Rate My Professor William Sellers

Professor William Sellers is Professor of Natural Science in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Manchester. He is a computational zoologist whose work focuses on the application of numerical and robotic techniques to the study of comparative anatomy, fossil behaviour and biomechanics. His background includes human and comparative functional anatomy together with industrial experience in image analysis and computer modelling.

Sellers leads the Animal Simulation Laboratory and his primary research interest lies in the evolution of the locomotor system. Current projects examine the mechanics and control of velocity change, including starting, stopping and turning, across a range of organisms such as humans, non-human primates, birds, dinosaurs, turtles and spiders. He also investigates non-locomotor biomechanics topics including hand use and breathing mechanics. Sellers has developed novel computational methods including video-based 3D photogrammetry and multibody dynamic models implemented in high-performance computing environments. Additional work involves multidimensional image processing for visualising multi-spectral images, with applications to ancient manuscripts and the chemical signatures of fossilised soft tissues revealed by synchrotron X-ray fluorescence. He has produced more than 120 peer-reviewed articles and other research outputs and maintains active collaborations in vertebrate palaeontology and biomimetics. Sellers accepts PhD students in areas such as structure and function in locomotor palaeobiology and mechanics and control in animal-inspired robotics. He has been at the University of Manchester since at least 2005, initially as a lecturer, and contributes to the Interdisciplinary Centre for Ancient Life.