
Dr Emma Sherratt
ARC Ext-Funded Rsch Fellow (C)
School of Biological Sciences
Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology
Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.
ARC Future Fellow (previously Research Fellow on the DVCR early career research fellowship scheme).
I am an Evolutionary Biologist. My research aims to understand how the diversity of animals and plants we see around us today came about.
I am an expert in morphometrics - the statistical analysis of organismal form (shape and size), which I apply to the study of morphological trait evolution at macroevolutionary scales. I also use these methods to answer questions pertaining to systematics and phylogenetics, biogeography, environmental adaptation, developmental biology and palaeontology.
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 variation.
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.
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. Email me for details.
Current Honours Opprtunities: http://www.emmasherratt.com/uploads/2/1/6/0/21606686/honours_projects_qmg_2021.pdf
- My Research
- Career
- Publications
- Grants and Funding
- Teaching
- Supervision
- Professional Activities
- Contact
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.
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Appointments
Date Position Institution name 2020 - 2024 ARC Future Fellow University of Adelaide 2019 - 2019 Lecturer (Teaching-Research Academic) 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 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 -
Research Interests
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Journals
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Conference Papers
Year Citation 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.
WoS12015 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 -
Conference Items
Year Citation 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). Poster session presented at the meeting of INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY. 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. Poster session presented at the meeting of American Journal of Physical Anthropology. Los Angeles, CA USA: Wiley. -
Original Creative Works
Year Citation 2012 Authors: Sherratt E. Title: They've Kept On Keeping On. Description: N/A. Extent: N/A.
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Datasets
Year Citation 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.
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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.
Research Grants
- 2020 Discovery Project (co-lead CI, with Prof Mike Lee Flinders University), Australian Research Council (DP200102328)
- 3-years’ research funds, $425,930
- 2020 Future Fellowship, Australian Research Council (FT190100803)
- 4-years’ salary and research funds, $681,697
- 2018 Research Fellowship, University of Adelaide, SA AUS (13120262)
- 12-months’ salary and research funds, $125,590
- 2017 Research Fellowship, University of Adelaide, SA AUS (13117787)
- 12-months’ salary and research funds, $121,400
- 2007 Ph.D. studentship, Natural Environmental Research Council (NERC) UK Industrial Collaborative Awards in Science and Engineering (CASE) studentship (NE/F009011/1 ES)
- 3.5-years stipend and research funds, £48,000
- 2005 Student Grant, British Herpetological Society, UK
- Research funds £1,000
- 2005 Summer Studentship Grant, Natural History Museum London, UK
- Research funds £1,000
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
Awards
- 2019 Women’s Research Excellence Award, University of Adelaide, SA AUS
- 2017 Best talk, at Research School of Biology early- and mid-career researchers Future Conference, Australian National University, ACT AUS
- 2006 Zoology Prize of Excellence, for B.Sc. (Hons) first class, The University of Manchester UK
Unit coordinator and instructor
- 2020 Semester 1 University of Adelaide, SA AUS
- Undergraduate student course (L2). Animal Identification II (ENV BIOL 2520)
- 12-week courses, including Tutorials, Research Placements, and Research Symposia; ~60 students each year
- 2019-20 University of Adelaide, SA AUS
- Undergraduate student courses (L1-L3). Principles & Practices of Research (Advanced) (SCIENCE 1300, 2300, 3100)
- 12-week courses, including Tutorials, Research Placements, and Research Symposia; ~60 students each year
- 2014-15 University of New England, NSW AUS
- Undergraduate student course (L1). Principles in Zoology (ZOOL 100)
- 12-week course; 1-week intensive school, plus 9 labs and 23 lectures; 52 Students -27 on campus, 25 off campus
Primary instructor
- 2019 Melbourne Museum & Boden Conference, Melbourne VIC AUS.
- Graduate student and above course. Short course in Geometric Morphometrics (2 hours, 19pp.)
- 2019 University of Adelaide, SA AUS.
- Graduate student and above course. Short course in Morphometrics (2 hours, 10pp.)
- 2015 Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Annual Meeting, Dallas TX USA.
- Graduate student and above workshop. Short course in Geometric Morphometrics (1 day, 35pp.)
- 2015 Australian National University, ACT AUS.
- Graduate student and above course. Short course in Geometric Morphometrics (1 day, 12pp.)
- 2015 University of Adelaide, SA AUS.
- Graduate student and above course. Short course in Geometric Morphometrics (1 day, 36pp.)
- 2014 University of Queensland, QLD AUS.
- Graduate student and above course. Short course in Geometric Morphometrics (1 day, 13pp.)
- 2014 University of New England, NSW AUS.
- Graduate student and above course. Short course in Geometric Morphometrics (2 days, 21pp.)
- 2009-13 The Natural History Museum, London, The University of Manchester, and Harvard University
- Training in micro-Computed Tomography Scanning and Processing Software
- (1 day each, 11 participants overall)
- 2009-10 The Natural History Museum, London.
- Graduate student and above course. Micro-CT Processing and Software Workshop (1 day, 5pp.)
- Graduate student and above course. Endnote Tricks and Tips Workshops (1 day each, 8pp.)
Co-instructor
- 2019 University of Adelaide, SA AUS.
- Undergraduate course. Lectures x 16, Science or Fiction (SCIENCE 1400)
- 2013 University of Iowa, IA USA.
- Graduate & above course. Short course in Geometric Morphometrics, (with Prof. D.C. Adams)
- 2010 Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain.
- Graduate & above course. Geometric Morphometrics & Phylogeny (with Prof. C.P. Klingenberg)
Guest lectures/labs
- 2020 University of California, Merced, CA USA
- Online discussion about my research for Herpetology (BIO 158)
- 2018-20 University of Adelaide, SA AUS
- Lab practical for Evolutionary Biology III (ENV BIOL 3590)
- Mentor for Major Research projects for Evolutionary Biology III (ENV BIOL 3590)
- 2018-20 University of Adelaide, SA AUS
- Lecture on Trait Evolution, Research Methods in Evolutionary Biology (ENV BIOL 3535)
- 2015-20 University of Idaho, ID USA
- Online discussion about my research for Herpetology (BIOL 489)
- 2016 Australian National University, ACT AUS
- Lecture and lab practical for Australian Vertebrates course (BIOL 2111)
- Lecture for 3D visualisations for Cyberculture course (ARTV 2018)
- 2015 University of New England, NSW AUS
- Lecture for Evolution and Biogeography (EVOL 211/411)
- 2013 Iowa State University, IA USA
- Two lectures for Vertebrate Biology course (BIOL 365)
- 2012 Harvard University, MA USA
- Lecture and lab practical on caecilians for Herpetology course (OEB 167)
Teaching assistant
- 2007-11 The University of Manchester, UK. Undergraduate student courses
- Anatomy Student Research Skills (lab-based, 1 semester)
- Data handling skills (lab- and computer-based, 1 semester)
- Analysis of Organismal Form (in person & online, 1 semester)
- Tropical Biology Field course, Ecuador (3 weeks)
- Behaviour & Ecology Field course, France (2 weeks)
- Marine Biology Field course, Scotland (1 week)
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Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2022 Principal Supervisor Evolution of Locomotion in Lagomorphs Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Ellen May Martin 2021 Principal Supervisor To advance knowledge on the phylogenetic status of the Australian hare and investigate changing morphologies involved in locomotion and dispersal ability of this species. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Nuttakorn Taewcharoen 2020 Co-Supervisor Morphology and ecology of Ediacaran fossils from Nilpena Station (Ediacara Conservation 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 2022 - ongoing Co-Supervisor An Extensive Morphometric Analysis of Craniofacial Structures in Hemifacial Microsomia The University of Adelaide Honours Degree of Bachelor of Science in Dentistry Honours Full Time Adeline Dao 2022 - ongoing 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 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 - ongoing Co-Supervisor Geometric morphometric approach to assess the dental arch shape in Australian Twins The University of Adelaide Doctor of Clinical Dentistry Master Full Time Ting-han Lin 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 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 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 Ecomorpholgical diversity of rabbits across South Australia The University of Adelaide Bachelor of Science with Honours in Evolution and Palaeobiology Honours Full Time Ellen Martin 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 2019 - 2021 Geometric morphometrics, MSc candidate University of Otago Lachie Scarsbrook 2017 - 2019 Geometric morphometrics, PhD candidate University of Adelaide Jaimi A Gray 2017 - ongoing Geometric morphometrics, PhD candidate The University of Adelaide Ray Chatterji
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Committee Memberships
Date Role Committee Institution Country 2019 - ongoing Member School of Biological Sciences Research Committee The University of Adelaide Australia 2019 - ongoing Council Royal Society of South Australia Royal Society of South Australia Australia -
Editorial Boards
Date Role Editorial Board Name Institution Country 2020 - ongoing Associate Editor Evolutionary Ecology Springer Nature Switzerland AG Australia
Connect With Me
External Profiles