Rachel A. Roston, Ph.D.

I am an integrative biologist interested in all aspects of skeletal biology from gross anatomy all the way down to bone cells and collagen fibers. My research draws heavily from the fields of comparative and human anatomy, biomechanics, paleontology, and evolutionary-developmental biology in order to understand the origins of skeletal form and function.

I recently joined Murat Maga's lab at Seattle Children's Research Institute as a postdoctoral fellow. As a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Washington School of Dentistry, I worked with Sue Herring, Kathy Rafferty, and Tracy Popowics to examine the complex biology of craniofacial sutures. I received my Ph.D. from Duke University, where I worked with Louise Roth to investigate skull telescoping, craniofacial development, and suture histomorphology in dolphins, whales, and other cetaceans. My previous work also includes studies of bones and bone marrow in biomedical contexts and embryology of blue whales with Emily Buchholtz at Wellesley College.

Throughout my career, I have enjoyed working with colleagues across campus and in diverse disciplines including departments of Biology, Orthopedics, Oral Health Sciences, and Engineering. Outside of the lab, I am also interested in the history and philosophy of science, science and religion, biological art and imaging, cetology, and the roles and history of women and minorities in science.