Higher Education

2013 Ph.D., Anatomical Sciences; Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Graduate Advisors: David W. Krause and Alan H. Turner
Thesis: “The Osteological, Myological, and Phylogenetic Trends of Forelimb Reduction in Nonavian Theropod Dinosaurs”
2010 M.S., Basic Health Sciences; Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
2006 B.A., Biological Sciences, specialization in Evolution and Ecology; University of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Current Position

2015 – present: Assistant Professor, Biology Department; State University of New York College at Geneseo, Geneseo, NY

Past Positions

2013 – 2015: Instructor of Anatomy, Department of Biomedical Sciences; Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
2007 – 2013: Graduate Student, Department of Anatomical Sciences; Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
2006 – 2007: Research Assistant, Division of Amphibians and Reptiles; Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Burch, S. H. 2017. Myology of the forelimb of Majungasaurus crenatissimus (Theropoda, Abelisauridae) and the morphological consequences of extreme limb reduction. Journal of Anatomy 231:515–531.

Burch, S. H. 2014. Complete forelimb myology of the basal theropod Tawa hallae based on a novel robust muscle reconstruction method. Journal of Anatomy 225:271–297. [featured article]

Burch, S. H., and M. T. Carrano. 2012. An articulated pectoral girdle and forelimb of the abelisaurid theropod Majungasaurus crenatissimus from the Late Cretaceous of Madagascar. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 32:1–16. [featured article]

Conference Presentations

*denotes undergraduate mentee author

Bradley, A. B., S. J. Nesbitt, S. H. Burch, R. Irmis, N. Smith and A. H. Turner. 2018. Sternal elements of early dinosaurs fill a critical gap in the evolution of the sternum in Avemetatarsalia (Reptilia: Archosauria). Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Annual Meeting, Albuquerque, NM, USA (Poster)

Thompson, S. C.*, and S. H. Burch. 2018. Prey size preference determination of modern and fossil cats using geometric morphometrics. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Annual Meeting, Albuquerque, NM, USA (Poster)

Rogers, R. R., D. W. Krause, K. Curry Rogers, P. M. O’Connor, J. J. W. Sertich, J. R. Groenke, S. H. Burch. 2018. Taphonomy of the Maevarano Formation vertebrate assemblage: hardscrabble life and recurrent mass death in the Late Cretaceous of Madagascar. International Paleontological Congress, Paris, France. (Platform presentation)

Gage, S. M.*, and S. H. Burch. 2017. Analysis of robusticity in theropod forlimbs using geometric morphometrics to indicate prey size preference. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Annual Meeting, Calgary, AB, Canada (Poster)

Burch, S. H., and S. M. Gage*. 2016. Osteological indicators of prey size preference in the forelimbs of felids and nonavian theropod dinosaurs. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT, USA (Poster)

Burch, S. H. 2015. Evolution of the forelimb musculature in early theropods: evidence for the acquisition of new predation strategies. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Annual Meeting, Dallas, TX, USA (Platform presentation).

Burch, S. H. 2014. Osteological, myological, and phylogenetic trends of forelimb reduction in nonavian theropod dinosaurs. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Annual Meeting, Berlin, Germany (Platform presentation).

Burch, S. H. 2013. The myological consequences of extreme limb reduction: new insights from the forelimb musculature of abelisaurid theropods. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Annual Meeting, Los Angeles, CA, USA (Platform presentation).

Burch, S. H. 2013. Comparative myology of the highly reduced forelimbs of tyrannosaurids and abelisaurids (Dinosauria: Theropoda). 10th International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology, Barcelona, Spain (Platform presentation)

Burch, S. H. 2012. Evolution of the forelimb musculature in Tyrannosauroidea (Dinosauria: Theropoda). Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, NV, USA (Platform presentation).

Burch, S. H., N. D. Smith, S. J. Nesbitt, R. B. Irmis, and A. H. Turner. 2012. Reconstructing the antebrachial and manual musculature in the basal theropod dinosaur Tawa hallae. Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology Annual Meeting, Charleston, SC, USA (Poster)

Burch, S. H., and J. Sertich. 2011. Giant pterosaur remains from the Campanian of the Morondava Basin, Western Madagascar. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Annual Meeting, Raleigh, NC, USA (Poster).

O’Connor, P., R. Rogers, J. Groenke, S. Burch, and A. Turner. 2011. A multi-taxon theropod dinosaur accumulation from the Late Cretaceous of Madagascar: near-instantaneous intombment of small-bodied avialans. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Annual Meeting, Raleigh, NC, USA. (Poster)

Rogers, R. R., P. M. O’Connor, J. R. Groenke, and S. H. Burch. 2011. Exploring burial dynamics in Cretaceous bonebeds in the Maevarano Formation (Maastrichtian, Madagascar) using field-based data and high-resolution X-ray computed tomography. IV Congreso Latinoamericano de Paleontología de Vertebrados, San Juan, Argentina

Burch, S. H., N. Smith, S. Nesbitt, R. Irmis, and A. Turner. 2010. Forelimb myology of the basal theropod dinosaur Tawa hallae from the Late Triassic Hayden Quarry of New Mexico. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Annual Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA, USA (Poster).

Burch, S. H. 2009. The utility of osteological correlates of muscle attachment in the reconstruction of locomotory modes of extinct birds. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Annual Meeting, Bristol, UK (Platform presentation).

Burch, S. H. 2009. The relationship between muscle attachment site size and function in the avian hind limb. Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology Annual Meeting, Boston, MA, USA (Poster)

Burch, S. H., and M. T. Carrano. 2008. Abelisaurid forelimb evolution: new evidence from Majungasaurus crenatissimus (Abelisauridae: Theropoda) from the Late Cretaceous of Madagascar. Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Annual Meeting, Cleveland, OH, USA (Platform presentation).

O'Connor, P. M., D. W. Krause, M. T. Carrano, S. H. Burch, and N. O. Ratsimbaholison. 2008. The Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) theropod fauna of the Maevarano Formation, northwestern Madagascar: new discoveries, new insights and new directions. III Congreso Latinoamericano de Paleontología de Vertebrados, Neuquén, Argentina.

Burch, S. H. 2006. The range of motion of the motion of the glenohumeral joint of the therizinosaur Neimongosaurus yangi (Dinosauria: Theropoda). Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Annual Meeting, Mesa, AZ, USA (Poster).

Courses Taught

SUNY Geneseo, Department of Biology
2018 BIOL 388: Ornithology [New course; with J. McCartney, Biology]
2017 BIOL 388: Dinosaurs [New course; with J. Over, Geology]
2016 – 2018 BIOL 266: Human Anatomy & Physiology II [New course]
2015 – 2017 BIOL 265: Human Anatomy & Physiology I [New course]

Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
2014 – 2015 Clinical Presentation Continuum curriculum, Gross Anatomy
2014 Neuroanatomy
2014 Summer Scholars Program, Gross Anatomy [program for pre-med undergraduate students]
2014 Patient-Centered Continuum curriculum, Gross Anatomy (Head and Neck Block team member)
2013 & 2014 Clinical Anatomy Immersion team member

Stony Brook University (lab team member)
2012 Gross Anatomy of the Head, Neck, and Trunk; School of Dental Medicine
2009 Human Anatomy; School of Health Technology and Management
2008 The Body; School of Medicine

Outreach

2011 Dinosaur Toy Consultation, Carnotaurus, Safari LTD’s Carnegie Collection
2005 Paleontology Instructor, Project Exploration Outreach Organization; Sisters4Science After School Program for 7th and 8th Grades
2004 Teaching Assistant, Project Exploration Outreach Organization; All Girls Expedition for 9th and 10th Grades, Choteau, Montana

Media Coverage (Selected)

2013 The truth about T. rex. Nature 502: 424.
2012 Tyrannosaurus’s forelimbs: Useful, though probably not for dancing. The Economist, 21 October, 2012.
2012 Fearsome dinosaur had funny arms. DiscoveryNews, 11 January 2012.
2012 Big mean dinosaur had stubby little arms and fat fingers. LiveScience, 11 January 2012.