Lars Schmitz

Lars Schmitz is an Associate Professor of Biology at the Keck Science Department within The Claremont Colleges. He holds a joint appointment across Claremont McKenna College, Pitzer College, and Scripps College, serving as a faculty member in the Biology program.

• Education
  • Postdoc at University of California Davis, Wainwright Lab
  • Ph.D. in Biology from University of California Davis (2008, supervisor: Ryosuke Motani)
  • MSc in Biology from University of Bonn (2003, supervisor: Martin Sander)
  • BSc in Biology from University of Bonn (2000)

Research Interests
Lars Schmitz focuses on functional and evolutionary vertebrate morphology, paleobiology, and the evolution of vertebrate vision. His work integrates phylogenetic comparative methods to study morphological adaptations across geological timescales. His lab employs advanced visualization techniques, such as confocal laser scanning microscopy, to analyze retinal structures and test visual performance through behavioral experiments.

Publication Trends
His recent publications emphasize vertebrate sensory adaptation, phylogenetic analysis of fossil records, and paleoecological reconstructions. Key topics include the transition to terrestrial vision, nocturnal behavior in synapsids, and marine predator evolution during the Triassic period.

Advising and Grants
He mentors students in morphological evolution projects using museum collections (e.g., LA County Museum of Natural History) and computational methods. His lab supports thesis work involving retinal physiology, visualization techniques, and phylogenetic data analysis with a strong computational component.

Labs and Teams
His research group operates within the Keck Science Department’s facilities, including a confocal laser scanning microscope for retinal analysis. Students participate in data collection from museum specimens, lab experiments, and visualization technique development.