Anjali Goswami PhD

Lecturer in Palaeobiology

Anjali Goswami's research web page

a.goswami@ucl.ac.uk
tel: (+44)-(0)20-7679-7411
fax: (+44)-(0)20-7679-5052

Research: Mammalian Evolution and Development

My main research interests are in mammalian evolution and development, especially using morphometric methods to test genetic and developmental hypotheses of variation and modularity and their evolutionary significance. I conduct vertebrate palaeontological fieldwork in the Cretaceous of India and the Palaeogene of Svalbard. I also am involved in palaeoecological research on Triassic amniotes using dental microwear and stable isotopes.

Current research projects:

Integration, Modularity and Mammalian Cranial Evo-Devo
An extensive quantitative study of trait integration that incorporates molecular, embryological, neontological, and palaeontological data in morphometric analyses and computer simulations to examine potential influences on modularity and its relationship to morphological variation and diversity in the mammalian skull, as well as its impact on phylogenetic analyses. More...

Mesozoic vertebrate palaeontology of India
Field exploration of Triassic to Cretaceous sites in Central and Southern India to elucidate the enigmatic period that spans its separation from other Gondawanan continents to its collision with Asia. This project also involves morphometric analyses of Mesozoic mammal teeth and postcrania to study intra- and interspecific variation and functional morphology of early mammals. More...

Cranial ontogenetic morphology, sequence heterochrony, and the marsupial-placental dichotomy
A collaborative, comparative study of bone ossification in the mammalian skull, involving clearing-and-staining of several new species, 3-D reconstruction from sectioned specimens, and morphometric studies of allometry and shape variation. More...

Palaeoecology of Triassic amniotes
A collaborative study using diverse approaches to assess palaeoecology and physiology of mid-late Triassic cynodonts and archosaurs from Madagascar. More...

Together, this combination of research involving fieldwork, morphometrics, evolutionary development, and palaeoecology constitutes a wide range of approaches for studying influences on morphological evolution. This reflects my primary interest in combining different types of data to bridge traditional gaps between microevolutionary and macroevolutionary patterns and processes.

Publications by Dr Anjali Goswami