Dr. Neil Shubin

Biography

Neil H. Shubin is the Robert R. Bensley Distinguished Service Professor of Organismal Biology and Anatomy at the University of Chicago. He also serves as the Vice Dean for Academic Advancement. A leading paleontologist, his research focuses on the mechanisms behind evolutionary origins of new anatomical features in vertebrates. His work, conducted through extensive fossil expeditions in Canada, Africa, and the United States, has revealed critical insights into vertebrate diversity and the ecological shifts that have shaped it, particularly during the Devonian and Triassic periods. Over the past 15 years, Shubin has developed expeditionary research programs that have led to significant discoveries in vertebrate evolution, including studies on pterosaurs and rhizodontid fish. Shubin aims to link paleontological finds to contemporary genetic studies, focusing on the developmental pathways that influence morphological variation. His work has been instrumental in understanding the historical and ecological factors that drive evolution over geological timescales, particularly in relation to salamanders as a model system. He has also authored various publications in prestigious journals like Nature and PLoS Biology, contributing significantly to the fields of evolutionary biology and organismal evolution.

Research Interests

Experience