Paul E. Morse

Paul E. Morse, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Cell & Developmental Biology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. He teaches human histology in the Masters of Science in Modern Human Anatomy program and the School of Dental Medicine. His research explores the adaptive dietary context of primate evolution through comparative dental morphology, with fieldwork in the Bighorn Basin (Wyoming) and advanced microCT-based 3D analyses.

• Professional Affiliations: Collaborates with the Florida Museum of Natural History, Stonybrook University, Duke University, and the Smithsonian Institution.
• Research Focus: Investigates primate origins via dental topography metrics (RFI, DNE, OPCR), enamel thickness, and wear patterns, linking diet to evolutionary radiations during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM).
• Software Development: Co-created molaR, a widely-used open-source R package for dental topography analysis.

His recent work connects climate change impacts on vertebrate faunas during the PETM to primate biogeography, utilizing computational tools to decode dietary signals from fossil teeth. He also contributes to marine vertebrate studies, including shark vertebral microanatomy.

Key collaborations include interdisciplinary projects with institutions like the Colorado State Anatomical Board (2023-present), Rocky Mountain Biological Anthropology Association (Vice President, 2021-present), and Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (Student & Postdoctoral Liaison Committee, 2019-2022).