Kate Garland

Tell us about yourself?

I see myself as an aspiring evolutionary morphologist that tends to look at things from a developmental perspective. I have been lucky to work with researcher labs in Australia, Europe and the US during my honours and master’s degree and explore the evolution of many animal traits across the tree of life. I have researched questions like, what happens to salamander limbs when they move from the water to land, how good ant-eating mammals’ sense of smell and taste is and why we don't see marsupials with hooves, wings or flippers.

Tell us about your research project?

My PhD project will use a newly developed mathematical model to describe the shape and growth of vertebrate beaks across the tree of life. An overarching goal of my PhD is to examine if this mathematical model is indicative of a model of biological growth, and in doing so reveal how development, evolution and function can separately and in unison generate form. To achieve this goal, I will study the 1) evolution, 2) function and 3) development of vertebrate beaks, predominantly bird beaks, in light of this mathematical model.

What you are most proud of since starting your PhD?

So far, my proudest and maybe happiest moment during my HDR has been attending an international conference and connecting with and sharing ideas with scientists that I have looked up to since starting my research. It was my “I have found my niche moment”.

What is your favourite anatomical structure and why? 

The cribriform plate. Because of its unique perforated structure and also that its morphology can be directly related to a sense, in this case, the sense of smell.

What do you enjoy doing outside of your research? 

I like to go on bush walks and spend way too long looking for birds and other critters, watch a good film with a big bucket of popcorn, swim and read a book by the beach.

What advice would you give to incoming PhD students in the Centre? 

Surround yourself with a strong support network of family, friends and colleges and make sure to make time for them during the busy and not so busy times. And look to make the path through research and academia easier and more accessible for those that will come after you, it helps create a stronger and richer research network and builds a wider more diverse academic perspective and community.