Anatomy and Vertebrate Paleontology Faculty & Staff
If you have any questions about the Anatomy and Vertebrate Paleontology program at OSU Center for Health Sciences, please contact one of faculty members.
Holly Woodward Ballard, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Anatomy
918-561-8263 | holly.ballard@okstate.edu
Research Interests
- Intra-specific ontogenetic variation in growth of extinct tetrapods using large-sample paleohistology, with a focus on non-avian dinosaurs.
- Integration of osteohistology with other techniques such as micro CT and stable isotopes to interpret the paleobiology and life history of extinct tetrapods.
- Intra-skeletal histology throughout ontogeny in both extinct and extant tetrapods.
- Increasing understanding of bone tissue microstructure in extant tetrapods for use as a foundation in paleohistological interpretations.
Haley O'Brien, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Anatomy
Personal Website
Research Interests
- Anatomy of Cranial Vasculature
- Mammalian Thermoregulation
- Selective Brain Cooling
- Evolutionary Physiology
- Multivariate Statistics
- Phylogenetic Comparative Methods
Paul Gignac, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Anatomy
918-561-8265 | paul.gignac@okstate.edu| Personal Website
Research Interests
- Diffusible Iodine-based Contrast-enhanced Computed Tomography (diceCT)
- Vertebrate Paleontology
- Musculoskeletal and dental biomechanics
- Phenotypic plasticity and evolutionary constraint
- Developmental, evolutionary, and functional morphology of the vertebrate head
Kent Smith, Ph.D., Associate Dean for the Office of American Indians in Medicine and Science, Professor
of Anatomy
918-561-8246 | kent.smith@okstate.edu| Personal Website
Research Interests
- Taxonomy, phylogeny, and biogeography of late Neogene-age mammals
- Novel anatomical variations in humans to advance surgical outcomes
- Advancing American Indians in medicine and STEM careers
Anne Weil, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Anatomy
918-561-8266 | anne.weil@okstate.edu
Research Interests
- Early mammalian evolution, phylogeny and biogeography of multituberculate mammals
- Terrestrial recovery after the end-Cretaceous mass extinction
- Evolutionary constraints on biotic response to extinction at large spatiotemporal scales
Ian Browne, Ph.D., Clinical Assistant Professor
Office: 918-561-1429 | ian.browne@okstate.edu
Research Interests
- Stratigraphy and Paleobiology of Middle Miocene Mammals
- micro-photogrammetry
- Advancing American Indians in STEAM careers
Staff
Nathan Peters, 3D Imaging Research Assistant
nate.peters10@okstate.edu