Organizers 

Prof. Kathleen Lois Foster (BSU) 

Prof. Alessandro Maria Selvitella (PFW) 

Speakers 

Kathleen Garland (Monash University) - Tuesday 23rd November 2021 @ 4pm EST 

Armita Manafzadeh (Brown University) - Tuesday 1st February 2022 @ 3pm EST 

Ken Toyama Campos (University of Toronto) - Thursday 7th November 2024 @ 2pm EST 

Title: An evolutionary trade-off between material properties and architectural design in Anolis lizard long bones

Abstract: In biology, “many-to-one mapping” occurs when multiple morphological forms can meet a particular functional demand. Knowledge of this mapping is crucial for understanding how selection on performance shapes the evolution of morphological diversity. Past research has focused primarily on the potential for geometrically alternative morphological designs to produce equivalent performance outcomes. However, whether the material properties of biological tissues hold similar potential has been much less explored. Phylogenetic comparative analyses in Anolis lizards show that the architectural design and mineral density of the femur trade off in a many-to-one functional system, yielding a morphospace featuring parallel isolines in size-relative bending strength. Anole femur evolution has largely tracked a narrow band of strength isolines over phylogenetic timescales, suggesting that geometry and mineral content shape the course of macroevolution through compensatory effects on performance. Despite this conserved evolutionary relationship, insular and continental species evolve strong bones differently, likely reflecting underlying ecological differences. Mainland anoles, which exhibit  fast-paced life histories, typically have femora with lower mineralization and thinner walls than island species, which exhibit the opposite strategy. Together, these results reveal an overlooked dimension in the relationship between form and function, expanding our understanding of how many-to-one mapping can shape patterns of phenotypic diversity.

Elyse Borgert (University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill) - Thursday 21st November 2024 @ 2pm EST

Title: Elastic Shape Analysis of Movement Data

Abstract: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disease, with the knee being the most commonly affected joint. Modern studies of knee joint injury and OA often measure biomechanical variables, particularly forces exerted during walking. However, the relationship among gait patterns, clinical profiles, and OA disease remains poorly understood. These biomechanical forces are typically represented as curves over time, but until recently, studies have relied on discrete values (or landmarks) to summarize these curves. This work aims to demonstrate the added value of analyzing full movement curves over conventional discrete summaries. Using data from the Intensive Diet and Exercise for Arthritis (IDEA) study, we developed a shape-based representation of variation in the full biomechanical curves. We leveraged data integration methods to understand the shared variation in movement curves patterns with clinical traits. Further, we demonstrated by a nested model comparison that our approach yields more powerful predictors of disease progression and clinical traits than conventional discrete summaries.

Umair Ali Wani (University of New Mexico) - Wednesday 15th October 2025 @ 1:30pm EST (TBC)

Title: SINDy Algorithm on Compact Riemannian Manifolds

Abstract: The work involves the study of SINDy algorithm on compact Riemannian manifolds. The basic SINDy algorithm is demonstrated through examples. However, simple SINDy algorithm cannot identify dynamical systems where equations involve implicit ordinary differential equations. Consequently, SINDy-PI is explored. As a case study, an example of a particle moving on a torus is developed. It is observed that SINDy-PI can accurately identify the dynamical systems only up to a small noise. 

Aya Alwan (Ohio State University) - Thursday 17th February 2026 @ 2pm EDT (TBC)