Heather Jamniczky
Associate Professor and Deputy Head
Academic Lead, Teaching and Learning Research
PhD (Doctor of Philosophy)
BSc (First Class Honours)
Contact information
Location
Courses
MDSC 521
Pre-clerkship Human Gross Anatomy
Research
Research Activities
Evolution of Complex Phenotypes
How and why do different animals look different? How does development structure the phenotype? How do different tissues interact to generate a phenotype? How does natural selection work on the phenotype? How does form influence function? These are all questions we explore in our research on the evolution of variation in vertebrates. Our current work is highly collaborative and focuses on threespine sticklebacks.
Spatial Learning
With our collaborators, we are working to establish a research program that examines brain activity in association with different types of image presentation. This work bridges the gap between teaching and research, as we seek to quantify neural correlates of spatial learning with a focus on the health professions.
Biography
A zoologist by training, I am interested in the evolution and development of complex phenotypes, with a particular focus on the skeleton. I work with a variety of vertebrates, from turtles to mice to fish. My teaching responsibilities include human gross anatomy across the undergraduate, medical, and graduate curricula.
Publications
PUBLICATIONS LAST FIVE YEARS
Peer-reviewed Articles
2021 Higham, TE, Ferry LA, Schmitz L, Irshchick DJ, Starko S, Anderson PSL, Bergmann PJ, Jamniczky HA, Monteiro LR, Navon D, Messier J, Carrington E, Farina SC, Feilich KL, Hernandez LP, Johnson MA, Kawano SM, Law CJ, Longo SJ, Martin CH, Martone PT, Rico-Guevara A, Santana SE, Niklas KJ. In press. Linking ecomechanical models and functional traits to understand phenotypic diversity. Trends in Ecology and Evolution.
Hu J, Wuitchik SJS, Barry TN, Rogers SM, Jamniczky HA, Barrett RDH. 2021. Heritable DNA methylation in threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus). Genetics 217(1): iyab001, https://doi.org/10.1093/genetics/iyab001 2020
2020 Powell CD, Wilson WM, Olesaningo G, Manyama M, Jamniczky HA, Spritz R, Cross JC, Lukowiak K, Gonzalez PN, Hallgrimsson B. 2020. Lack of head sparing following third-trimester caloric restriction among Tanzanian Maasai. PLoS ONE 15(9): e0237700. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0237700.
Bels VL, Jamniczky HA, Montuelle S, Pallandre JP, Kardong KV, Russell AP. 2020. Mechanics and kinematics of fluid uptake and intraoral transport in the Leopard gecko (Gekkota: Eublepharidae: Eublepharis macularius). Journal of Zoology 311(1) doi: 10.1111/jzo.12763
Tinius A, Russell AP, Jamniczky HA, Anderson JS. 2020. Ecomorphological associations of scapulocoracoid form in Greater Antillean Anolis lizards. 2020. Annals of Anatomy 231: 15127 doi: 10.1016/j.aanat.2020.151527
2019 Anderson SJ, Jamniczky HA, Krigolson OE, Coderre SP, Hecker KG. 2019. Quantifying two-dimensional and three-dimensional stereoscopic learning in anatomy using electroencephalography. npj Science of Learning 4:10.
Duclos KK, Hendrikse JL, Jamniczky HA. 2019. Investigating the evolution and development of biological complexity under the framework of epigenetics. Evolution & Development 21(5): 247-264.
Pistore AE, Barry TN, Vanderzwan SL, Schutz H, Rogers SM, Jamniczky HA. 2019. Ontogeny and allometry of habitat-specific phenotypic variation in complex phenotypes in the Threespine Stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus L.). Evolutionary Ecology Research 20: 27-50.
2018 Jamniczky HA, Le A, Barry TN, Rogers SM. 2018. Freshwater influence is associated with differences in bone mineral density and armour configuration in threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus). FACETS 3(1): 665-681.
Anderson SJ, Hecker KA, Krigolson O, Jamniczky HA. 2018. A reinforcement-based learning paradigm increases anatomical learning and retention - a neuroeducation study. Frontiers in Human Neurosciences 12:38.
Morris MRJ, Bowles E, Allen B, Jamniczky HA, Rogers SM. 2018. Contemporary ancestor? Standing genetic variation, population genetic structure, and natural selection in Pacific marine threespine stickleback and its consequences for adaptive divergence. BMC Evolutionary Biology 18(1): 113.
Tinius A, Russell AP, Jamniczky HA, Anderson JS. 2018. What is bred in the bone: ecomorphological associations of pelvic girdle form in Greater Antillean Anolis lizards. Journal of Morphology 279(8): 1016-1030.
Zurowski C, Jamniczky HA, Graf D, Theodor J. 2018. Deletion/loss of BMP7 changes tooth morphology and function in Mus musculus: implications for dental evolution in mammals. Royal Society Open Science 5:170761.
Larson JR, Manyama MF, Cole JB, Liberton DK, Ferrara T, Riccardi S, Kimwaga EA, Mathayo J, Gonzalez PN, Spitzmacher JA, Percival CJ, Rolian C, Jamniczky HA, Weinberg S, Roseman CC, Klein O, Lukowiak K, Spritz R, Hallgrimsson B. 2018. Body size and allometric variation in facial shape in children. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 165(2): 327-342.
2017 Higham TE, Jamniczky HA, Jagnandan K, Smith SJ, Barry TN, Rogers SM. 2017. Comparative dynamics of suction feeding in marine and freshwater three-spined stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus: kinematics and geometric morphometrics. Biological Journal of the Linnaean Society 122(2): 400-410
Powell GL, Russell AP, Jamniczky HA, Hallgrimsson B. 2017. Ontogeny and modularity in the expression of dermatocranial shape in the Greater Short-Horned Lizard Phrynosoma hernandesi (Reptilia: Squamata: Phrynosomatidae). Evolutionary Biology 44:240-260.
Morris MRJ, Petrovich E, Bowles E, Jamniczky HA, Rogers SM. 2017. Exploring Jordan’s Rule in coastal threespine stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus. Journal of Fish Biology 91(2): 645-663
2016 Pavličev M, Mitteroecker P, Gonzalez PN, Rolian C, Jamniczky HA, Villena, FPM, Marcucio R, Spritz R, Hallgrimsson B. 2016. Development shapes a consistent inbreeding effect in mouse crania of different line crosses. Journal of Experimental Zoology 326: 474-488.
Higham TE, Rogers SM, Jamniczky HA, Reznick DN, Lauder GV, Stewart WJ, Langerhans RB, Martin CH. 2016. Speciation through the lens of biomechanics: locomotion, prey capture and reproductive isolation. Proceedings of the Royal Society B 283: 20161294.
Jamniczky HA, Cotton, D, Paget M, Ramji Q, Lenz R, McLaughlin K, Coderre S, Ma IWY. 2016. Cognitive load imposed by ultrasound-facilitated teaching does not adversely affect gross anatomy learning outcomes. Anatomical Sciences Education 10(2): 144-151
Santos R, Kawauchi S, Jacobs RE, Lopez-Burks ME, Choi H, Wikenheiser J, Hallgrimsson B, Jamniczky HA, Lander AD, Calof AL. 2016. Conditional creation and rescue of Nipbl-deficiency in mice reveals multiple determinants of risk for congenital heart defects. PLoS Biology 14(9): e2000197.
Pistore A, Barry TN, Bowles E, Sharma R, Vanderzwan SL, Rogers SM, Jamniczky HA. 2016. Characterizing adaptive divergence in four populations of threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) in Katmai National Park and Preserve, Alaska. Canadian Journal of Zoology 94: 463-472.
Anderson SJ, Krigolson OE, Jamniczky HA, Hecker KG. 2016. Learning anatomical structures: a reinforcement based learning approach. Medical Science Educator 26: 123-128.
2015 Xu Q, Green RM, Jamniczky HA, Marcucio RS, Hallgrimsson B, Mio W. 2015. Correlations between the morphology of sonic hedgehog expression domains and embryonic craniofacial shape. Evolutionary Biology 42: 379-386.
Jamniczky HA, Barry TN, Rogers SM. 2015. Eco-evo-devo in the study of adaptive divergence: examples from Threespine Stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus). Integrative and Comparative Biology 55: 166-178.
Hu D, Young NM, Xu Q, Jamniczky HA, Green RM, Mio W, Marcucio RS, Hallgrimsson B. 2015. Signals from the brain induce variation in avian facial shape. Developmental Dynamics 244: 1133-1143
Jamniczky HA, Campeau S, Barry TN, Skelton J, Rogers SM. 2015. Three-dimensional morphometrics for quantitative trait locus analysis: tackling complex questions with complex phenotypes. Evolutionary Biology 42: 260-271
Parsons TE, Downey CM, Jirik FR, Hallgrimsson B, Jamniczky HA. 2015. Mind the gap: genetic manipulation of basicranial growth within synchondroses modulates calvarial and facial shape in mice through epigenetic interactions. PLoS ONE 10(2): e0118355.
Andrews SHJ, Rattner JB, Jamniczky HA, Shrive NG, Adesida AB. 2015. The structural and compositional transition of the meniscal roots into the fibrocartilage of the menisci. Journal of Anatomy 226: 169-174.
Green RM, Feng W, Fish J, Marcucio RS, Jamniczky HA, Hallgrimsson B, Williams TJ. 2015. Tfap2a-dependent changes in facial morphology result in clefting that can be ameliorated by a reduction in Fgf8 gene dosage. Disease Models and Mechanisms 8:31-43.
2014 Schutz H, Jamniczky HA, Hallgrímsson B, Garland Jr T. 2014. Shape-shift: semicircular canal morphology responds to selective breeding for increased locomotor activity. Evolution 68: 3184-3198.
Jamniczky HA, McLaughlin K, Kaminska, ME, Somayaji R, Wright B, Ma IWY. 2014. Cognitive load imposed by knobology may adversely affect learners’ perception of utility in using ultrasonography to learn physical examination skills, but not anatomy. Anatomical Sciences Education 8: 197-204.
Rogers SM, Jamniczky HA. 2014. The shape of things to come in the study of the origin of species. Molecular Ecology 23: 1650-1652.
Jamniczky HA, Harper EE, Garner R, Cresko WA, Wainwright PC, Hallgrímsson B, Kimmel CB. 2014. Integration structure facilitates evolutionary and functional change in the opercular four-bar apparatus of the threespine stickleback. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 111: 375-390.
Awards
Grants
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Discovery Grant
Office of Health and Medical Education Research
Awards and Honours
2020 3M National Teaching Fellowship, Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education
Calgary Medical Students’ Association–Limpkins (Class of 2021) Gold Star Award
2019 University of Calgary GREAT supervisors Award
University of Calgary Bachelor of Health Sciences Teaching Award
Calgary Medical Students’ Association–Boops (Class of 2019) Gold Star Award
2018 Calgary Medical Students’ Association–Dholes (Class of 2018) Gold Star and Jersey Awards
2017 American Association of Anatomists Basmajian Award
Calgary Medical Students’ Association–Goats (Class of 2018) Gold Star Award
2016 University of Calgary Graduate Students’ Association Supervisory Excellence Award, Honourable
Mention
University of Calgary Teaching Award
Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada Young Educator Award
Calgary Medical Students’ Association–Humus (Class of 2017) Jersey Award
2015 University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine McLeod Award for Distinguished Contributions
to Teaching
Avenue Magazine Calgary Top 40 Under 40
Calgary Medical Students’ Association–Narwhals (Class of 2016) Gold Star and Jersey Awards
2014 University of Calgary Bachelor of Health Sciences Teaching Award
Calgary Medical Students’ Association–Cows (Class of 2015) Honour Roll
University of Calgary Students’ Union Teaching Excellence Awards, Honourable Mention
2013 Calgary Medical Students’ Association–Hellbenders (Class of 2014) Honour Roll