Biography
My research focuses on studying the functional morphology and biomechanics of the human and nonhuman primate postcranial skeleton to elucidate the relationship between musculoskeletal morphology and known locomotor behaviors. These data are then employed to contextualize early hominins within extant variation and reconstruct aspects of their locomotor repertoire. I utilize a quantitative, data-driven approach leveraging techniques including three-dimensional geometric morphometrics (3D GM), including full bone high-density sliding semilandmark and weighted spherical harmonic analyses (SPHARM), whole-bone trabecular analyses, musculoskeletal modelling, and advanced multivariate statistics designed for big data. As a part of this quantitative framework, I also work toward the development and application of novel computer programs to address some of the difficulties surrounding the analysis of complex multi-dimensional data.
Research
Selected Research
- Goldstein DM, Harper CM, Solís M+, Orr CM, Almécija S, Tocheri MW, Jashashvili T, Patel BA. In Press. Whole bone shape of hominoid manual proximal phalanges. The Anatomical Record.
- Harper CM, Sylvester AD, Kramer PA. 2025. Implications of variability in triceps surae muscle volumes on peak lower limb muscle forces during human walking. PLOS One. 20: e0320516. Download PDF
- Stolle JT, Harper CM, Voegele KK, Najafi AR, Taheri M, MacBain J, Siegler SS. 2024. A statistical analysis of human talar shape and bone density distribution. Journal of Orthopaedic Research. 42:1780-1790.
- Koneru MC, Harper CM. 2024. Comparing lateral plantar process trabecular structure to other regions of the human calcaneus. The Anatomical Record. 307:3152-3165.
- Harper CM, Patel BA. 2024. Trabecular bone variation in the gorilla calcaneus. American Journal of Biological Anthropology. 184:e24939.
- Harper CM. 2023. Human calcaneal variation relative to subsistence strategy, activity level, and footwear. Frontiers in Earth Science. 11:1213374.
- Harper CM, Roach CS, Goldstein DM, Sylvester AD. 2023. Morphological variation of the Pan talus relative to that of Gorilla. American Journal of Biological Anthropology. 184: 545-563.
- Ruff CB, Junno J-A, Burgess ML, Canington SL, Harper CM, Mudakikwa A, McFarlin SC. 2022. Body proportions and environmental adaptation in gorillas. American Journal of Biological Anthropology. 177:501-529.
- Harper CM, Zipfel B, DeSilva JM, McNutt EJ, Thackeray JF, Braga J. 2022. A new early hominin calcaneus from Kromdraai (South Africa). Journal of Anatomy. 241:500-517.
- Harper CM, Ruff CB, Sylvester AD. 2022. Scaling and relative size of the human, nonhuman ape, and baboon calcaneus. The Anatomical Record. 305:100-122.
- Harper CM, Goldstein DM, Sylvester AD. 2022. Comparing and combining sliding semilandmarks and weighted spherical harmonics for shape analysis. Journal of Anatomy. 240:678-687.
- Harper CM, Ruff CB, Sylvester AD. 2021. Calcaneal shape variation in humans, nonhuman primates, and fossil hominins. Journal of Human Evolution. 159:103050.