Dececchi, Alex

• Ph.D., Biology, McGill University

• B. Sc.H., Biology, Queen's University

Dr. Dececchi is an evolutionary biologist whose research interests focus on how long-term trends, environmental changes and morphological novelties shaped a clade’s history. A core element of my labs research is the integration of multiple sources of environmental, anatomical, and ecological data with the fossil record to better understand the functional consequences of transitional behaviors and morphologies. Using a wide variety of tools, including bioinformatical ones to mine and integrate various data sources, biomechanical modeling (mathematical and computational), functional analysis, experimental data, and phylogenetic techniques, my lab creates testable hypotheses and quantitative criteria to evaluate these macroevolutionary events. While much of my work centers around evolution of flight and the origins of birds I welcome students and ideas from all aspects of functional anatomy and vertebrate evolution.

My goal is not just to answer burning questions but to train students and get them engaged in thinking about evolution over long time scales.