My interests involve the pathways and processes surrounding the evolution of birds, including the evolution of flight and flightlessness. I have experience investigating the taxonomy, systematics and phylogenetic relationships relating to the earliest representatives of the penguin clade (Sphenisciformes). My current focus is centred on the Rallidae, specifically assessing Oligocene-Miocene fossil interrelationships with respect to the modern radiation, using taxonomic and phylogenetic methods.