About Me (she/her)

I am a biological anthropologist whose work primarily concerns the evolution of the pelvis in hominins*, including humans. I am interested in what the pelvis can tell us about adaptation, birth, posture, and locomotion. My previous work has focused on reconstructing and studying hominin pelves in a comparative context, studying modern human pelvic variation, and empirically testing the role of pelvic width in thermoregulation. Much of my work is directed towards the "obstetrical dilemma hypothesis", questioning whether (and if) there are competing selective pressures that have prevented the expansion of the female birth canal and made birth frequently difficult and dangerous. I am trying to answer questions surrounding why the burden of morbidity and mortality during birth is relatively high, and how and when modern human pelvic anatomy evolved.

I am committed to diversity in STEM, and the advancement of women in science. I have previously worked for the Women in Science group at NYU, and address themes such as racism, sexism, and imperialism in all my courses.

On a more personal note, I am originally from the UK but have moved around a lot during my life. I had a somewhat unconventional educational path, having studied at universities in California, Washington, New York, France, Canada, and England. I am a graduate of Humboldt State University (BA, History, 2006), the University of Washington (BA, Anthropology, 2012), and New York University (Masters, 2014; PhD, 2020).

I am a nature-lover, keen book reader (my favourite authors are Jane Austen, Terry Pratchett, and Diana Wynne Jones), cinephile (my favourite directors are Darren Aronofsky, Sofia Coppola, and Taika Waititi), gardener, and proud custodian of two cats: Lyra and Nim (see below).

*Hominins are any species more closely related to humans than to chimpanzees. In other words, hominins are members of the human lineage, but not necessarily human ancestors.