Timothy Ryan

Timothy Ryan is the Head and Professor of Anthropology at The Pennsylvania State University. He specializes in functional morphology, bone biomechanics, primate locomotion, and human evolution. His research employs advanced computational techniques like high-resolution CT imaging and 3D visualization to study bone structure and function. Ryan leads the Primate Functional Morphology Lab, which investigates interspecific trabecular bone variation, human skeletal ontogeny, and biomechanical modeling. He teaches courses on primate biology, evolutionary morphology, and 3D imaging. Notable fieldwork includes paleontological studies in China, Ethiopia, and the U.S. His work bridges anthropology, biology, and engineering to understand evolutionary and functional adaptations in primates.

• Education:
• B.A., University of New Orleans, 1994
• M.A., University of Texas at Austin, 1997
• Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin, 2001
• Research Focus: Bone biomechanics, primate locomotion evolution, 3D imaging techniques, and paleontology.
• Current Projects: Trabecular bone development in humans, primate locomotor behavior analysis, and integrative 3D morphometrics.

His lab’s work emphasizes translating morphological data into functional insights, with applications in evolutionary biology and clinical biomechanics.