Dr. Nicolai Konow Principal Investigator
BSc., MSc.: U. Copenhagen; Ph. D.: James Cook University; Postdocs: Hofstra U., Johns Hopkins U., Brown U., Harvard U.
I take experimental and modeling approaches to understand the role of form-function-mechanics relationships in the evolution of animal jaw and limb systems. My early work explored feeding mechanical and ecological consequences of the evolution of an extra lower jaw joint in biting coral reef fishes. As a postdoc, I have explored the evolution of independently derived tongue bite systems in ancient groups of bony fishes. Later postdocs involved measuring limb muscle mechanics during movements like bird landings and bat flight to probe questions about the functional implications of having muscle contractions controlling bone movements via compliant tendons. I now launch my lab with the goal of leveraging my lessons from limb muscle-tendon mechanics studies in order to gain a better understanding of food processing biomechanics and feeding muscle physiology in animals including humans.
Curriculum Vitae | Google Scholar profile | Research Gate profile | Faculty profile
BSc., MSc.: U. Copenhagen; Ph. D.: James Cook University; Postdocs: Hofstra U., Johns Hopkins U., Brown U., Harvard U.
I take experimental and modeling approaches to understand the role of form-function-mechanics relationships in the evolution of animal jaw and limb systems. My early work explored feeding mechanical and ecological consequences of the evolution of an extra lower jaw joint in biting coral reef fishes. As a postdoc, I have explored the evolution of independently derived tongue bite systems in ancient groups of bony fishes. Later postdocs involved measuring limb muscle mechanics during movements like bird landings and bat flight to probe questions about the functional implications of having muscle contractions controlling bone movements via compliant tendons. I now launch my lab with the goal of leveraging my lessons from limb muscle-tendon mechanics studies in order to gain a better understanding of food processing biomechanics and feeding muscle physiology in animals including humans.
Curriculum Vitae | Google Scholar profile | Research Gate profile | Faculty profile
Alexandra Collias Undergraduate Researcher
Alex earned a UML Co-op scholarship to do research with Dr. Konow during the summer of 2016 at Concord Field station. She studied the contractile behavior of the rat medial gastrocnemius and found that this hind limb muscle varies its length change trajectory during stance between uphill, level and downhill galloping, consistent with changing priorities on motor, spring and brake function respectively. Alex presented her research poster at the 2016 UML Co-op research symposium and earned a stipend to bring an expanded version of her poster to the 2017 meeting for the Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology in New Orleans, LA.
Alex earned a UML Co-op scholarship to do research with Dr. Konow during the summer of 2016 at Concord Field station. She studied the contractile behavior of the rat medial gastrocnemius and found that this hind limb muscle varies its length change trajectory during stance between uphill, level and downhill galloping, consistent with changing priorities on motor, spring and brake function respectively. Alex presented her research poster at the 2016 UML Co-op research symposium and earned a stipend to bring an expanded version of her poster to the 2017 meeting for the Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology in New Orleans, LA.
Trushti Patel Undergraduate Researcher
Trushti is a Junior working with Dr. Konow on effects of food hardness on jaw and tongue muscle length change behavior during chewing in the rat.
Trushti is a Junior working with Dr. Konow on effects of food hardness on jaw and tongue muscle length change behavior during chewing in the rat.
Jacob Solomon Undergraduate Researcher
As a rising junior, Jacob (a computer science and English major) won an Honors stipend to work in the Konow lab on creating a 3D digital reconstruction of Protopterus lungfish chewing.
As a rising junior, Jacob (a computer science and English major) won an Honors stipend to work in the Konow lab on creating a 3D digital reconstruction of Protopterus lungfish chewing.
Jeffrey Sakakeney Undergraduate Researcher, Animal Lair Groundskeeper
