Anatomy, ontogeny, and evolutionary history of terrestrial tetrapods

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My research program has focused on the evolutionary history of terrestrial vertebrates, with special emphasison the biology and evolution of amniotes. Amniota includes all living reptiles, birds, and mammals, as well astheir fossil relatives (dinosaurs, flying reptiles, and many other extinct forms). Early amniotes represent thefirst chapter in the long evolutionary history of vertebrates on land. These ancient animals are at the base of allmajor groups of amniotes (living reptiles, birds, and mammals), and evolutionary innovations first seen inthese organisms had a cascading effect on subsequent evolutionary events. As part of my research on the originof amniotes, I have also studied and published on those terrestrial amphibians that are closest to amniotes, aswell as on the oldest known amniotes.My research proposal is primarily based on traditional methods in the field of Vertebrate Paleontology (bothfield and laboratory work) to study their anatomy, taxonomy, and phylogenetic relationships. However, recent, innovative additions to my research program that will be continued and expanded include studies ofdevelopment and growth in superbly preserved growth series of extinct taxa, studies of dental ultrastructureand cranial architecture for reconstructing feeding behavior. Detailed comparisons between the postcranialskeletons of various amniotes will also be incorporated into reconstructions of locomotion ofextinct taxa. This will be achieved through the use of data from a new, in house 3D laser scanner system,  industrial strength CT scanner, SEM, and both animation programs Maya and Flash. This combination of well tested, more traditional methods and innovative new approaches is guaranteed to expand dramatically our understanding of the biology and evolutionary history of early amniotes and their closest terrestrial vertebrate relatives.