Christopher M. Zobek
About me
Welcome! I am an anatomist, functional morphologist, and evolutionary biologist interested in the evolution and biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system, with a focus on feeding behavior in reptiles.
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I'm currently a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Missouri Columbia in Dr. Casey Holliday's lab. For my Ph.D., I am studying the architecture and biomechanics of snake jaw and palate musculature to better understand the evolution of snake feeding behavior.
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Vist my "About" page for more details on my research interests and background.
DiceCT data of a copperhead, Agkistrodon contortrix
Research
Interests
My research focuses on evolution, anatomy, and biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system, with a focus on the feeding apparatus. My research interests include soft tissue morphology, evolution of feeding behaviors, the origins of cranial kinesis, and the biomechanics of vertebrate skulls. Currently my focus is the evolution and biomechanics of soft tissues, specifically muscles, in relation to feeding behavior. Using stained CT data and novel fiber tracking methods, I am able to measure muscle architecture in 3D and collect quantitative data for further analyses.​
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For my Ph.D. dissertation, I am investigating the biomechanics and evolution of the snake feeding apparatus to understand the origins of complex cranial kinesis and novel feeding behavior. To do this, I am using DiceCT (Diffusible Iodine Contrast Enhanced Computed Tomography) and fiber tracking software to measure muscle architecture across the snake tree to understand how these cranial muscles have evolved in snakes.
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My other past and present research projects include studies of pangolin anatomy, frog mandible morphology, and morphometrics of snake teeth.