Myra Laird

Myra Laird is an Assistant Professor of Basic and Translational Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. Her research focuses on evolutionary anthropology, human biology, and food studies, with a particular emphasis on primate feeding behavior, biomechanics, and ontogenetic development. Her work integrates field observations, experimental methods, and morphological analyses to understand evolutionary adaptations in primates.

Her research interests span evolutionary anthropology, biological anthropology, and human evolution. She investigates topics such as primate feeding mechanics, masticatory system function, and the interplay between morphology and behavior in primates. Recent projects include studies on capuchin monkeys and gibbons, exploring how ontogenetic changes in anatomy influence feeding and locomotor strategies.

Her articles highlight interdisciplinary approaches, combining biomechanical modeling, kinematic analysis, and morphological comparisons to address questions about primate evolution and adaptation. Key themes include bite force-gape tradeoffs, dental wear progression, and the functional implications of craniofacial development in primates.

No scientific awards are explicitly mentioned in the provided text. Laird’s work is collaborative, with a focus on primate behavior, ecology, and evolutionary biology. Her research contributes to understanding the evolutionary roots of human biology through comparative studies of non-human primates.