Rafał PIECHOWSKI, Ph.D.
Evolution of locomotion and food preference, effects of environment and body size on locomotor abilities, relationships of anatomy and functions among dinosaurs (including birds), crocodilians, turtles, synapsids, early tetrapods and other animal groups (based on skeletal and musculature reconstruction)
ORCID ID: 0000-0003-2779-6929
Contact
Rafał Piechowski
Institute of Paleobiology, Polish Academy of Sciences
ul. Twarda 51/55
00-818 Warsaw, POLAND
e-mail: rdpiechowski@twarda.pan.pl
phone: (+48 22) 697-88-54, room: 632
CV
Academic degrees
- 2021 Ph.D. (Hons) in Biological sciences: “Functional anatomy of Silesaurus opolensis”, Institute of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw (scientific supervisor: Jerzy Dzik, Ph.D., D.Sc., Professor)
- 2006 M.Sc. in biology, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
Post-graduate studies and courses
- 2019 postgraduate studies Teaching Biology and Science in Primary and Secondary Schools, Higher School of Health Sciences in Bydgoszcz
- 2019 Marine Ichthyology Summer Course, The Hel Marine Station, Faculty of Oceanography, University of Gdańsk
Employment
- Since 2023 research assistant in the Institute of Paleobiology PAS in Warsaw
- 2007 - 2023 biology/science teacher at primary and secondary schools
Research grants
- Since 2023 co-investigator (post-doc) in the National Science Center Poland, OPUS grant “Locomotory and stance evolution in Triassic dicynodonts”, Institute of Paleobiology PAS in Warsaw (Principal investigator: Tomasz Szczygielski, Ph.D.)
- Since 2023 co-investigator in the National Science Center Poland, POLONEZ grant “Turtles from Czechia and Poland: An overview of common evolution in Central Europe since the Triassic until Recent”, Institute of Paleobiology PAS in Warsaw, (Principal investigator: Milan Chroust, Ph.D.)
- Since 2021 co-investigator in the National Science Center Poland, OPUS grant “Functional anatomy of Tarbosaurus bataar from the Nemegt Formation of Mongolia”, Institute of Paleobiology PAS in Warsaw (Principal investigator: Tomasz Szczygielski, Ph.D.)
- Since 2021 co-investigator in the National Science Center Poland, OPUS grant “The enigma of Chelonipus ispp.: Middle Triassic turtles or locomotory convergence?”, Institute of Paleobiology PAS in Warsaw (Principal investigator: Tomasz Szczygielski, Ph.D.)
- 2019-2025 co-investigator in the National Science Center Poland, OPUS grant “Ontogeny in the aetosaur Stagonolepis olenkae: a key for the early evolution of the crocodilian lineage”, Institute of Paleobiology PAS in Warsaw, (Principal investigator: Tomasz Sulej Ph.D., D.Sc.)
- 2018-2021 co-investigator in the National Science Center Poland, OPUS grant “The end of the mammal-like reptile era in Europe”, Institute of Paleobiology PAS in Warsaw, (Principal investigator: Tomasz Sulej Ph.D., D.Sc.)
- 2017 - 2020 co-investigator in the National Science Center Poland, PRELUDIUM grant “Evolutionary roots of dermal ossifications in the shell of ancestral Late Triassic turtles”, Institute of Paleobiology PAS in Warsaw (Principal investigator: Tomasz Szczygielski, Ph.D.)
- 2014 - 2017 Principal Investigator in the National Science Center Poland, PRELUDIUM grant “The origin of locomotor musculature of Silesauridae with respect to dinosaurs evolution”, Institute of Paleobiology PAS in Warsaw
Fieldwork/excavations
- Since 2008 participation in numerous paleontological fieldwork/excavations in Polish locations Krasiejów, Woźniki, Poręba, Zawiercie, Miedary, Kocury, Wyszyna Rudzka, and others in the Silesia region and the Holy Cross Mountains
- Since 2000 participation in numerous biodiversity research (e.g. insects, birds)
Academic teaching
- 2007- 2011 teacher of the practical classes “Zoology”, “Field Paleobiology”, “History of Life”, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw
Publications
Scientific papers
Szczygielski T., Piechowski R. 2023. Limb anatomy of the Triassic turtle Proterochersis (Testudinata, Proterochersidae). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 199: 771-831.
Piechowski R., Tałanda M. 2020 The locomotor musculature and posture of the early dinosauriform Silesaurus opolensis provides a new look into the evolution of Dinosauromorpha. Journal of Anatomy DOI: 10.1111/joa.13155
Qvarnström M., Wernström J. V., Piechowski R., Tałanda M., Ahlberg P. E., Niedźwiedzki G. 2019. Beetle-bearing coprolites possibly reveal the diet of the Late Triassic dinosauriform. Royal Society Open Science 6: 181042. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsos.181042
Piechowski R., Tałanda M., Niedźwiedzki G. 2018. Unexpected bird-like features and high intraspecific variation in the braincase of the Triassic relative to dinosaurs. Historical Biology https://doi.org/10.1080/08912963.2017.1418339
Piechowski R., Tałanda M., Dzik J. 2014. Skeletal variation and ontogeny of the Late Triassic dinosauriform Silesaurus opolensis. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology,34(6):1383-1393.
Piechowski R., Dzik J. 2010. The axial skeleton of Silesaurus opolensis. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30, 1127-1141.
Niedźwiedzki G., Piechowski R., Sulej T. 2009. New data on the anatomy and phylogenetic position of Silesaurus opolensis from the late Carnian of Poland. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 29 (3), 155A.
Piechowski R., Tałanda M. 2020 The locomotor musculature and posture of the early dinosauriform Silesaurus opolensis provides a new look into the evolution of Dinosauromorpha. Journal of Anatomy DOI: 10.1111/joa.13155
Qvarnström M., Wernström J. V., Piechowski R., Tałanda M., Ahlberg P. E., Niedźwiedzki G. 2019. Beetle-bearing coprolites possibly reveal the diet of the Late Triassic dinosauriform. Royal Society Open Science 6: 181042. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsos.181042
Piechowski R., Tałanda M., Niedźwiedzki G. 2018. Unexpected bird-like features and high intraspecific variation in the braincase of the Triassic relative to dinosaurs. Historical Biology https://doi.org/10.1080/08912963.2017.1418339
Piechowski R., Tałanda M., Dzik J. 2014. Skeletal variation and ontogeny of the Late Triassic dinosauriform Silesaurus opolensis. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology,34(6):1383-1393.
Piechowski R., Dzik J. 2010. The axial skeleton of Silesaurus opolensis. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30, 1127-1141.
Niedźwiedzki G., Piechowski R., Sulej T. 2009. New data on the anatomy and phylogenetic position of Silesaurus opolensis from the late Carnian of Poland. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 29 (3), 155A.
Conference abstracts
Piechowski R,. Tałanda M. 2018. The hindlimb musculature of the Triassic dinosauriform Silesaurus opolensis. 16th Annual Meeting of the European Association of Vertebrate Palaeontologists, Abstract Book, 154.
Piechowski R. 2015. Nowe, wpółotwarte okno na trias w Zawierciu. V sesja popularnonaukowa pt. „Śląskie dinozaury (nie tylko) z Krasiejowa. Instytut Nauk Geologicznych PAN i Studenckie Koło Naukowe Paleontologów Uniwersytetu Śląskiego Paradoxies. Abstract Book, 143.
Piechowski R., Niedźwiedzki G., Tałanda M. 2015. New data on skull anatomy of Silesaurus opolensis. 13th Annual Meeting of the European Association of Vertebrate Palaeontologists, Abstract Book, 16.