News
03-14-12 Videos from my work are now on my YouTube channel.
09-28-11 Our paper on muscle-tendon function in deceleration is out. Check it out under publications
08-29-11 If you missed me on Nat Geo you can watch the show here,
08-10-11 Fieldwork with makeup on: Our Nat Geo documentary on fast oceanic fish feeding airs in the UK on Aug 21st and in the US on Aug 26th.
07-21-11 My paper on evolution of chewing generates interest. Find it in publications (dedicated to W. Skiles).
06-25-10 Recording high-speed video of fast oceanic fish feeding, with a National Geographic camera crew.
05-01-09 Off to Brown University for an NIH-funded post doc w. Dr. Tom Roberts.
08-12-08 Off to Johns Hopkins University for a post doc w. Prof. Rebecca German.
01-24-06 Left Oz for an NSF-funded post doc at Hofstra University w. Dr. Chris Sanford.
12-20-05 Corrected version of my PhD thesis uploaded. Thanks to my reviewers for their helpful comments.
09-07-05 Handed in my PhD thesis..
About Nicolai [cv]
I am generally fascinated by movement biology. My work examines the form and function of structural innovations in a broad range of organisms.
Ongoing projects include the role of novel skeletal joints and muscles in the evolution of gnathostome feeding, and how elastic tendons interconnecting tetrapod leg muscles and bones aid in movement deceleration. One of my main questions is: How does the evolution of structural innovation affect functional disparity, being the range of functional diversity in ecologically distinct groups?
I enjoy collaborations aimed at integrating measurements from multiple biological determinant levels, including neural control of muscle activity, muscular energy generation and absorption, and the biomechanics of joints and muscles. I combine cutting-edge visualization techniques, like XROMM with classical scientific craftsmanship to better understand the processes interconnecting form and function of organisms with their ecological role.
Academic preparation
BSc and MSc in zoological morphology, Hoeg and Jespersen labs, University of Copenhagen, DK. 1997-99
DRS Doctoral Candidate in ecomorphology at The Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Biodiversity, Bellwood lab, James Cook University, Australia. 2000-05
NSF Postdoctoral Fellow in functional morphology and biomechanics, Sanford lab, Hofstra University, NY, USA. 2006-08
Postdoctoral Research Fellow in clinical and integrative physiology, German lab, Johns Hopkins Medical University, MD, USA. 2008-09
NIH Postdoctoral Fellow, Roberts lab, Brown University, RI, USA. 2009-2011
NIH Investigator, Roberts lab, Brown University, RI, USA. 2011-