Dr. Machnicki studies variation in the post-cranial skeleton resulting from evolutionary and environmental factors. She is interested in how differences in skeletal morphology impact function. One aspect of her research focuses on the evolution and development of variation in the vertebral column and pelvis of primates. Recently, she has also been investigating how diet content and body composition impact bone development and architecture. Her overall goal is to look at factors (e.g. genes, diet, and exercise) that influence the development and function of the skeleton and its contribution to locomotion using 3D scanning, geometric morphometrics, histomorphometry, microscopy, and mouse models to inform on the evolution of locomotor patterns.
Dr. Machnicki teaches anatomy to the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) students.
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