Ryosuke Motani

Education and Degree(s)

• Ph.D., University of Toronto, Canada (1997)

Research Interests

• Geobiology and Paleobiology

Bio

Major research focus is on the use of physics-based functional morphology to probe physical constraints behind the evolution of animal shapes. Questions along this line include: what made tunas, lamnid sharks, cetaceans, and ichthyosaurs all look similar in silhouette; what constraints were behind the long necks of elasmosaurs (long-necked plesiosaurs)? Complementary research topics cover phylogenetics, systematics, and their integration with physical functional morphology. Taxonomic strength is in Mesozoic marine reptiles, especially ichthyosaurs (Ichthyopterygia), and field experiences mostly in Mesozoic marine deposits.

Website

http://ryosuke.motani.name

Honors and Awards

• Commendation for Science and Technology: The Young Scientists' Prize, 2007 - The Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
• Gakujutsu Prize, Palaeontological Society of Japan, 2005
• CAREER, NSF grant from the Faculty Early Career Development, 2003