Dr Emma Sherratt
Senior Lecturer
School of Biological Sciences
Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology
Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.
ROLES:
=> Director of Science Programs: Program Director for the Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Science (Advanced) including the end-on Honours and embedded Honours (4-year) programs
=> Lead of the Quantitative Morphology Group: our research aims to understand how the diversity of animals and plants we see around us today came about, so called morphological evolution
=> Academic Transition Panel, Science. Overseeing curriculum development for the Bachelor of Science and Master of Science of Adelaide University.
See tabs below for details about my Research, Teaching and Professional Activities
- My Research
- Career
- Publications
- Grants and Funding
- Teaching
- Supervision
- Professional Activities
- Contact
I am an evolutionary biologist with expertise in morphometrics - the statistical analysis of organismal form (shape and size), which I apply to the study of morphological trait evolution at macroevolutionary (among species) and microevolutionary (within species) scales.
My day-to-day research is computer based and museum focussed. I use cutting-edge 3D technology, such as X-ray microCT and laser scanning, to get digital anatomical information from museum specimens. Then I take precise measurements on these morphological structures and use statistical analysis to test specific hypotheses about morphological trait evolution.
I investigate macroevolutionary trends in the morphological evolution of organisms to understand the historical factors responsible for biodiversity. My empirical research has focused primarily with reptiles and amphibians, but also includes mammals, beetles and molluscs. I apply my expertise in 3D digital imaging (micro-CT, surface scanning and microscopy) to characterise morphological variation, and also use these data to contribute to systematics (taxonomy) and phylogenetics.
From 2013-2017 I was co-author of the widely used R package 'geomorph' for statistical analysis of multivariate and multidimensional data. I continue to write code for my own research projects and teach workshops in morphometrics.
Reptiles and amphibians are my passion, but I have worked on a diverse array of animals including snakes, rabbits and mice, caecilian amphibians, Anolis lizards, bivalved scallops, and frogs (and their tadpoles). I have also supervised students studying morphological evolution of dung beetles, lizards, marsupials, primates, bird eggs and even plant leaves.
=> Contact me for research collaboration opportunities and morphometrics training.
=> Contact me for supervision: I am happy to take students at all levels (undergraduate student summer scholarships, undergraduate honours, masters and PhD). I have projects available using morphometrics and phylogenetic comparative methods to answer questions in evolutionary biology, developmental biology, palaeontology and ecology.
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Appointments
Date Position Institution name 2023 - ongoing Senior Lecturer (T&R Academic, continuing) University of Adelaide 2023 - ongoing Director Science Programs University of Adelaide 2021 - 2023 Senior Lecturer (T&R Academic, fixed-term) University of Adelaide 2020 - 2023 ARC Future Fellow University of Adelaide 2019 - 2019 Lecturer (T&R Academic, fixed-term) University of Adelaide 2017 - 2019 Research Fellow University of Adelaide, Adelaide 2016 - 2017 Postdoctoral Research Fellow Australian National University, Canberra 2014 - 2016 Lecturer in Zoology (T&R Academic, fixed-term) University of New England 2013 - 2014 Postdoctoral Research Assistant Iowa State University, Ames 2011 - 2013 Postdoctoral Research Assistant Harvard University, Cambridge 2006 - 2007 Research Technician University of Manchester, Manchester -
Awards and Achievements
Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount 2020 Fellowship ARC Future Fellowship The University of Adelaide Australia $681,697 2019 Award Women’s Research Excellence Award The University of Adelaide Australia $5000 2018 Award Travel Award from Society for the Study of Evolution Society for the Study of Evolution France US $5,000 2017 Award Early Career Researcher International Conference Travel Award The University of Adelaide Australia $2000 2017 Fellowship Early Career Research Fellowship The University of Adelaide Australia $20,000 plus salary 2017 Recognition Best talk Australian National University Australia - 2012 Award Postdoctoral Award for Professional Development Harvard University United States US$1,000 2007 Scholarship PhD Scholarship, National Environmental Research Council (NERC) industrial collaborative awards in science and engineering (CASE) University of Manchester United Kingdom - 2006 Award Zoology Prize of Excellence University of Manchester United Kingdom - -
Language Competencies
Language Competency French Can read, write, speak and understand spoken German Can read, write, speak and understand spoken -
Education
Date Institution name Country Title 2007 - 2011 University of Manchester, Manchester United Kingdom Ph.D. Animal Biology 2002 - 2006 University of Manchester, Manchester United Kingdom B.Sc. Zoology with Industrial Experience -
Certifications
Date Title Institution name Country 2020 Standard Mental Health First Aider Mental Health First Aid, Australia Australia -
Research Interests
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Journals
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Conference Papers
Year Citation 2023 Starr, K., Sherratt, E., & Sanger, T. (2023). Evolutionary Patterns of Anolis Skull Shape Diversity. In INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY Vol. 63 (pp. S440). OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. 2020 Gray, J. A., Sherratt, E., Hutchinson, M. N., & Jones, M. E. H. (2020). Dragons of the trees, the rocks, and the ground: the evolution of cranial shape in a continental-scale evolutionary radiation of lizards (Lepidosauria: Agamidae). In INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY Vol. 60 (pp. E89). Austin, TX: OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. 2020 Kraatz, B., FRANKENBERG, L., Sherratt, E., & SCHMITZ, L. (2020). A link between orbital convergence and locomotor behavior in leporids and its implications for the evolution of the primate visual system. In American Journal of Physical Anthropology Vol. 117 (pp. 148-149). Los Angeles, CA USA: Wiley. 2019 Sherratt, E., & Sanders, K. L. (2019). Tiny heads: the evolution of microcephalic sea snakes. In INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY Vol. 59 (pp. E212). Tampa, FL: OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. 2016 Barak, M. M., Sherratt, E., & Lieberman, D. E. (2016). Trabecular orientation in the 3rd metacarpal head of humans and chimps reveals their difference in locomotion behavior. In AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY Vol. 159 (pp. 86). Atlanta, GA: WILEY-BLACKWELL.
WoS22015 Sherratt, E., Adams, D. C., & Serb, J. M. (2015). Macroevolution, phylomorphospace and directional evolution in recessing scallops. In INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY Vol. 55 (pp. E166). West Palm Beach, FL: OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. 2012 Sherratt, E., Wilkinson, M., Gower, D. J., & Klingenberg, C. P. (2012). Evolution of Cranial Modularity in Caecilians. In INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY Vol. 52 (pp. E159). Charleston, SC: OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC.
WoS1 -
Original Creative Works
Year Citation 2012 Authors: Sherratt E. Title: They've Kept On Keeping On. Description: N/A. Extent: N/A.
2012 Authors: Sherratt E. Title: Is it a snake? Is it a worm? No it's a caecilian!. Description: Article aimed at 16 to 18-year-olds in educational magazine. Discusses research on caecilian amphibians.. Extent: 7 pages. -
Internet Publications
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Datasets
Year Citation 2023 Sherratt, E. (2023). Data for: Evolutionary transition from surface to subterranean living in Australian water beetles (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae) through adaptive and relaxed selection.
2022 Sherratt, E. (2022). Data from: Macroevolution in axial morphospace: Innovations accompanying the transition to marine environments in elapid snakes.
2020 Marcy, A., Guillerme, T., Sherratt, E., Rowe, K., Phillips, M., & Weisbecker, V. (2020). Data for: Australian rodents reveal conserved craniofacial evolutionary allometry across 10 million years of murid evolution.
2018 Sherratt, E., Anstis, M., & Keogh, S. K. (2018). Ecomorphological diversity of Australian tadpoles.
2018 Attard, M., Sherratt, E., McDonald, P., Young, I., Vidal-García, M., & Wroe, S. (2018). Data for: A new, three-dimensional geometric morphometric approach to assess egg shape.
2018 Sherratt, E., Rasmussen, A., & Sanders, K. (2018). Data for: Trophic specialisation drives morphological evolution in sea snakes.
2017 Sherratt, E., Vidal-García, M., Anstis, M., & Keogh, S. (2017). Data for: Adult frogs and tadpoles have different macroevolutionary patterns across the Australian continent.
2017 Esquerré, D., Sherratt, E., & Keogh, J. S. (2017). Data for: Evolution of extreme ontogenetic allometric diversity and heterochrony in pythons, a clade of giant and dwarf snakes.
2017 Attard, M., Medina, I., Sherratt, E., & Langmore, N. (2017). Data for: Egg shape mimicry in parasitic cuckoos.
2015 Sherratt, E., Castañeda, M. D. R., Garwood, R., Mahler, D. L., Sanger, T., Herrel, A., . . . Losos, J. (2015). Data for: Amber fossils demonstrate deep-time stability of Caribbean lizard communities.
2014 Castañeda, D., Sherratt, S., & Losos, B. (2014). The Mexican amber anole, Anolis electrum, within a phylogenetic context: implications for Caribbean anoles origins (project).
- Sherratt, E., Sanders, K. L., Watson, A., N, H. M., Lee, M. S. Y., & Palci, A. (n.d.). Data for: Heterochronic shifts mediate ecomorphological convergence in skull shape of microcephalic sea snakes.
- Sherratt, E., & Sanders, K. (n.d.). Data for: Patterns of intracolumnar size variation inform the heterochronic mechanisms underlying extreme body shape divergence in microcephalic sea snakes.
- Harvey, A., & Sherratt, E. (n.d.). Data for: A comparison of ecomorphology between introduced and native Australian dung beetles.
- Palci, A., Lee, M. S. Y., Crowe-Riddell, J. M., & Sherratt, E. (n.d.). Data for: Shape and size variation in elapid snake fangs, and the effects of phylogeny and diet.
- Zhao, Y., Guzik, M., Humphreys, W., Watts, C. H. S., Cooper, S., & Sherratt, E. (n.d.). Data for: Evolutionary transition from surface to subterranean living in Australian water beetles (Coleoptera, Dytiscidae) through adaptive and relaxed selection.
- Latimer, A., Sherratt, E., Bonnet, T., & Torsten, T. (n.d.). Data for: Semicircular canal shape diversity among modern lepidosaurs – Life habit, size, allometry.
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Software
Year Citation 2017 Adams, D. C., Collyer, M., Kaliontzopoulou, A., & Sherratt, E. (2017). geomorph: Software for geometric morphometric analyses (Version 3.0.5) [Computer Software]. CRAN. -
Filesets
Year Citation - Sherratt, E., Coutts, F., Rasmussen, A. R., & Sanders, K. (n.d.). Data for: Vertebral evolution and ontogenetic allometry: The developmental basis of extreme body shape divergence in microcephalic sea snakes.
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Preprint
Year Citation 2024 Taewcharoen, N., Norris, R., & Sherratt, E. (2024). Small-to-medium sized mammals show greater morphological disparity in cervical than lumbar vertebrae across different terrestrial modes of locomotion.
2023 Mitchell, R., Sherratt, E., & Weisbecker, V. (2023). Facing the facts: Adaptive trade-offs along body size ranges determine mammalian craniofacial scaling.
Research Grants
2023 Australia & Pacific Science Foundation (APSF23039), Chief Investigator: Dr Natalie Warburton, Murdoch University; co-Investigator: Dr Emma Sherratt
- 3-years’ research funds, AU$44,380
2023 University of Otago Research Grant, University of Otago, Principal Investigator: Dr Nic Rawlence; Co-PI: Dr Kieren Mitchell; Associate Investigators: Dr Emma Sherratt, Prof Aaron Bauer, Dr Stuart Nielsen, Dr Christophe Sand
- 12-months’ research funds, NZD$50,000
2020 Discovery Project Australian Research Council (DP200102328), co-lead CI, with Prof Mike Lee Flinders University
- 3-years’ research funds, AUD$425,930
2020 Future Fellowship, Australian Research Council (FT190100803)
- 4-years’ salary and research funds, AUD$681,697
2018 University of Adelaide Research Fellowship, University of Adelaide, SA AUS (13120262)
- 12-months’ salary and research funds, AUD$125,590
2017 University of Adelaide Research Fellowship, University of Adelaide, SA AUS (13117787)
- 12-months’ salary and research funds, AUD$121,400
Travel Grants
2018 Travel Award from Society for the Study of Evolution
- Travel grant (US$500) to attend Evolution Joint Congress in Montpellier, France
2017 Early Career Researcher International Conference Travel Scheme, University of Adelaide, SA AUS
- Travel grant (AU$2,000) to attend Evolution, Portland OR USA
2012 Postdoctoral Award for Professional Development, Harvard University, MA USA
- Travel grant (US$1,000) to attend World Congress of Herpetology, Vancouver Canada
2003 Zochonis Special Enterprise award, The University of Manchester, UK
- Travel grant (£1,000) to join Operation Wallacea conservation group in Indonesia
Coordinator
Principles & Practices of Research (Advanced) (SCIENCE 1300)
- Course Coordinator
Principles & Practices of Research (Advanced) (SCIENCE 1300, 2300, 3100)
- Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Discipline Coordinator
Guest Lecturer
Research Methods in Evolutionary Biology III (ENV BIOL 3535 Sem 1)
- Trait evolution lecture
Evolutionary Biology III (ENV BIOL 3590 Sem 2)
- Snake practical class
University of California, Merced, CA USA
- Online discussion about my research for Herpetology (BIO 158 Spring)
University of Idaho, ID USA
- Online discussion about my research for Herpetology (BIOL 489 Fall)
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Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2024 Principal Supervisor Shaping palaeoherpetology in Australia: a spatial and temporal view of the palaeoecology of Varanus. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Isabella Donato 2024 Co-Supervisor Conservation biology of Australian native marine animals Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Jasmine Doreen Towle 2024 Co-Supervisor The evolutionary patterns and processes of diversification in the Australian bat genus Vespadelus. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Fabian Eric Sauchelli 2023 Co-Supervisor Evolution of Australian Underground Water Beetle (Dytiscidae) Fauna: A Phylo-Comparative Approach for Evolution in the Dark Biosphere Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Yuxuan Zhao 2022 Principal Supervisor Evolutionary Constraints and Trade-Offs in the Locomotor Morphology of Birds and Mammals Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Ellen May Martin 2022 Principal Supervisor An exploration of sexual dimorphism within Australian snakes Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Tamika Jayne Nash-Hahn 2021 Principal Supervisor Musculoskeletal structure of the vertebral column and its functions in animal locomotion: a comparative study between the European brown hare (Lepus europaeus) and the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) (Leporidae, Lagomorpha) Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Nuttakorn Taewcharoen -
Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2022 - 2023 Principal Supervisor Cephalic and encephalic arterial anatomy and perfusion in birds and mammals assessed via microsphere circulation, contrast injection, and osteoforamina measurement Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Thomas Jack Nelson 2020 - 2024 Co-Supervisor Morphology and ecology of Ediacaran fossils from Nilpena Ediacara National Park, Flinders Ranges, South Australia Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Tory Lyn Botha -
Other Supervision Activities
Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name 2023 - 2024 Principal Supervisor Is the leporid auditory bulla size correlated with aridity? The University of Adelaide Bachelor of Science with Honours in Evolution and Palaeobiology Honours Full Time Jessica Broad 2023 - 2023 Principal Supervisor Identifying fossil frog ilia from Naracoorte Caves via the comparison of their geometric morphometric measurements to ilia of extant Limestone Coast frogs The University of Adelaide Bachelor of Science with Honours in Evolution and Palaeobiology Honours Full Time Natasha Lee Hiotis 2023 - ongoing External Supervisor Triassic vertebrate fossils of Australia James Cook University Doctor of Philosophy (Natural and Physical Sciences) Doctorate Full Time Ashten Turner 2022 - 2023 Principal Supervisor Investigating conservation status and geographical distribution of native and feral Leporidae in China The University of Adelaide Summer Scholarship Other Full Time Leyan Chen 2022 - ongoing Other Adaptation and constraint in macrostomatan snake jaws University of Chicago Ph.D. Evolutionary Biology Doctorate Full Time Danny Rhoda 2022 - 2023 Principal Supervisor Diving in the dark: morphological diversity of subterranean beetles The University of Adelaide Bachelor of Science with Honours in Evolution and Palaeobiology Honours Full Time Yuxuan Zhao 2021 - ongoing Other Spatial variability in carapace morphology for Sternotherus carinatus (razor-backed musk turtle). Stephen F. Austin State University Master's of Science in Natural and Applied Science Master Part Time Robert Zac Selden, Jr. 2021 - 2023 External Supervisor Cranial evolution in the Pygopodidae – ontogeny, ecology and divergence in skull shape of legless lizards Murdoch University Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Matthew Patterson 2021 - 2021 Principal Supervisor Morphological evolution of Diplodactyloid geckos The University of Adelaide Bachelor of Science with Honours in Evolution and Palaeobiology Honours Full Time Amy Green 2021 - 2021 Principal Supervisor Vertebral evolution of snakes The University of Adelaide Bachelor of Science with Honours in Evolution and Palaeobiology Honours Full Time Tamika Nash-Hahn 2021 - 2021 Principal Supervisor Ecomorpholgical diversity of rabbits The University of Adelaide Bachelor of Science with Honours in Evolution and Palaeobiology Honours Full Time Ellen Martin 2021 - 2021 Principal Supervisor Phenotypic plasticity in Tiger Snakes The University of Adelaide Bachelor of Science with Honours in Evolution and Palaeobiology Honours Full Time Ammresh 2021 - 2021 Principal Supervisor Morphology and genetics of Australian rabbits The University of Adelaide School of Biological Sciences - Undergraduate Summer Scholarship Other Full Time Peter Brownridge 2020 - 2021 Co-Supervisor Cranial and dental phenomics associated with Fibroblast Growth Factor gene knockout (FGF10+/-) mutation The University of Adelaide Honours Degree of Bachelor of Science in Dentistry Honours Full Time Jenny Tan 2019 - 2020 Principal Supervisor Morphological Evolution of Foot Morphology in Australian Passerine Birds The University of Adelaide School of Biological Sciences - Undergraduate Summer Scholarship Other Full Time Ellen Martin 2019 - 2020 Principal Supervisor Constructing the insect morphospace The University of Adelaide School of Biological Sciences - Undergraduate Summer Scholarship Other Full Time Jackson Dann 2019 - 2020 Co-Supervisor Eoandromeda, the Ediacaran Fossil The University of Adelaide Bachelor of Science with Honours in Evolution and Palaeobiology Honours Full Time Tory Botha 2019 - 2019 Principal Supervisor Morphological Evolution of Dung Beetles University of Adelaide Bachelor of Science with Honours in Evolution and Palaeobiology Honours Full Time Alex Harvey 2018 - 2019 Principal Supervisor Geometric Morphometrics University of Adelaide Bachelor Science (Environmental Science and Engineering) Other Part Time Dylan Simunsen 2018 - 2019 Co-Supervisor What Makes a Dingo? Investigating the Variation in the Dingoes’ Skeletal Morphology The University of Adelaide Bachelor of Science with Honours in Ecology and Environmental Science Honours Full Time Aurelie Kanishka 2017 - 2018 External Supervisor Ontogenetic shifts in the diet and skull morphology of the dugite (Pseudonaja affinis) Murdoch University Bachelor of Science with Honours Honours Part Time Matthew Patterson 2015 - 2019 Co-Supervisor Morphology, Biomechanics and Diet in Anthropoidea (Primates) University of New England Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Hiu Ying Luk 2015 - 2019 Co-Supervisor The cranial mechanics of herbivory in diprotodont marsupials: an integrated geometric morphometric and finite element approach University of New England Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time David Rex Mitchell -
Mentoring
Date Topic Location Name 2022 - ongoing Geometric morphometrics, MSc candidate University of Otago Alexander Brown 2019 - 2021 Geometric morphometrics, MSc candidate University of Otago Lachie Scarsbrook 2017 - 2019 Geometric morphometrics, PhD candidate University of Adelaide Jaimi A Gray 2017 - 2021 Geometric morphometrics, PhD candidate The University of Adelaide Ray Chatterji
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Committee Memberships
Date Role Committee Institution Country 2024 - ongoing President Australasian Evolution Society Australasian Evolution Society Australia 2023 - ongoing Member Faculty of SET Curriculum Committee University of Adelaide Australia 2023 - ongoing Member Faculty of SET Learning & Teaching Committee University of Adelaide Australia 2023 - ongoing Vice-President Australasian Evolution Society Australasian Evolution Society Australia 2022 - ongoing Council Royal Society of South Australia Royal Society of South Australia Australia 2019 - ongoing Member School of Biological Sciences Research Committee The University of Adelaide Australia 2019 - 2020 Council Royal Society of South Australia Royal Society of South Australia Australia -
Editorial Boards
Date Role Editorial Board Name Institution Country 2024 - ongoing Associate Editor Evolution Oxford Academic Australia 2023 - ongoing Associate Editor Evolutionary Journal of the Linnean Society Evolutionary Journal of the Linnean Society United Kingdom 2020 - ongoing Associate Editor Evolutionary Ecology Springer Nature Switzerland AG Australia
Connect With Me
External Profiles