|
Justin Adams, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Biomedical Sciences Department
231 Padnos Hall
Allendale, Michigan 49401
Phone: 616-331-2818
Fax: 616-331-2090
email:
adamjust@gvsu.edu |
Dr. Adams, wondering
if he left his wallet at the top of Table Mountain, South Africa, Summer
2007 |
|
EDUCATION/TRAINING
2007 Geometric Morphometrics Short Course, University of California,
Berkeley
2006 Ph. D., Washington University, St. Louis, MO
(Advisor: Dr. Glenn Conroy)
2004 Stable Light Isotopes Course, University of Cape Town, South
Africa
(Certificate of Completion; Dr. N. van der Merwe)
2003 M.A., Anthropology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO
1999 B.A. (with Distinction), Anthropology, University of Washington,
Seattle, WA
|
|
RESEARCH INTERESTS
I am actively involved in both field and lab research. My active
fieldwork in South Africa over the past few years has included excavations
at two Plio-Pleistocene fossil localities (Gondolin and Luleche). During
excavation, I identify and research recovered mammal fossils and provide
interpretations of the taphonomy (depositional history) and paleoecology.
Recent survey work in the Western and Northern Cape Provinces coordinated
with researchers at Stanford University has led to the identification of
early Pliocene fossil deposits north of Cape Town that we plan to survey and
excavate in 2008.
I am also involved in several lab-based projects including CT (computerized
tomography) and 3D morphometric analysis of fossil mammal teeth to
understand faunal evolution during the last 3-4 million years, particularly
fossil species of the family Suidae (pigs) that was funded by GVSU during
the Summer 2007. Analyses of these remains will be used to both understand
how teeth evolve in response to dietary and paleoecological changes, better
define suid species in the fossil record, and provide the context necessary
for using these remains in biostratigraphic analysis (faunal dating
methods).
Starting last fall, and continuing through this year I have also been
directing a new project examining the internal anatomy of African and Asian
elephant. By using CT scans, my colleagues and I are exploring both their
basic skeletal anatomy, as well as investigating factors relating to sound
production and communication. |
|
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
Adams JW, Hemingway J, Kegley A. 2007.
Luleche, a new paleontological site in the Cradle of Humankind, North-West
Province, South Africa. Journal of Human Evolution. In press
8/25/2007.
Adams JW, Herries AIR, Conroy GC, and Kuykendall KL. 2007. Geology and
taphonomy of the GD 1 deposits at Gondolin, a Plio-Pleistocene
paleocave system in the Northwest Province, South Africa. Quaternary
Science Reviews. Final proof available online 7/9/2007.
Herries AIR, Adams JW, Kuykendall KL and Shaw J. 2006. Speleology and
magnetobiostratigraphic chronology of the Gondolin hominin palaeocave, S.
Africa. Journal of Human Evolution 51: 617-631.
Strikălj G, Adams JW
and Wang Q. 2005. Robert Broom’s first reconstruction of the adult
Australopithecus. South African Journal of Science 101: 217-218.
Adams JW. 2005. A
methodology for the intraspecific assessment of heterogeneously worn
hypsodont teeth using computerized tomography. Journal of Taphonomy 3(4): 151-162.
Adams JW. 2005.
Maxillae and mandibles: P.V. Tobias’ contribution to understanding
hominin taphonomy. In G. Strkalj, N. Pather, B. Kramer, (eds.) Voyages
in Science: Essays by South African Anatomists in Honour of Phillip V.
Tobias's 80th Birthday. Content Solutions, Pretoria, 15-33.
Adams JW and Conroy GC.
2005. Plio-Pleistocene faunal remains from the Gondolin GD 2 in situ
assemblage, North West Province, South Africa. In D. Lieberman, R.J. Smith
and J. Kelley (eds.) Interpreting the past: essays on human, primate and
mammal evolution in honor of David Pillbeam. Brill Academic
Publishers Inc., Boston, 243-261. |
