Since 1990 I am increasingly involved in studies of Silurian and Devonian vertebrates, particularly thelodonts, heterostracans, osteostracans, acanthodians, and early chondrichthyans from localities in the Mackenzie Mountains, N.W.T. and the Canadian Arctic Archipelago.

I am especially interested in the origin and significance of major features of body form across the agnathan/gnathostome transition, as revealed by articulated specimens preserved in exceptional fossil deposits, and in the comparison of the microvertebrate record of these groups with what can be learned from articulated skeletons. These studies involve collaborations with former Ph.D. student G. Hanke, former M.Sc. student Chelsea Smith, research assistant John Bruner, associated researcher Ken Soehn, and Estonian colleague T. Märss. Current graduate students Jessica Hawthorn (poraspidine heterostracans) and Lindsay Mackenzie (tooth types in early gnathostomes) contribute to this research program.

My long-term interest in anatomy and phylogeny of Mesozoic through Eocene fishes and their living relatives continues. Recent projects include studies on a new deposit of marine Cretaceous teleosts from northeastern British Columbia. Recent postdoctoral fellow Dr. Raoul Mutter has been studying Triassic fishes from the Wapiti Lake locality in northeastern British Columbia. Current graduate student Todd Cook studies sharks' teeth from the Late Cretaceous of Alberta.