Susan Motch Perrine

Susan Motch Perrine is an Associate Research Professor in the Department of Anthropology at The Pennsylvania State University, located in the College of the Liberal Arts. Her work focuses on craniofacial development, genetic disorders, and the application of advanced imaging techniques to study embryonic morphology.

Her research investigates the developmental mechanisms underlying craniofacial syndromes such as achondroplasia and Crouzon syndrome, utilizing mouse models to study genetic mutations like FGFR2 and FGFR3. She employs cutting-edge methodologies including 3D micro-CT imaging, transcriptomic analysis, and machine learning (e.g., UniCoN networks) to analyze cartilage segmentation and cranial morphogenesis.

Recent studies have explored the effects of drugs like infigratinib on bone fusion in craniosynostosis, the role of KLF16 in osteogenesis, and interactions between brain development and skull formation. Her work bridges evolutionary anthropology with biomedical research, contributing to both basic science and translational medicine.

Labs and collaborations involve advanced imaging facilities and computational biology resources. She has published extensively on topics ranging from Meckel’s cartilage dysfunction to cortex-specific gene overexpression impacts on cranial growth.