Prof. Michael Pittman SFHEA – Principal Investigator
I’m a multi-disciplinary, integrative dinosaur palaeobiologist at School of Life Sciences of The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Previously I was a Research Assistant Professor and Assistant Dean at The University of Hong Kong. I earned a BSc in Geology from UCL in 2006 before progressing to an MSc in Geoscience (Palaeobiology) in 2007. I pursued a PhD on ‘The evolution and biomechanics of dinosaurian tails’ with Profs. Paul Upchurch (UCL) and John R Hutchinson FRS (RVC) completing in 2012.
My primary research interests are the biology and evolution of dinosaurs, particularly the exciting dinosaur-bird transition, and the evolution of animal flight. I support my work with integrated study approaches involving modern anatomical imaging, chemical analysis, biomechanical modelling, developmental biology and phylogenetic reconstruction. Laser-Stimulated Fluorescence (LSF) is a laser-based imaging technique that I co-develop and apply to reveal otherwise hidden details in palaeobiological, archaeological and polar contexts.
I have produced 80+ peer-reviewed publications including the edited volume Pennaraptoran Theropod Dinosaurs: Past Progress and New Frontiers and achieved 2200+ citations and a h-index score of 27. I have published research in high-impact journals such as PNAS (4), Nature Communications (3), Nature Ecology & Evolution (2), Systematic Biology, Biological Reviews (3), Science Bulletin, Current Biology (2) and eLife (3). My work has attracted international media interest, including from CNN, BBC and National Geographic and the documentary Walking with Dinosaurs. I am the recepient of the CUHK Science Faculty Young Researcher Award 2024.
I support my work through active collaborations with leading experts across all continents. These include Chinese Academician Prof. Xu Xing (IVPP, Beijing), Prof. Xiaoli Wang (Linyi University, Linyi), Prof. Xiaoting Zheng (Tianyu Museum, Pingyi) and Prof. Diego Pol (Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales, Argentina). My fieldwork in the Gobi Desert and in Patagonia led to the discovery of the dromaeosaurid Linheraptor the alvarezsaurid Linhenykus and the abelisaurid Koleken. I also investigate Gondwanan dinosaur ecosystems in Patagonia, Argentina with Prof. Diego Pol. I am a Research Associate of the Department of Earth Sciences, UCL (UK), the Foundation for Scientific Advancement (USA), Museo Paleontológico Egidio Feruglio (Argentina) and Unidad Ejecutora Lillo (Argentina).
I have a strong teaching background recognised by both an HE Advance Fellowship (FHEA) and Senior Fellowship (SFHEA). This draws on experience teaching high quality undergraduate to PhD level courses and the award-winning MOOC Dinosaur Ecosystems as well as leadership and management experience in past roles such as Assistant Dean for E-Learning.
Email: mpittman@cuhk.edu.hk
Telephone: (+852) 5625 5019
Location: Room 503-503C (office) and Room 507D (lab), Mong Man Wai Building (MMW), School of Life Sciences, CUHK
Web: ResearchGate/Google Scholar/ORCiD/Twitter – @Palaeopittman/Dinosaur Ecosystems MOOC
Dr. Csaba Hefler – Postdoctoral Researcher
Dr. Csaba Hefler received his PhD on aerodynamics from Hong Kong University of Science & Technology (HKUST). He completed his first postdoc at HKUST and co-authored the seminal book Distinct Aerodynamics of Insect-Scale Flight (Cambridge University Press). Csaba is a passionate wilderness explorer and photographer. He is currently investigating flight performance in feathered dinosaurs and early dragonflies.
Email: csabahefler@cuhk.edu.hk
Location: MMW 507D, CUHK
Web: ResearchGate / Google Scholar
Dr. Natalia Jagielska – Postdoctoral Researcher
Dr. Natalia Jagielska received her PhD on the evolutionary transitions of Middle Jurassic pterosaurs from the University of Edinburgh (UK). She continues her pterosaur research as a Postdoctoral Researcher focussing on soft tissues and what they tell us about flight and integument evolution. She is a talented palaeoartist and design the lab’s logo. She was previously the Collections Curator and Engagement Officer at the Lyme Regis Museum which involved organising the Lyme Regis Fossil Festival, the largest palaeontological event in Britain.
Email: nataliajagielska@cuhk.edu.hk
Location: MMW 507D, CUHK
Web: ResearchGate / Google Scholar
Ms. Alexandra McCombie – PhD Student
Alex received her MEarthSci Geology from the School of GeoSciences of The University of Edinburgh completing her dissertation under the supervision of Prof. Stephen L. Brusatte. She received the Thomas Basins Studies Award for her best performance in Palaeontology, Sedimentology and Petroleum Systems courses. Alex is currently researching flight evolution in non-avialan theropods.
Email: alexandra.mccombie@link.cuhk.edu.hk
Location: MMW 507D, CUHK
Web: ResearchGate
Mr. Kacper Węgrzyn – PhD Student
Kacper received his Biology BSc from Warsaw University of Life Sciences. Kacper is researching Cretaceous lizards and has published on the iconic African viperid snake Atheris.
Email: kacper.wegrzyn@link.cuhk.edu.hk
Location: MMW 507D, CUHK
Web: ResearchGate
Ms. Yui Chi Fan (Audrey) – PhD Student
Yui Chi (Audrey) received her Biology BSc from the School of Life Sciences of The Chinese University of Hong Kong. She was previously a volunteer in our lab. Audrey is researching the wings of early fossil birds and feathered dinosaurs.
Email: audrey.fan@link.cuhk.edu.hk
Location: MMW 503C, CUHK
Web: ResearchGate
Mr. Matthieu Chotard – PhD Student
Matthieu received his Geology BSc from the University of Angers and his MSc in Paleontology, Heritage and Paleoenvironment from the universities of Angers and Rennes 1. He was previously a Research Assistant in our lab. Matthieu is researching the hind limb and tail feathering of birds and their fossil relatives. He has published two papers in BMC Ecology and Evolution on the hind limb and forewing feathering of Microraptor.
Email: matthieuchotard@link.cuhk.edu.hk
Location: MMW 503C, CUHK
Web: ResearchGate / Twitter
Mr. Maxime Grosmougin – PhD Student
Maxime received his Geosciences BSc from the University of Burgundy before moving to Sorbonne University and the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle of Paris for his MSc in Systematics, Evolution and Palaeontology. He was previously a Research Assistant in our lab. Maxime’s PhD is on the wing shapes of modern birds and their fossil kin. He has published two papers in BMC Ecology and Evolution on the forewing and hind limb feathering of Microraptor.
Email: maxime.grosmougin@link.cuhk.edu.hk
Location: MMW 503C, CUHK
Web: ResearchGate / Twitter / LinkedIn
Current Lab Volunteers
Kitty Tam (UG; HKU, China); Andy Xu (UG; CUHK, China); Himsley Chu (UG; U of Edinburgh, UK); Zack Or (MSci; U of Bristol, UK)
Select Current Collaborators
We collaborate with a range of leading international experts from different fields. Here is a selection of current project collaborators (full list of collaborations in publication list):
Thomas G. Kaye (Foundation for Scientific Advancement, Arizona, USA; Laser-Stimulated Fluorescence (LSF) imaging; chemical analysis; actuopalaeontological experiments.
Prof. Xiaoli Wang (Linyi University, China) – feathered dinosaurs and flight origins; with Prof. Xiaoteng Zheng (below).
Prof. Xiaoting Zheng (Director of Shandong Tianyu Museum, China) – feathered dinosaurs and flight origins; with Prof. Xiaoli Wang (above).
Academician Prof. Xing Xu (IVPP & Yunnan University, China) – feathered dinosaurs and flight origins; fieldwork in China; instructor of MOOC Dinosaur Ecosystems
Prof. T. Alexander Dececchi (Dakota State University, USA) – feathered dinosaurs and flight origins
Prof. Michael B. Habib (UCLA, USA) – feathered dinosaur and flight origins; pterosaur flight. Co-supervisor of Ms. Audrey Fan.
Prof. Diego Pol (Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales, Argentina) – Gondwanan dinosaur ecosystems; fieldwork in Patagonia, Argentina; instructor of MOOC Dinosaur Ecosystems.
Prof. Tatsuya Hirasawa (University of Tokyo, Japan) – palaeoevo-devo.
Prof. Robert Dudley (UC Berkeley, USA) – animal flight origins
Prof. Wei Shyy (Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, China) – animal flight aerodynamics
Prof. Huihe Qiu (Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, China) – animal flight aerodynamics
Dr. Julius T. Csotonyi (palaeoartist, Vancouver, Canada) – life reconstructions, including palaeoartist for Dinosaur Ecosystems MOOC
Prof. Pablo A. Goloboff (Fundación Miguel Lillo, Tucuman, Argentina) – Phylogenetic analysis and methods
Former Lab Members
Research Assistants & Postdocs: Athena Tse (Ohio State); Luke Barlow (Portsmouth, now KCL); Pei Rui (Columbia/AMNH, now IVPP)
PhD Students
Case Miller – supervised University of Hong Kong PhD student (2023; diet and ecology of enantiornithine birds; with Dr. J. Bright; now PDF at Oxford University)
Luke Meade – co-supervised U of Birmingham PhD student (2023; functional morphology of oviraptorosaur jaws; with Dr. S. Lautenschlager and Prof. R. Butler; now PDF at U of Birmingham)
Fion Waisum Ma – co-supervised U of Birmingham PhD student (2022; functional morphology of oviraptorosaur jaws; supervisors: Dr. S. Lautenschlager and Prof. R. Butler; now staff at HKU)
Arindam Roy – supervised University of Hong Kong PhD student (2021; amniote palaeocolour; with Prof. X Xing and Dr. J. Ali; now PDF at U of Birmingham)
MSc and UG students (dissertations & volunteer work)
Faye Zhao (MSc; CUHK); Herbert Liu (UG; CUHK); Valerian Jésus (UG; France); Eduardo Josue (UG; Puerto Rico); Ayassi Damoiseau (UG; France); Ms. Jessie So (UG; University of Washington), Mr. Edison Tse (MSc and UG), Mr. Jefferson Hsieh (UG), Mr. Anyang Ding (UG), Ms. Crystal Wong (UG), Ms. Ariel Ng, Mr. Chan Fai Lo.