Hillary Maddin

Dr. Hillary C. Maddin is a Professor in the Department of Earth Sciences at Carleton University, Canada. Her research focuses on vertebrate paleontology and evolutionary developmental biology, particularly the evolution of cranial morphology in tetrapods. She leads the Maddin Lab, which integrates paleontology, genetics, and functional morphology to study morphological diversity over large time scales. Dr. Maddin is also an advisor for the Vertebrate Palaeontology Concentration and actively promotes equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in STEM through her role as the department’s EDI representative.

Her work includes annual field programs in Nova Scotia and Siberia, exploring Carboniferous and Permo-Triassic rock formations. She supervises a diverse team of graduate and undergraduate students, focusing on projects such as the evolution of amphibian skulls, developmental genetics, and paleoecological studies. The Maddin Lab emphasizes collaborative research, with partnerships like the Carleton-New Brunswick Museum project investigating Carboniferous vertebrates.

Key research themes include the functional and developmental origins of anatomical structures, such as the skull-neck boundary in tetrapods and the evolution of limblessness in amniotes. Dr. Maddin employs advanced techniques like micro-CT scanning to analyze fossil morphology and has contributed to taxonomic revisions of ancient vertebrates, including embolomerous tetrapods and temnospondyls.

Her fieldwork and lab-based studies have led to significant discoveries, such as the identification of new species like Infernovenator steenae, and insights into early amniote ecosystems. The lab also prioritizes mentorship, offering opportunities for students to engage in cutting-edge research and interdisciplinary projects.