Dr. Hillary Maddin

Research area:  Vertebrate Palaeontology & Evolutionary Developmental Biology

My research aims to understand the origin and maintenance of organismal diversity over large time scales. In particular, I am interested in the evolution of cranial morphology and how patterns of relatedness, development and function underlie the origin of morphological diversity observed among animals living today. I take a broadly comparative approach, applying integrative techniques, by combining the fields of paleontology, developmental biology, experimental genetics, and functional morphology to characterize instances of morphological diversification in major lineages of tetrapods. I primarily employ extinct and extant amphibians to work towards these goals.

I run an annual field program exploring the Carboniferous rocks of Nova Scotia. I am additionally involved in an international field team exploring the Permo-Triassic rocks of Siberia.

I currently serve as Advisor for students in the Vertebrate Palaeontology Concentration in the Earth Sciences department.