline Lungmus
Past Graduate Student
Jackie Lungmus works on the macroevolutionary patterns of Permian synapsids, focusing primarily on the morphological disparity and functional diversity of their pectoral girdles.
Dr. Lungmus is now a Postdoctoral Fellow at Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.
David Grossnickle
Past Graduate Student
David is interested in early mammal evolution and vertebrate paleontology. Hi research employs comparative techniques such as morphometrics to examine macroevolutionary patterns and diets of Mesozoic mammals. He is particularly interested in teeth and jaws, as these fossils are especially abundant and ecologically informative.
Dr. Grossnickle is now a Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of Washington.
William Currey
Past Undergraduate Student
Class of 2022
Spencer K. Pevsner
Past Undergraduate Student
Class of 2019
Mark Juhn
Past Undergraduate Student
Class of 2016
Dawn Mitchell
Past Undergraduate Student
Class of 2014
Ryan Philips
Past Undergraduate Student
Class of 2022
James Wauer
Past Undergraduate Student
Class of 2017
Samuel "Spiro" Sullivan
Past Undergraduate Student
Class of 2015
Andrew Traynor
Past Undergraduate Student
Class of 2021
Ben Sulser
Past Undergraduate Student
Class of 2016
Lawrence Wang
Past Undergraduate Student
Class of 2015