معرفی
Ashley Morhardt, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Anatomy in Neuroscience at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. She directs the IoDino Lab, a multidisciplinary research space focused on studying the form, function, and evolution of both modern and extinct animals using cutting-edge techniques.
Dr. Morhardt's educational background includes:
- PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Ohio University (2016)
- MS in Biology from Western Illinois University (2009)
- BS in Biology from Illinois College (2006)
As a paleoneurologist, Dr. Morhardt's research program investigates evolutionary patterns of brain and brain-region size and shape across non-mammalian vertebrates, with special focus on dinosaurs. She employs comparative anatomical studies, digital restoration techniques, and modern comparative methods to understand the evolution of neural diversity. Her work integrates paleontology with neuroscience and leverages advanced imaging technologies, particularly diffusible iodine-based contrast-enhanced computed tomography (diceCT), which enables non-destructive 3D visualization of soft tissues in both fossil and modern specimens without dissection or histology.
Dr. Morhardt's publications reveal a consistent focus on brain evolution across deep time, with particular attention to the relationship between brain structure and function in extinct species. Her research spans studies of dinosaurs, birds, alligators, and other vertebrates, providing insights into evolutionary patterns of neural development through comparative analysis of endocasts and brain morphology.
Dr. Morhardt has received recognition for her scholarly contributions:
- 2017 – Postdoctoral Platform Presentation Award Session Selected Participant, American Association of Anatomists
- 2016 – Alfred Sherwood Romer Prize Session Selected Participant, Society of Vertebrate Paleontology
- 2014 – Research Fellow – Ohio Center for Ecology and Evolutionary Studies
At Washington University, Dr. Morhardt maintains an active research program with significant collaborative networks across institutions. Her IoDino Lab serves as a hub for interdisciplinary research at the intersection of anatomy, paleontology, and neuroscience, emphasizing excellence in scholarship, teaching, and scientific outreach.
