Biomechanics and Ornithology at Albright
Our group investigates biomechanics through dissection and computer modeling, and, in the future, possibly more avenues! We are also interested in anatomy, behavior, and physiology of birds and dinosaurs and science communication and outreach. We welcome all Albright students to join us, regardless of your major.
Current Lab Members
Lia Bueno Pichardo, Class of 2027
2024 - Present
Lia worked on an outreach project that brings dinosaurs into inner city schools and includes lesson plans, worksheets, and presentations conducted in both English and Spanish.
This summer Lia will be working on dissections to compare anatomy of mammals and birds.
Yamilex Vargas Acevedo, Class of 2027
2024 - Present
Yamilex worked on an outreach project that brings dinosaurs into inner city schools and includes lesson plans, worksheets, and presentations conducted in both English and Spanish.
This summer Yamilex will be assisting with dissections and will also be creating high detail anatomical illustrations.
Visiting Lab Members
Past Lab Members
Ted Ngaleu, Class of 2025
2024 - 2025
Ted worked on a project is involving aerodynamics and how the skulls of birds react to and are evolved for the pressures of flight.
Jocelyn McLaughlin, Class of 2027
2024 - 2025
Jocelyn presented outreach that brings dinosaurs into inner city schools and includes lesson plans, worksheets, and presentations conducted in both English and Spanish .
Chelsey Nieves, Class of 2025
2024 - 2025
Chelsey worked on an outreach project that brings dinosaurs into inner city schools and includes lesson plans, worksheets, and presentations conducted in both English and Spanish .
Isabelle Geisler, Class of 2024
2023 - 2024
Isabelle worked on respiration and lungs in birds. She compared the lungs and air sacs in a variety of birds.
Charlie Leidig, Class of 2024
2023 - 2024
Charlie helped to develop curriculum for the anatomy and physiology sequence of classes. He was awarded funding for the January interim to work on his project.
Drew MacDonald, Class of 2023
Spring 2023
Drew rewrote case study assessments in human anatomy and physiology courses. He used game design principles and processes in conjunction with medically relevant information from multiple case studies to build an immersive experience for students investigating and solving medical case studies as a part of their course experience.
Robert Schwartz, Class of 2021
2020 - 2021
Robert was interested in the tendon locking mechanism of birds and the muscles related to this function. Robert finished some exciting work on various raptor muscles and wrote a comprehensive senior thesis on perching and perching muscles during his senior year at Albright. Robert is currently a 3rd year medical student.
Brandon Lennon, Class of 2027
2024 - 2025
Brandon worked on an outreach project that brings dinosaurs into inner city schools and includes lesson plans, worksheets, and presentations conducted in both English and Spanish .
Yazmin Hernandez, Class of 2027
2024 - 2025
Yazmin worked on an outreach project that brings dinosaurs into inner city schools and includes lesson plans, worksheets, and presentations conducted in both English and Spanish .
Camila DePena, Class of 2027
2024 - 2025
Camila worked on an outreach project that brings dinosaurs into inner city schools and includes lesson plans, worksheets, and presentations conducted in both English and Spanish .
Jendri Rodriguez Castillo, Class of 2025
2024 - 2025
Jendri worked on an outreach project that brings dinosaurs into inner city schools and includes lesson plans, worksheets, and presentations conducted in both English and Spanish .
Kassidy Filosa, Class of 2024
2023 - 2024
Kassidy used models to print 3D skulls and interpret layers of tissue. Kassidy attempted to sculpt layers of tissue onto the skull to make a representation of the living head.
Samantha Seador, Class of 2023
2022 - 2023
Samantha sculpted muscles and learned how to animate the flying motion of the wings in Blender. She worked with Kathryn to build anatomically correct and well-informed models.
Phuong Chau, Class of 2022
2021 - 2022
Phuong measured and described the teeth of bats representing a variety of diets and a number of different families in the Albright teaching collections. She has graduated and is looking forward to dental school.
Suzy Spriggs, Class of 2021
2020 - 2021
Suzy was interested in the bill tip organ, pathway of the trigeminal nerve, and neural nuclei associated with the trigeminal nerve and bill tip organ. Suzy wrote a very detailed description of the trigeminal nerve in the faces of 5 ducks, herons, and geese. Her nerve maps serve as the basis for future undergraduate research here at Albright. She and Brigette co-authored a paper on their work.
Hannah Tudge, Class of 2026
2024 - 2025
Hannah worked on an outreach project that brings dinosaurs into inner city schools and includes lesson plans, worksheets, and presentations conducted in both English and Spanish .
Elicia Aponte, Class of 2027
2024 - 2025
Elicia worked on an outreach project that brings dinosaurs into inner city schools and includes lesson plans, worksheets, and presentations conducted in both English and Spanish .
Kathryn Baptiste, Class of 2024
2022 - 2024
Kathryn is interested in muscle physiology and is specifically interested in muscles of the wing. Kathryn dissected wings, measuring muscles, and generating data to conduct PCSA estimates. Her work helped to inform Samantha Seador's models in Blender. After Samantha graduated, Kathryn refined the models and fine tuned muscle placement and shape of a Barn owl (Tyto alba). Kathryn presented her work at a regional SICB meeting in 2023.
Kamaryn Koch, Class of 2023
2022 - 2023
Kamaryn worked on the cardiovascular system of vertebrates. Kamaryn dissected specimens while working under an ACRE grant to conduct her research on the hearts of birds with different flying styles. She presented her findings as a poster at Albright and during the virtual session of the meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology in 2022.
Brigette Amendano, Class of 2022
2020 - 2022
Brigette conducted work mapping the trigeminal nerve in raptors. She presented at multiple conferences. She recently graduated from Boston University with a master's degree in medical sciences. She and Suzy co-authored a paper on their work.
Where are they now?!
| Lab Member | Current Occupation |
| Robert Schwartz | 3rd Year Medical Student @ Trinity Medical School |
| Brigette Amendano | Boston University Medical Sciences, MS program |
| Kamaryn Koch | Alvernia University, PA program |
| Samantha Seador | Eurofins Scientific |
| Kathryn Baptiste | Geisinger College of Health Sciences, MS program |
| Charlie Leidig | Eurofins Scientific |
| Isabelle Geisler | Pharmacy technician |