Current Research

Characterizing the morphology of the Carangiformes

Current Research

The relationships among Threadfins (Polynemidae)

Current Research

Anatomy and evolution of Archerfishes (Toxotidae)

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Featured Publications

In this study, we performed combined analyses of new and previously identified discrete morphological characters and new and previously …
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One of the most difficult challenges remaining in comparative anatomy is accurately communicating morphological variation, and …
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Recent Publications

For a searchable list of my publications, please click here.
(2018). Getting somewhere with the Red Queen: chasing a biologically modern definition of the hypothesis. In Biology Letters.

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(2018). Light in the darkness: New perspective on lanternfish relationships and classification using genomic and morphological data. In Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution.

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(2017). Phylogenetic relationships of weaverbirds (Aves: Ploceidae): A first robust phylogeny based on mitochondrial and nuclear markers. In Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution.

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(2016). Evolution of Venomous Cartilaginous and Ray-Finned Fishes. In Integrative and Comparative Biology.

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Teaching and Mentorship

I strive to provide an engaging and innovative learning experience for all students. My skills as an educator have been honed in numerous settings, from large lecture halls, to smaller laboratories, to experiential field trips, and to individualized undergraduate research experiences. Each of these settings, along with the variety of course materials I have been responsible for, have shown me the value of using innovative techniques to breakthrough the barrier between instructor and student, to invite the students to participate in learning, and to not only help my students improve their knowledge, but also to improve my own skills as an educator. I look forward to interacting with, teaching, and learning from each student in my next class. Please feel free to contact me for more details.

Collecting fishes in Taiwan

Two Sharptail mola, Masturus lanceolatus, in a market

Diving in the Caribbean

Hello from below⁩

Collecting fishes in Taiwan

The coast of Hengchun Township

Collecting fishes of the San Diego Trough

Our vessel for the trip, R/V Robert Gordon Sproul⁩

Collecting fishes in Taiwan

Picking through fishes in Donggang Township⁩

Diving in the Caribbean

Honeycomb Cowfish, Acanthostracion polygonius ⁩

Collecting fishes of the San Diego Trough

Sunset over the Pacific⁩

Diving in the Caribbean

Juvenile Queen Angelfish, Holacanthus ciliaris ⁩

Collecting fishes of the San Diego Trough

The take from a trawl⁩

Diving in the Caribbean

Hiding Graysby, Cephalopholis cruentata, at night⁩

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Photography

I truly enjoy taking photographs and trying a variety of imaging techniques to capture the best image I can. These images of cleared-and-double-stained specimens are some of my favorites. Images on a white background were taken under white or natural light and show the stained bones and cartilage of the specimens. Images on a black background were taken under royal blue light and show the autofluorescence of the red stain, as discussed by Smith et al. (2018). I have had the honor of my photos being featured by Nature as one of the best science images of the year in 2018, by National Geographic, and by the Bruce Museum in their exhibit Under the Skin (February 1–July 19, 2020). Please feel free to reach out to me about my methodology or any of my images.

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