APrf Rachel Norris
Associate Professor
School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences
College of Sciences
Research Interests
- Interspecific and intraspecific variation in morphology of mammals
- Osteology and Craniometry of Mammals
- Geometric Morphometrics
- Skeletal anatomy of vertebrates
- Evolution of hominids
Current research includes musculoskeletal fitness in small athletic mammals; microevolution in canid craniometry; dingo skeletal morphometrics; craniometric variation in marsupials; climbing adaptations in marsupials and primates and craniometric diversity in papionine primates for interpretation in hominind phylogeny.
| Date | Position | Institution name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 - ongoing | Academic Lead | Adelaide University |
| 2023 - 2025 | Deputy Head of School, Animal and Veterinary Sciences | The University of Adelaide |
| 2023 - ongoing | Associate Professor in Veterinary Anatomy | The University of Adelaide |
| 2015 - 2022 | Head, Department of Animal and Veterinary Bioscience | University of Adelaide |
| 2007 - 2022 | Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Anatomy | The University of Adelaide |
| 1996 - 2007 | Wood Jones Lecturer in Comparative Anatomy | The University of Adelaide |
| 1992 - 1996 | Associate Lecturer in Comparative Anatomy | The University of Adelaide |
| Date | Institution name | Country | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Adelaide | Australia | PhD | |
| The University of Adelaide | Australia | BSc (Hons: Zoology) | |
| The University of Adelaide | Australia | BSc (Zoology major) |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2010 | Norris, R., & Wilkes, A. N. (2010). Diet or Habit? An investigation into the morphological divergence seen in the Australian marsupial suborder Vombatiformes.. Poster session presented at the meeting of International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology. Uruguay. |
| 2007 | Norris, R. M., Henneberg, M., Kuperavage, A., & Eckhardt, R. B. (2007). Koalas, papionines and humans: Understanding variation and diversity in human evolution. Poster session presented at the meeting of JOURNAL OF MORPHOLOGY. WILEY-LISS. |
| 1999 | Norris, R., Johnson, B., & Henneberg, M. (1999). The cotton-top tamarin (Sanguinus oedipus) in captive and free-ranging environments. Poster session presented at the meeting of Australasian Society for Human Biology. Sydney, Australia. |
| 1999 | Norris, R., Henneberg, M., & Tedman, R. (1999). Evolution of jaw suspension. Poster session presented at the meeting of The International Association for Dental Research, Aust & NZ Division, 39th Annual Scientific Meeting. Adelaide, Australia. |
| 1997 | Norris, R. (1997). Testing multiple species hypothesis on frogs. Poster session presented at the meeting of Australasian Society for Human Biology and the Fifth World Academic Conference on Human Ecology of the IUAES's Commission on Human Ecology. Adelaide, Australia. |
2016 Faculty of Science e-Learning Grant $5,000 (completed - produced 22 interactive canine musculoskeletal anatomy resources)
2015 School of Animal and Veterinary Science Seed Grant $4,000
ARC Discovery Grant $225,000
'Implications of morphological and molecular measures of diversity in papionine primates for interpretation of hominid phylogeny'
Investigators: Henneberg, M, Norris, RM, Eckhardt, R.
Main teaching is within the Bachelor of Science (Veterinary Bioscience) program
- VET SC 2510A/BRW Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology II
- VET SC 3520A/BRW Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology III
Guest appearances in
- ANIML SC 2506RW Comparative Animal Anatomy and Physiology
- ANIML SC 2500RW Companion Animal and Equine Studies
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Program | Degree Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Co-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 | Co-Supervisor | Evolutionary Constraints and Trade-Offs in the Locomotor Morphology of Birds and Mammals | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Miss Ellen May Martin |
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Program | Degree Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 - 2025 | Co-Supervisor | Constructing the body axis for running: Musculoskeletal structure of the vertebral column and its relationship with locomotion in the Leporidae | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Nuttakorn Taewcharoen |
| 2007 - 2011 | Co-Supervisor | The Australian Cretaceous Ichthyosaur Platypterygius australis: Understanding its Taxonomy, Morphology, and Palaeobiology | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Miss Maria Zammit |
| Date | Role | Committee | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 - ongoing | Representative | Curriculum, Program Management and Review Committee | Faculty of Sciences The University of Adelaide | Australia |
| 2013 - ongoing | Member | Admissions Committee | School of Animal and Veterinary Science, The University of Adelaide | Australia |
| 2013 - ongoing | Chair | Veterinary Bioscience Program Management Committee | University of Adelaide | Australia |
| 2013 - ongoing | Member | Learning and Teaching Management Committee | School of Animal and Veterinary Science, University of Adelaide | Australia |
| Date | Role | Membership | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 - ongoing | Member | Australian Institute of Anatomical Sciences | Australia |
| 2015 - ongoing | Member | Institute of Anatomical Sciences | United Kingdom |
| 1998 - ongoing | Member | International Society of Vertebrate Morphologists | - |
| 1989 - ongoing | Member | The Willi Hennig Society | United States |
| 1987 - ongoing | Member | Royal Society of South Australia | Australia |
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