Welcome to the Swartz Lab website, in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Brown University!
The lab runs under the direction of Sharon Swartz, Ph.D., Associate Professor. The principal research interest of the lab is the function and evolution of the vertebrate skeletal system. Seeking to shed light on these fundamental issues, we are investigating the wings of bats and how they function in relation to their morphological organization. Through such methods as material testing, in vivo strain analysis, comparative morphometrics and aerodynamic modeling approaches, we hope to gain insight on the historical patterns of diversification of flight modes and morphologies within bats. We are also interested in the role and significance of trabecular bone tissue and how its architecture reflects its mechanical function. To study the behaviour of individual trabeculae and of trabecular tissue as an aggregate, we make use of experimental and finite element modeling approaches.
The purpose of this website is to share our research with, and educate, not only experts, but also novices to the field of evolutionary biology. In order to effectively reach a wide audience, we have included an extensive Background section with information on everything from bat basics to modeling approaches in biology. The Links section provides further resources on a number of topics. We hope that you will find this website both interesting and informative!
