Daniel O. Schmitt, Professor

Daniel O. Schmitt

My primary interest is in the evolution of primate locomotion. I am studying the mechanics of movement in primates and other vertebrates in the laboratory to understand the relationship between movement and postcranial morphology, and the unique nature of primates among mammals. Current projects include the origins of primate locomotion and the evolution of vertebrate bipedalism.

Office Location:  203 Biological Sciences Buildi, 130 Science Drive, Durham, NC 27708
Email Address: send me a message
Web Pages:  http://evolutionaryanthropology.duke.edu/people?Gurl=%2Faas%2FBAA&Uil=daniel.schmitt&subpage=profile
http://evolutionaryanthropology.duke.edu/research/animal-locomotion-lab

Teaching (Spring 2024):

Education:

Ph.D.State University of New York, Stony Brook1995
MSState University of New York at Stony Brook1995
BSYale University1987
Specialties:

Functional Anatomy
Primate Paleontology & Morphology
Research Interests:

Current projects: Primate locomotor mechanics, Evolution of primate locomotion, Rodent and humn models of bone and joint disease

My primary interest is in the evolution of primate locomotion. I am interested in understanding the selective factors that govern limb design, gait choice, and locomotor mechanics. I am studying the mechanics of movement in primates and other vertebrates in the laboratory to understand the relationship between movement and postcranial morphology, and the unique nature of primates among other mammals. Current projects include the origins of locomotion and the evolution of vertebrate bipedalism. My other interests are in human musculosketal health and injury. I study rodent and human models of bone and joint disease. Click here to enter the Animal Locomotion Laboratory web site to learn more.

Areas of Interest:

Functional Anatomy
Biomechanics
Orthopedics

Keywords:

Activities of Daily Living • Adaptation, Physiological • Adaptation, Psychological • Adult • African Continental Ancestry Group • Age Factors • Aged • Aged, 80 and over • Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor • Animals • Animals, Newborn • Anthropology, Physical • Anthropometry • Anxiety • Arthralgia • Behavior • Behavior, Animal • Biological Evolution • Biomechanics • Bone Density • Comorbidity • Disability Evaluation • Disabled Persons • Disease Models, Animal • Educational Status • Electromyography • Electrophysiology • Employment • Energy Metabolism • European Continental Ancestry Group • Evolution • Fear • Feeding Behavior • Female • Forearm • Fossils • Gait • Gait Disorders, Neurologic • Harmaline • Hominidae • Humans • Hyperalgesia • Imaging, Three-Dimensional • Joint Instability • Knee Joint • Life Style • Locomotion • Lumbosacral Region • Male • Mice • Mice, Inbred C57BL • Mice, Transgenic • Middle Aged • Mobility Limitation • Models, Biological • Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors • Motor Activity • Muscle, Skeletal • Mutation • Neurodegenerative Diseases • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II • North Carolina • Obesity • Orbit • Orthopedics • Osteoarthritis • Osteoarthritis, Knee • Overweight • Pain • Pain Measurement • Postural Balance • Posture • Prevalence • Primates • Prognosis • Radiculopathy • Range of Motion, Articular • Rats • Rats, Inbred Lew • Rats, Sprague-Dawley • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II • Reference Values • Regression Analysis • Risk Assessment • Risk Factors • Self Concept • Self Disclosure • Self Efficacy • Severity of Illness Index • Sex Distribution • Skull • Species Specificity • Time Factors • Tooth • Tremor • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha • Walking • Weight Reduction Programs • Weight-Bearing • Young Adult

Current Ph.D. Students  

Postdocs Mentored

Recent Publications   (search)

  1. Schmitt, D; Sparling, TL; Queen, RM, The effect of total ankle arthroplasty on mechanical energy exchange., Journal of biomechanics, vol. 164 (February, 2024), pp. 111941 [doi]  [abs]
  2. Boulinguez-Ambroise, G; Dunham, N; Phelps, T; Mazonas, T; Nguyen, P; Bradley-Cronkwright, M; Boyer, DM; Yapuncich, GS; Zeininger, A; Schmitt, D; Young, JW, Jumping performance in tree squirrels: Insights into primate evolution., J Hum Evol, vol. 180 (July, 2023), pp. 103386 [doi]  [abs]
  3. Queen, RM; Schmitt, D, Reflections on Presurgical and Postsurgical Gait Mechanics After 50 Years of Total Ankle Arthroplasty and Perspectives on the Next Decade of Advancement., Foot and ankle clinics, vol. 28 no. 1 (March, 2023), pp. 99-113 [doi]  [abs]
  4. Garrett, SG; Simmons Muckler, VC; Schmitt, DO; Hartwell, EH; Thompson, JA; Falyar, CR, Improving Anesthesia Providers' Needle Cricothyrotomy Success With Ultrasound-Guidance: A Cadave Quality Improvement Project., AANA journal, vol. 91 no. 1 (February, 2023), pp. 15-21  [abs]
  5. Larsen, RJ; Queen, RM; Schmitt, D, Adaptive locomotion: Foot strike pattern and limb mechanical stiffness while running over an obstacle., Journal of biomechanics, vol. 143 (October, 2022), pp. 111283 [doi]  [abs]
Selected Grant Support