Hi, I’m Dr. Michelle Gilbert, an Assistant Teaching Professor of Biology at Penn State University and a member of the Stewart Lab. My research explores vertebrate evolution through anatomy, morphology, and the fossil record, with current projects focused on Bramidae, morphological evolution in fishes, and the evolutionary transitions that shaped the vertebrate body plan. I earned my Ph.D. at UMass Amherst working with Dr. Craig Albertson, studying how genetic and environmental factors influence craniofacial development and skeletal variation.
I am equally passionate about teaching, mentoring, and developing educational tools that help students engage with biology in meaningful ways. My goal is to make science accessible, inclusive, and inspiring for the next generation of scientists.
Outside the classroom and lab, I combine science and art through photography of skeletons and natural history specimens, highlighting the beauty and diversity of life. When I’m not teaching, researching, or behind a camera, you’ll find me tending aquariums, gaming, cooking, or spending time with my wife and our cat, Loki. I believe science should be curious, creative, and welcoming, and I try to bring that spirit into everything I do.
