Scholarship and Biography
My interests in biology lie at the intersection of evolution, anatomy, physiology and human performance. I focus these interests through the lens of comparative morphology which is a field that explores the relationship between form and function across species. The courses I teach include evolution, physiology, exercise physiology, physiology lab, and evolutionary developmental biology.
Recently, I have established the Brandeis Human Performance Lab (BHPL), a collaboration between biology and athletics. The goals of this initiative are to:
• Enable students to learn about human physiology in a hands-on laboratory setting. This will improve learning outcomes and allow students to complete prerequisites required for graduate programs in allied health fields (physical therapy, physician’s assistant, nursing, etc.).
• Create a space for undergraduate students to conduct research related to human physiology and athletic performance. Biological research with human subjects is rare on campus. Furthermore, there too few undergraduate research opportunities generally to meet the demand. The BHPL will give students hands-on skills and research experience important for careers in athletics and public health.
• Provide tools and assistance for teams and student-athletes to support their athletic performance. Teams and athletes wishing to quantify physiological parameters, or have support in analyzing data collected in other ways, can make use of the equipment and expertise in the BHPL.