Emily Rayfield is a British palaeontologist, who is a Professor in Palaeobiology in the School of Earth Sciences at the University of Bristol.[1]
Emily Rayfield
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| Born | |
| Nationality | British  |
| Alma mater | Oxford University Cambridge University |
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| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Palaeontology |
| Institutions | University of Bristol |
| Doctoral advisor | David B. Norman |
Her research focuses on the functional anatomyofextinct vertebrates, especially dinosaurs, using computational methods such as finite element analysis (FEA). In the landmark paper Rayfield et al. (2001),[2] the skull of the theropod dinosaur Allosaurus was analysed using FEA in order to quantitatively assess different feeding hypotheses. This paper was the first use of FEA on a three-dimensional structure in palaeontology (in collaboration with CT scanning), and spurred interest in using CT-scanned skull FEA on feeding biomechanics in zoology and palaeontology.[3]
In addition, she helped elucidate the cranial biomechanics of the noted carnivorous dinosaur Tyrannosaurus using two-dimensional FEA.[4] This study was expanded upon in a comparative finite element analysis of 2D theropod skulls (namely Allosaurus Coelophysis and Tyrannosaurus), in order to quantitatively compare cranial biomechanics.[5]
Prof. Rayfield was President of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology from 2018 to 2020.
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