Dr. Molly Selba

Dr. Molly Selba

Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Bio:

Molly Selba earned her Ph.D. in Biological Anthropology from the University of Florida. Her dissertation was entitled: Facial Reduction Across Three Representative Taxa: A Geometric Morphometric Approach and focused mainly on comparative anatomy and cranial morphology.            

Her research program utilizing geometric morphometric analysis resulted in multiple published papers, presentations at national meetings, and an invited international submission at the 2019 International Society of Vertebrate Morphology meeting in Prague. In addition, she served in a consulting role for National Geographic News when she was asked to comment on a paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) that focused on the evolution of facial anatomy in modern dogs.
In addition to a rigorous research background, she has also taught a variety of classes in the anatomical sciences at both the undergraduate and graduate level. She taught a number of lab-based classes at the University of Florida including Osteology, Functional Human Neuroanatomy, and Introduction to Biological Anthropology, among others. Additionally, she has taught/facilitated multiple classes spanning from introductory to advanced and honors college courses, including gross anatomy, for a diverse body of students in science majors and non-science majors.

Molly also has a strong commitment to service: during her time in graduate school, she conducted extensive anatomy-based education/outreach, where she visited over two dozen classrooms and interacted with over 1200 students over the course of 6 years.

Education:

  • B.A., Archaeology and Anthropology (Concentration in Bioarcheology), Johns Hopkins University
  • M.A., Biological Anthropology, University of Florida
  • Ph.D., Biological Anthropology, University of Florida

Areas of Interest and/or experience:

  • Geometric Morphometric Analysis 
  • Cranial Morphology
  • Anatomical Sciences Education
  • Science Education/Outreach

Scholarly Activity:

Recent Publications

  • Selba M. C. 2022. Facial Reduction across Three Representative Taxa: A Geometric Morphometric Approach. [Doctoral Dissertation, University of Florida], New Florida Journal of Anthropology 3(2), DOI: 10.32473/nfja.3.2.131120

  • Selba M. C., Bryson E. R., Rosenberg C. L., Heng H. G., DeLeon V. B. 2020. The Impact of Facial Reduction on Endocranial Shape in Dogs. Anatomical Record, 304(1),
    101-115.

  • Selba M. C., Oechtering G., Heng H. G., DeLeon V. B. 2020. The Impact of Selection for Facial Reduction in Dogs: Geometric Morphometric Analysis of Canine Cranial Shape. Anatomical Record, 303(2), 330-346*
    * Recognized by the press as one of the top 10% downloaded articles in 2018-2019.

  • Ziegler M. J., Perez V. J., Pirlo J., Narducci R. E., Moran S. M., Selba M. C., Hastings A. K., Vargas-Vergara C., Antonenko P. D., and MacFadden B. J. 2020. Applications of 3D Paleontological Data at the Florida Museum of Natural History. Front. Earth Sci. 8:600696. doi: 10.3389/feart.2020.600696
  • Selba M. C. 2019. The Human Evolution Teaching Materials Project: A Case for the Incorporation of 3D Prints into K-12 Science Curricula. EvoS Journal: The Journal of the Evolutionary Studies Consortium, 43-38.

  • Smith T. D., Martell M. C., Rossie J. B., Bonar C. J., DeLeon V. B. 2016. Ontogeny and Microanatomy of the Nasal Turbinals in Lemuriforms. Anatomical Record, 299(11), 1492-1510.

Primary Courses:

  • PHYT 601 – Advanced Human Anatomy Lecture
  • PHYT 602 – Neuroscience
  • PHYT 607 – Advanced Human Anatomy Lab
  • PHYT 608 – Visceral Anatomy Lecture and Lab
  • PHYT 613 – Medical Imaging for Physical Therapist
Scroll to Top