Sandy Kawano, PhD
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sandyk.bsky.social
Sandy Kawano, PhD
@sandyk.bsky.social
Schnauzer mom, #fish finatic, and #salamander shenanigans. Pessimistically optimistic. I study the evolutionary biomechanics and functional morphology of animal locomotion. #BreakAllBones

#FinsAndLimbs #FirstGen #herps #WomenInSTEM #RStats | she/her
Jäger's learning to wait and ask for permission before crossing a street. Such a smart boy!

He also insists on bringing his favorite toy ('Poodle') wherever he goes. 🥰
February 20, 2025 at 3:51 PM
I am thrilled to announce that the #FinsAndLimbs Lab received another grant to work on the evolutionary biomechanics of water-land and fin-limb transitions. We now have $2.5 million USD to support postdocs, lab techs, and students over the next five years!

May you all have a Muddy Buddy Christmas!
December 15, 2024 at 6:54 PM
It's 37° F outside and Jäger insisted on dragging me to the ice cream store (~0.3 mi away) bc he NEEDED a pup cup. We haven't gone there in several months, but the coldest day of Fall seems like a good day to go! Schnauzers get called "dogs with a human brain" for good reason. 🤣🤣🤣
November 30, 2024 at 8:44 PM
They really are! It's adorable how much they act like little puppies. They're such goofballs, too! 🤣
November 29, 2024 at 4:59 PM
They really are! People underestimate how smart fish can be. My mudskippers were trained to eat out of my hand! It was so cute when she would look up at me. 🥰
November 29, 2024 at 4:55 PM
Jäger agrees 😁
November 27, 2024 at 5:28 AM
OMG there are mudskippers in Moana 2?! Love me some muddy buddies!!! 😍

DYK that mudskippers are 100% real fish with derpy faces, googly eyes, and can sometimes spend most of their time on land? Here's a pic of my old goober who lived at least 10 years! 🥰
🐟 🧪
November 27, 2024 at 4:49 AM
Happy Salamander Sunday! Here's a beautiful spring salamander (Gyrinophilus porphyriticus) from Virginia, USA. The 'porphyros' part of their scientific name is Greek for 'purple' but refers to their reddish brown coloration. 🦎 #herps #TIL
November 17, 2024 at 8:39 PM
Join the #FinsAndLimbs lab in Washington, DC, USA! We study the comparative biomechanics, physiology, and functional morphology of locomotion in #fishes and #herps 🐟🧪🦎. We are hoping to recruit two #PhD students to start in Fall 2025! Link to full recruitment ad: drive.google.com/file/d/1m_HB....
November 9, 2024 at 8:04 PM
I can't believe it! I received an NSF CAREER award to study the evolutionary #biomechanics of #salamander locomotion! Interested in joining our salamander shenanigans? We're recruiting a postdoc for Fall 2024 and a PhD student and postbac in Fall 2025! #herp 🦎 🧪
www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/...
March 14, 2024 at 1:49 PM
"Hey! What are you looking at?" 😂
November 20, 2023 at 3:36 AM
Searched "shark" on my camera roll. Did not disappoint. 🤣 Here's a screenshot from "Santa Jaws". Love me some shitty sci fi movies!
October 13, 2023 at 3:46 PM
Accurate AF :)
September 29, 2023 at 2:55 AM
I like to buy "interesting" snacks for my lab to see how they react, and was giggling when I found these. Well, joke's on me cuz I wasn't able to attend lab meeting in person this week and am now stuck eating these weird ass grapes. They taste like old grapes with a synthetic aftertaste. 😵‍💫🍇
September 27, 2023 at 9:10 PM
I bought the dairy cow version of Porcellio laevis isopods ('rolly pollies') to be the clean up crew for our salamanders and I'm already obsessed. So cute!!! 😍
September 24, 2023 at 12:52 AM
Scientists of bluesky*! The world needs more reminders that we're living, breathing human beings.

Quote tweet this with a picture of you doing not-science. 🧪

*taken from twitter

My standard schnauzer is training to be a therapy dog & has earned 3 AKC titles including Novice Trick Dog (this pic).
August 28, 2023 at 3:35 AM
Hi @danirabaiotti.bsky.social ! May I please be added to What's Science list? I'm an Assistant Professor at George Washington University and love me some fishes and salamanders. Here's a wee baby salamander for tax. 😊
August 23, 2023 at 2:43 AM