I study the evolution and development of the human face, and utilize two complementary approaches in my research. In the first I take a "gene up" approach to understand how variation in genetic and molecular factors contribute to differences in early facial morphogenesis. This kind of research has clinical implications, since disruptions to normal developmental events often lead to craniofacial birth defects, and these often express a range of severity that has been previously difficult to predict and understand. In the second, I take a "phenotype down" approach, analyzing variation in the faces of children and adults to understand how growth impacts shape, and the genetic factors that contribute to variation among individuals. The ultimate goal of this research is to better predict individual facial shape and growth, and apply this information in clinical contexts to better "personalize" individual prognoses and treatment plans.
