Academic staff
Dr Michael Berthaume
berthaum@lsbu.ac.uk
Mechanical Engineering and Design
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1298-242X
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I am a Senior Lecturer and Deputy Head of Division in the Division of Mechanical Engineering and Design, School of Engineering. I also serve as treasurer to LSBU's LGBTQ+ organisation (SoNet), and sit on the School's Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) committee. I originally studied mechanical engineering and (biological) anthropology at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst before moving to Europe and completing postdoctoral researcher positions in both bioengineering and anthropology. These positions were at the University of Hull, the Max Planck Institute of Evolutionary Anthropology, Durham University, and Imperial College London. In September 2019, I joined LSBU.
Transdisciplinary research is the future, providing a holistic view of problems and challenges, enabling them to be addressed and solved in new, novel manners. My career goal is to establish the independent, transdisciplinary field of anthroengineering. Anthroengineering is an approach that uses theories, methods and/or data from both anthropology and engineering to address questions within and beyond both disciplines (https://doi.org/10.1098/rsfs.2020.0056).
I use anthroengineering in three ways:
1. Primate evolutionary biomechanics: Here, I investigate how biomechanical forces affected primate and human evolution. I am most interested in how diet and masticatory forces have affected Plio-Pleistocene hominin evolution. I used statistical shape analyses (e.g., geometric morphometrics, dental topography) and biomechanical models (e.g., finite element analysis (FEA) of biological systems)
2. Human biological variation: Humans come in various shapes and sizes, and this has biomechanical consequences. I am particularly interested in the role of sesamoid bones, especially the fabella, in human movement, and how factors like nutrition affect masticatory biomechanical performance. I have recently started an EPSRC funded project with a team of psychiatrists and physiotherapists investigating the masticatory biomechanics of individuals with eating disorders with the aim of helping them rebuild their atrophied chewing muscles.
3. Prosthetics in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs): I work primarily with war victims and diabetic amputees in Sri Lanka, focusing focus on the design and creation of prosthetics which fulfill end-user needs, using methods like ethnography, surveys, structured interviews, and database analyses.
I am a fellow of the Royal Anthropological Institute (RAI) and member of the Exceed Research Network (ERN).
Courses taught
Mechanical Engineering - MEng / BEng (Hons)
Anthroengineering - MSc
Postgraduate Research Supervision
Current
| Miss Nelly Alejandra Fragoso Vargas | Fabella evolution and biomechanics | PhD |
| Miss Gemma Ann Ranson | Analysis of Amputee Needs in Northern Sri Lanka | PhD |
| Mr Matthew John Morley | Mechanics of food breakdown in herbivorous animals and relation to dental morphology | PhD |
University of Falmouth, UK
University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA
University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA
University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA
Constructed a finite element model of Legg-Calve-Perthes’ disease
Published a review on the biomechanics of Legg-Calve-Perthes’ disease
Performed shape and biomechanical analyses of fossil hominin molars
Created a methodology for linking geometric morphometrics and finite element analysis, used method to investigate cranial sexual dimorphism in Pongo
Established the Anthroengineering Network
Helped develop and write Leverhulme and NERC grants
Designed an external fixator for low- to middle-income countries
Investigated the biomechanics of the fabella and variation in prevalence rates
| Funder | Year won | Project | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Council | 2022 | Meeting the Challenges of Providing Therapeutic Footwear for People with Diabetes Mellitus | Principal Investigator |
| Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) | 2022 | Guiding treatment for individuals with eating disorders and dementia using masticatory efficiency | Principal Investigator |
| Royal Society | 2021 | APEX Public Engagement Grant-Evolutionary noise in biomechanical data: what does it look like? | Principal Investigator |
| BIG South London | 2021 | Plastop - BIG Innovation Voucher | Principal Investigator |
| Royal Society | 2021 | Evolutionary noise in biomechanical data: what does it look like? | Principal Investigator |
| Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) | 2019 | Provision of Innovative Flexible Prosthetic Devices to Limb-Difference Patients in Sri Lanka | Principal Investigator |
| Proposal | Project | Role | Funder | Status | Status last updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| An affordable and flexible prosthetic socket | An affordable and flexible prosthetic socket | Principal Investigator | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) | OPEN Submitted | Jun 2022 |
| CMMI-EPSRC: Creation of pathways for transport, communication, and storage in structural components ( NSF-EPSRC) | CMMI-EPSRC: Creation of pathways for transport, communication, and storage in structural components | Principal Investigator | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) | OPEN Submitted | Jun 2022 |
External examiner for a MSc
Continuing statistical analyses and write up of previous postdoc work
Fellow - Attended yearly meeting in Dubai (Nov 2018), shaped the mission statement and goals of the innovative ecosystems council
Dental macrowear reveals ecological diversity of Gorilla spp.
Harty, T., Berthaume, M.A., Bortolini, E., Evans, A.R., Galbany, J., Guy, F., Kullmer, O., Lazzari, V., Romero, A. and Fiorenza, L. (2022). Dental macrowear reveals ecological diversity of Gorilla spp. Scientific Reports. 12 (1), p. 9203. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-12488-8
Molar biomechanical function in South African hominins
Berthaume, M. and Kupczik, K. (2021). Molar biomechanical function in South African hominins . Interface Focus. 11 (5), p. 20200085. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsfs.2020.0085
Introduction to the theme issue ‘Biological anthroengineering’
Kramer, P. and Berthaume, M. (2021). Introduction to the theme issue ‘Biological anthroengineering’. Interface Focus. 11 (5), p. 20210058. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsfs.2021.0058
Anthroengineering: an independent interdisciplinary field
Berthaume, M. and Kramer, P. (2021). Anthroengineering: an independent interdisciplinary field. Interface Focus. 11 (5), p. 20200056. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsfs.2020.0056
The effects of femoral metaphyseal morphology on growth plate biomechanics in juvenile chimpanzees and humans
Stamos, P. and Berthaume, M.A. (2021). The effects of femoral metaphyseal morphology on growth plate biomechanics in juvenile chimpanzees and humans. Interface Focus. 11 (5), p. 20200092. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsfs.2020.0092
Cyamella (a popliteal sesamoid bone) prevalence: A systematic review, meta‐analysis, and proposed classification system
Berthaume, M. and Bull, A. (2021). Cyamella (a popliteal sesamoid bone) prevalence: A systematic review, meta‐analysis, and proposed classification system. Clinical anatomy. pp. 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1002/ca.23743
Unique myological changes associated with ossified fabellae: a femorofabellar ligament and systematic review of the double-headed popliteus
Berthaume, M. A., Barnes, S., Athwal, K.K. and Willinger, L. (2020). Unique myological changes associated with ossified fabellae: a femorofabellar ligament and systematic review of the double-headed popliteus. PeerJ. 8, pp. e10028-e10028. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.10028
The landscape of tooth shape: Over 20 years of dental topography in primates
Berthaume, M., Lazzari, Vincent and Guy, Franck (2020). The landscape of tooth shape: Over 20 years of dental topography in primates. Evolutionary anthropology. 29 (5), pp. 245-262. https://doi.org/10.1002/evan.21856
Human biological variation in sesamoid bone prevalence: the curious case of the fabella
Berthaume, M. and Bull, A.M.J. (2019). Human biological variation in sesamoid bone prevalence: the curious case of the fabella. Journal of Anatomy. https://doi.org/10.1111/joa.13091
Effects of cropping, smoothing, triangle count, and mesh resolution on 6 dental topographic metrics
Berthaume, M., Winchester, J. and Kupczik, K (2019). Effects of cropping, smoothing, triangle count, and mesh resolution on 6 dental topographic metrics. PLoS ONE. 14 (5), p. e0216229. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0216229
Ambient occlusion and PCV (portion de ciel visible): A new dental topographic metric and proxy of morphological wear resistance
Berthaume, M., Winchester, J. and Kupczik, K. (2019). Ambient occlusion and PCV (portion de ciel visible): A new dental topographic metric and proxy of morphological wear resistance. PLoS ONE. 14 (5), p. e0215436. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0215436
Fabella prevalence rate increases over 150 years, and rates of other sesamoid bones remain constant: a systematic review
Berthaume, M., Di Federico, E. and Bill, A. (2019). Fabella prevalence rate increases over 150 years, and rates of other sesamoid bones remain constant: a systematic review. Journal of Anatomy. 235, pp. 67-79. https://doi.org/10.1111/joa.12994
Dental topography and the diet of Homo naledi
Berthaume, M., Delezene, L. and Kupczik, K. (2018). Dental topography and the diet of Homo naledi. Journal of Human Evolution. 118, pp. 14-26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhevol.2018.02.006
Extant ape dental topography and its implications for reconstructing the emergence of early Homo
Berthaume, M. and Schroer, K. (2017). Extant ape dental topography and its implications for reconstructing the emergence of early Homo. Journal of Human Evolution. 112, pp. 15-29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhevol.2017.09.001
Functional and evolutionary consequences of cranial fenestration in birds
Gussekloo, S., Berthaume, M., Pulaski, D., Westbroek, I., Waarsing, J., Heinen, R., Grosse, I. and Dumont, E. (2017). Functional and evolutionary consequences of cranial fenestration in birds. Evolution. 71 (5), pp. 1327-1338. https://doi.org/10.1111/evo.13210
What did Hadropithecus eat, and why should paleoanthropologists care?
Godfrey, L., Crowley, B., Muldoon, K., Kelley, E., King, S., Best, A. and Berthaume, M. (2016). What did Hadropithecus eat, and why should paleoanthropologists care? American Journal of Primatology. 78 (10), pp. 1098-1112. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajp.22506
Skeletal Immaturity, Rostral Sparing, and Disparate Hip Morphologies as Biomechanical Causes for Legg-Calve-Perthes’ Disease
Berthaume, M., Perry, D.C., Dobson, C., Witzel, U., Clarke, N.M. and Fagan, M. (2016). Skeletal Immaturity, Rostral Sparing, and Disparate Hip Morphologies as Biomechanical Causes for Legg-Calve-Perthes’ Disease . Clinical Anatomy. https://doi.org/10.1002/ca.22690
On the relationship between tooth shape and masticatory efficiency: a finite element study
Berthaume, M. (2016). On the relationship between tooth shape and masticatory efficiency: a finite element study. The Anatomical Record. 299 (5), pp. 679-687. https://doi.org/10.1002/ar.23328
Mechanical evidence that Australopithecus sediba was limited in its ability to eat hard foods
Ledogar, J., Smith, A., Benazzi, S., Weber, G., Spencer, M., Carlson, K., McNulty, K., Dechow, P., Grosse, I., Ross, C., Richmond, B., Wright, B., Wang, Q., Byron, C., Carlson, K., de Ruiter, D., Berger, L., Tamvada, K., Pryor, L., Berthaume, M. and Strait, D. (2016). Mechanical evidence that Australopithecus sediba was limited in its ability to eat hard foods. Nature Communications. 7 (1). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms10596
Food mechanical properties and dietary ecology
Berthaume, M. (2016). Food mechanical properties and dietary ecology. Americal Journal of Physical Anthropology. 159, pp. 79-104. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.22903
The Feeding Biomechanics and Dietary Ecology of Paranthropus boisei
Smith, A., Benazzi, S, Ledogar, J., Tamvada, K., Pryor Smith, L., Weber, G., Spencer, M., Lucas, P., Michael, S., Shekeban, A., Al-Fadhalah, K., Almusallam, A, Dechow, P., Grosse, I., Ross, C., Madden, R., Richmond, B., Wright, B., Wang, Q, Byron, C., Slice, D., Wood, S., Dzialo, C., Berthaume, M., van Casteren, A. and Strait, D. (2015). The Feeding Biomechanics and Dietary Ecology of Paranthropus boisei. The Anatomical Record. 298 (1), pp. 145-167. https://doi.org/10.1002/ar.23073
The effects of relative food item size on optimal tooth cusp sharpness during brittle food item processing
Berthaume, M., Dumont, E., Godfrey, L. and Grosse, I. (2014). The effects of relative food item size on optimal tooth cusp sharpness during brittle food item processing. Interface. 11 (101), p. 20140965. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2014.0965