POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHERS

Dr William Deakin (John Templeton Foundation funded PDRA: 2023– current). Will graduated from Bristol with a PhD in Palaeobiology and an MSci in Palaeontology and Evolution. Will’s research involves computational biomechanical analysis and theoretical simulation to explore the mechanical controls on the form of the vertebrate skull and postcranial skeleton.

 

 

Dr Tahlia Pollock (John Templeton Foundation funded PDRA: 2023– current).

 

 

 

Dr Pablo Milla Carmona (John Templeton Foundation funded PDRA: 2023– current). Palaeontologist and PhD in Geological science from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. My research revolves around the quantitative study of morphological evolution, with a particular focus on macroevolutionary scales.

 

 

Dr Antonio Ballell (BBSRC funded PDRA: 2021– current). Dr Antonio Ballell Mayoral (BBSRC funded PDRA: 2022– current). Antonio completed a PhD in early dinosaur palaeobiology at the University of Bristol in 2022. He is interested in exploring morphological evolution in vertebrates, and understanding its functional significance using morphometrics, biomechanics and phylogenetic comparative methods. Antonio is currently researching the evolution and function of the skull and jaw musculature in lepidosaurs (lizards and snakes).

 

Dr Andre Rowe (NERC funded PDRA: 2023– current).

 

 

 

Dr Nuria Melisa Morales Garcia (NERC funded PDRA: 2023– current).

 

 

 

 

PhD STUDENTS

Hady George [Bristol 2023-].

Qiling Liu [Bristol 2023-]

Felix Bowers [Bristol 2023-]

Luke Barlow [King’s College London 2023-]

Benton Walters [Bristol 2022-]

James Rawson [Bristol 2021-]

Yuming Liu [Bristol 2021-]

Damiano Landi [Bristol 2021-]

 

Honorary lab associates:

Dr Hugo Dutel (Honorary Senior Research Associate). Hugo undertook NERC funded postdoctoral research on early tetrapod function and evolution followed by a research co-investigator role on a BBSRC funded project on the function and development of the lepidosaur skull. He continues to work with the Rayfield lab on studies of extant fish, amphibian and lizard cranial function and evolution, in addition to co-supervising PhD student Hady George’s project.

Dr Pamela Gill (Honorary Senior Research Associate). Pam is an honorary researcher in Bristol collaborating on NERC-funded projects to explore the functional evolution of the skull across the cynodont-mammaliaform transition. Pam is known for her expertise in Triassic and Jurassic mammals and the south Wales fissure fill material.

Professor Han Hu (Honorary Senior Research Associate, IVPP, Beijing). Prof Hu is located at the IVPP in Beijing, China. Her research focuses on the origin and early evolution of birds, centred around the early bird and feathered non-avian dinosaur fossil from the Jehol Biota in China. She has a particular interest in scanning, eco- and functional morphology, and works with the Rayfield group and Dr Qin on related projects.

Dr Zichuan Qin (Honorary Research Associate). Zichuan completed his PhD at the University of Bristol in 2023 and began a postdoctoral position at the University of Birmingham in late 2023. He continues to work with the Rayfield group and Prof Hu on research projects studying the evolution of form and function in Paraves and living birds

LAB ALUMNI

Postdoc alumni

• Dr Benjamin Griffin (PhD: 2018-2023; John Templeton Foundation funded Research Assistant 2023). Post-doctoral Research Fellow, Liverpool John Moores University.
• Dr Hugo Dutel (NERC, BBSRC funded RA: 2019-2022). Honorary Senior Research Fellow, School of Earth Sciences.
• Dr Delphine Angst (Marie Curie IF: 2018-2020). Project Director, Graphic Design, Paris.
• Dr Elizabeth Martin-Silverstone (Arthritis Research RA: 2017-2018; NERC funded RA: 2019). Palaeobiology Lab Manager, Technical Specialist, University of Bristol.
• Dr Karen Roddy (MRC funded RA: 2014-2017). Regulatory Affairs Specialist, Abbott Healthcare, Galway, Ireland.
• Dr Stephan Lautenschlager (NERC funded RA: 2013-2016). Associate Professor in Palaeobiology, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham.
• Dr Laura Porro (Marie Curie IF: 2013-2015; NERC funded RA: 2017-2018). Associate Professor, Cell & Developmental Biology, Division of Biosciences, University College London.
• Dr Jen Bright (NERC funded RA: 2011-2014). Senior Lecturer in Zoology, School of Natural Sciences, University of Hull.
• Dr Martin Rücklin (NERC funded RA: 2010-2012). Group Leader, Vertebrate evolution, development and ecology, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, Netherlands.
• Dr Philip Cox (NERC funded RA: 2009-2012). Associate Professor in Anatomy, Cell & Developmental Biology, Division of Biosciences, University College London.
• Dr Philip Anderson (Royal Society IF 2007-2009; Marie Curie IF 2009-2011). Associate Professor, Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior, School of Integrative Biology, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, USA.
• Dr Pamela Gill (NERC funded RA: 2006-2009; Honorary RA 2010-present).

PhD alumni

• Sophie Chambi-Trowell [Bristol 2019–2023] The origin of modern ecosystems: dietary partitioning among the first mammals and reptiles in the Triassic-Jurassic Bristol archipelago. Lead-supervisor with co-supervisors Professor Mike Benton, Dr Pam Gill and Dr David Whiteside (Bristol).
• Andre Rowe [Bristol 2019–2023] Macroevoluton and function in giant theropod dinosaurs. Lead-supervisor with co-supervisor Professor Mike Benton (Bristol).
• Zichuan Qin [Bristol 2019–]2023 The palaeobiology of alvarezsauroid theropod dinosaurs. Co-supervisor with lead supervisor Professor Mike Benton (Bristol)
• Will Deakin [Bristol 2019–2022] The role of mechanical loads on the evolution of skeletal form. Lead supervisor with co-supervisors Professor Phil Donoghue and Dr Colin Palmer (Bristol) and Professor Roger Benson (Oxford).
• Ben Griffin [Bristol 2018–2022] Testing the quadrupedal launch mechanism in pterosaurs. Lead-supervisor with co-supervisors Dr Colin Palmer and Dr Elizabeth Martin-Silverstone.
• Antonio Ballell Mayoral [Bristol 2018–2022] Anatomy, phylogeny and function of the sauropodomorph dinosaur Thecodontosaurus antiquus. Co-supervisor with Professor Michael Benton (lead) and Dr Mark Puttick (Bath).
• Logan King [Bristol 2017–] Evolution of the brain in non-avian dinosaurs. Co-supervisor with lead supervisor Professor Mike Benton (Bristol).
• Timothy Culwick [Bristol 2017–] Co-supervisor with Dr Kate Hendry and Dr Jeremy Phillips (Bristol).
• Nuria Melisa Morales Garcia [Bristol 2016–] Functional evolution and diversity of Mesozoic mammals. Lead-supervisor with Dr Pamela Gill and Professor Christine Janis [CONACYT funded].
• Maryory Sarria-Dulcey [Bristol 2016–] The effect of climate change on Southern Ocean benthic calcifers. Co-supervisor with lead supervisor Professor Daniela Schmidt, co-supervisors Katrin Linse and Claus-Dieter Hillenbrand (British Antarctic Survey).
• Guillermo Navalón [Bristol 2015–2019] The evolution of the avian skull. Lead supervisor. [University of Bristol Alumni Fund]. Current position, postdoctoral research associate, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford. Faculty of Science Commendation for excellent PhD thesis. 
• Andrew Jones [Birmingham 2014–18] The evolution and function of phytosaurs Co-supervisor with Professor Richard Butler. [CENTA NERC DTP funded]. Current position: Digital technologies officer, Lapworth Museum, Birmingham.
• Leanne Melbourne [Bristol 2013–17] The future of shelf ecosystems [NERC CASE studentship with Profs Daniela Schmidt (Bristol) and Juliet Brodie (NHM London)]. Winner, The 2019 Irene Manton Prize for the best doctoral thesis in botany (algae, fungi or plants).
• Elizabeth Martin [Southampton 2013–2017] Mass estimation in pterosaurs: phylogenetic implications for the evolution of body size. Co-supervisor with Drs Colin Palmer (Bristol) and Philipp Schneider (Southampton) [University Southampton Scholarship].
• Nicola Stone [Bristol 2013–17] The role of heterochrony in the evolution and function of palaeognathus birds [Self funded, part-time].
• Ma Qingyu [Bristol 2012–2017] Constraints and efficiency in early avian evolution [University of Bristol Scholarship].
• JJ Hill [Bristol 2012–17] Evolution and function of the vertebrate lower jaw [Self-funded]. Co-supervised with Professor Phil Donoghue.
• Colin Palmer [Bristol; 2007–16]: The flight of pterosaurs [Self-funded, part-time]. Current position: Company Director Ginko Investments Ltd and Windcluster Ltd, Research Associate  University of Bristol.
• David Button [Bristol – Natural History Museum, London; 2011–15] Cranial biomechanics of sauropodomorph dinosaurs [NERC algorithm funded studentship with CASE partner support     from NHM] Co-supervised with Dr Paul Barrett (NHM). Current position: PDRA, Natural History Museum London. AWARDS: President’s Prize (2014) and Student Poster Prize (2013)   Palaeontological Association annual meeting; British Science Festival Invited speaker (2015). Faculty of Science commendation for excellent PhD thesis.
• Andrew Cuff [Bristol; 2010–14]: Functional morphology and biomechanics of ornithomimid and other theropod dinosaurs [Self-funded]. Current position: Associate Lecturer in Anatomy, Hull-York Medical School.
• Stephan Lautenschlager [Bristol – Munich; 2010–13] Skull form and function in therizinosaur dinosaurs, and the convergent evolution of herbivory in theropods [Volkswagen Foundation  funded]. AWARDS: Sustainable Software Institute Fellowship (£3000); Best Poster, Tomography Symposium London; Young Palaeontologist Award, and best student poster, German  Palaeontological Association. Current position: Lecturer at University of Birmingham.
• Roger Close [Monash, Australia / Bristol; 2008–12]: The functional evolution of the flight complex in Mesozoic birds [Monash University Studentship], Co-supervised with Pat Vickers-Rich  (Monash). Current position: Postdoctoral researcher, University of Birmingham.
• Aude Caromel [Bristol; 2008–12]: The link between form and function in planktonic foraminifers [NERC studentship], jointly supervised with Daniela Schmidt and Jeremy Phillips (Bristol).
• Jen Bright [Bristol; 2007–2011, Viva date 26/07/11]: Validation of finite element models and the implications for palaeontology [NERC studentship]. AWARDS: University of Bristol Science  Faculty Prize for best PhD thesis 2011/12. Current position: Tenure-track Assistant Professor, University of South Florida.
• Laura Porro [Cambridge; 2004–08] Investigation of proposed feeding behaviour in the basal ornithischian Heterodontosaurus tucki using finite element analysis [Cambridge-Gates Foundation Scholarship] with Dr DB Norman. AWARDS: Poster Prize, The Palaeontological Association. Current position: Lecturer, University College London.
• Mark Young [Bristol & Natural History Museum; 2006–2009. Viva date 5/5/09]: The biomechanics and evolution of sauropod dinosaur skulls [NERC CASE studentship with Paul Barrett (NHM), Paul Upchurch (UCL) and Larry Witmer (Ohio)]. AWARDS: Best paper, Naturwissenschaften, 2012. Current position: Postdoctoral researcher University of Edinburgh.
• Sandra Jasinoski [Bristol; 2004–08. Viva date 20/11/08]: Cranial mechanics of Dicynodontia using Finite Element Analysis [ORS, NSERC, UoB funded] co-supervised with Mike Benton.
• Stephanie Pierce [Bristol; 2003–2007. Viva date 19/12/07]: Morphospace occupation and mechanical performance in extant and extinct crocodile skulls: A combined geometric  morphometric and finite element modelling approach [ORS, NSERC, UoB funded] co-supervised with Mike Benton] Current position: Associate Professor of Organismic and  Evolutionary Biology and Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology, Harvard University.