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Natalia Taft, PhD

  • Assistant Professor
  • Biological Sciences Department
  • Ph.D., University of Massachusetts Amherst, 2009
  • PHONE: (262) 595-2078
  • EMAIL: taft@uwp.edu
Natalia Taft

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

  • evolutionary morphologist, functional morphologist, biomechanics, vertebrate anatomy
I am a vertebrate evolutionary and functional morphologist. I received my PhD in Organismal and Evolutionary biology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 2009. I conducted my postdoctoral work at the University of Chicago with Dr. Neil Shubin from 2009-2011. After one year as a Visiting Assistant Professor at DePaul University in Chicago, I moved to my current tenure-track position as an Assistant Professor in Biological Sciences here at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.

Teaching Interests

My primary teaching interests are Introductory Biology for majors and non-majors, Human Anatomy and Physiology and Developmental Biology. I also co-designed and am team-teaching out new sophomore-level Research Process in Biology course, which I am excited about this year!

Research Interests

My research focuses on understanding the evolution and relationship of structure and function of bony fish fins. I am currently investigating this relationship in basal actinopterygian (ray-finned) fishes as well as benthic specialist fishes like flatfish. I have also recently become interested in the evolution of fish coloration and am actively pursuing projects in this area.

Consulting Interests

Selected Publications

2017: Comparative morphology and mechanical properties of the lepidotrichia of climbing and non-climbing Hawaiian gobioid fishes, Cybium (107-115 pp.)

University Service

: Committee Member - Student Success Steering Committee
BIOS 102 - ORGANISMAL BIOLOGY
BIOS 103 - HUMAN BIOLOGY
BIOS 106 - HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY & ANATOMY II
BIOS 207 - RESEARCH PROCESS IN BIOLOGY
BIOS 317 - DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
BIOS 495 - SENIOR SEMINAR
BIOS 499 - INDEPENDENT STUDY
BIOS 711 - THESIS
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