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 trained mechanical engineer and anthropologists (biological anthropology), with degrees and postdoctoral experience in both fields. My career goal is to establish the independent field of anthroengineering. The three main pillars of my research are human evolutionary biomechanics, the mechanical consequences of human biological variation, and medical devices for low- and middle-income countries. I primarily do pure research, and do not often work with companies, but do work with some NGOs surrounding prosthetic and orthotic (P&O) needs and services.
Primate evolutionary biomechanics: Plio-Pleistocene hominin evolution, dental biomechanics, dental topography, finite element analysis (FEA) of biological systems, craniomandibular biomechanics
Human biological variation: mostly sesamoid bones, with a focus on the ones variably present in the knee in mammals (fabella, cyamella, parafibula). Interested in dispelling the myth of the biology of race.
Med devicesin LMICs: Mostly prosthetic work related to war victims in Sri Lanka. Have additionally worked in Tanzania, and been invited to work in Cambodia and Myanmar.
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 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MicroCT system for anthroengineering and evolutionary biomechanics | MicroCT scanner for anthroengineering and evolutionary biomechanics | Principal Investigator | Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) | OPEN Approved for submission | Apr 2022 |
| NSF-EPSRC:Creation of transport, communication, and storage pathways through structural components | NSF-EPSRC:Creation of transport, communication, and storage pathways through structural components | Principal Investigator | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) | OPEN In preparation | Jan 2022 |
| The effects of sound on wildlife: a deep time perspective | The effects of sound on wildlife: a deep time perspective | Principal Investigator | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) | OPEN Submitted | Dec 2021 |
External examiner for a MSc
Collaborator on P&O projects, submitted several grants from 2020+
No end date
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
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