Matthew W Colbert
Mailcode: C1100
Dr. Colbert's research primarily involves the use of X-ray computerized tomography to visualize and describe vertebrate cranial morphology. He has focused his investigations on patterns of evolutionary and ontogenetic variation in the Tapiroidea (Mammalia: Perissodactyla). His research has also involved establishing methodologies for characterizing and interpreting developmental sequences, and the use of HRXCT to document the taphonomy of fossil vertebrate skulls.
Areas of Expertise
Paleontology, CT data visualization, vertebrate cranial morphology, evolutionary and postnatal ontogenetic variation in the Tapiroidea (Mammalia: Perissodactyla), ontogenetic sequence analysis, digital educational resources
Keynote speaker, Third International Tapir Symposium (2006)
Keynote speaker, Second International Tapir Symposium (2004)
Chair , Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (Mammal Session) (2002)
Keynote speaker, First International Tapir Symposium (2001)
Speaker, Basic Vertebrate Cranial Osteology (shared with C.Bell), IITAP - Innovative Use of Instructional Technology (2000)
Chair , Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (Mammal Session, San Diego) (1991)
Reviewed Manuscripts, Southwestern Naturalist,
Reviewed manuscripts, Biological Reviews.
Short Courses, Visualizing CT data (2007)
Session chair, Paleontology session for the Fourth International Tapir Symposium (2009)
Ph.D Dissertation committee, J.W. Franzosa. (2004).
MS Thesis committee:, S. Egberts, (2009)
MS Thesis committee:, A.M. Balanoff. (2003).
Undergradulate honor's committee, J. Carlin. (2009).
Teaching, Digital Methods for Paleontology,
Teaching Assistant , Field camp (4th year), paleobiology, plate tectonics and life history, age of dinosaurs, human anatomy, and field methods,
Reviewed Manuscripts, Bulletin of the Florida Museum of Natural History
Reviewed Manuscripts, Journal of Zoology
Reviewed Manuscripts, Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology
Reviewed Manuscripts, Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology
Evolution Consultant, IUCN/SSC Tapir Specialist Group (TSG) (2001 to Present)
The fossil record of Tapirus., Fourth International Tapir Symposium, Cancun, Mexico. (2008)
A brief history of the tapirs, East Tennessee State University and General Shale Brick Natural History Museum, Tennessee State University (2008)
Edwin H. Colbert and the little dinosaurs of Ghost Ranch, Ghost Ranch Conference Center, New Mexico (2007)
Understanding and interpreting tapirs in the fossil record (Keynote address)., Third International Tapir Symposium, Buenos Aires, Argentina (2006)
Estimating the maturity of tapirs using dental and skeletal indicators (Keynote Address)., Second International Tapir Symposium, Panama City, Panama (2004)
A brief history of the tapirs: evolutionary patterns and processes (Invited lecture)., Austin Paleontological Society., Austin, Texas (2004)
High-resolution X-ray computed tomography of fossil and Recent tapirs (Mammalia: Perissodactyla): a deeper look at the evolution of a novel morphology., Texas Academy of Sciences Annual Meeting., (2002)
A brief history of the tapirs (Keynote Address)., First International Tapir Symposium, Panama City, Panama. (2001)