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Mark Westneat is a Professor in the Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy at the University of Chicago. His primary research interests focus on understanding the phylogenetic relationships of major coral reef fish groups and the biomechanics and functional morphology of organisms. Westneat integrates phylogenetic systematics with biomechanics to explore how evolution shapes functional diversity in various organisms. His work employs various methodologies such as molecular phylogenetics, computer modeling, and synchrotron imaging to study feeding mechanics in fishes and ecological traits in animals. Westneat aims to provide a broader understanding of the evolutionary history of diverse taxa by merging different biological data and perspectives. He welcomes students interested in evolution, biomechanics, phylogenetics, and fieldwork to engage with ongoing research in his lab. Westneat completed his Bachelor’s degree in Biology at the College of Wooster and received his Ph.D. in Zoology from Duke University, followed by postdoctoral training in Neurobiology. His interdisciplinary approach positions him at the intersection of comparative morphology, phylogenetics, and ecology, contributing valuable insights into the evolution of life forms in the ocean.
Department of Philosophy