Prof. Dr. John Nyakatura

Articles in Edited Volumes

Siqueira Rodrigues, L., Nyakatura, J., Zachow, S., Israel, J. H. 2023. »Design Challenges and Opportunities of Fossil Preparation Tools and Methods.« In Proceedings of the 20th International Conference on Culture and Computer Science: Code and Materiality, KUI '23. New York, NY, USA: Association for Computing Machinery, 1-10.
https://doi.org/10.1145/3623462.3623470

Rodrigues, L., Nyakatura, J., Zachow, S., Israel, J. H. 2022. »An Immersive Virtual Paleontology Application.« 13th International Conference on Human Haptic Sensing and Touch Enabled Computer Applications, EuroHaptics 2022. In Haptics: Science, Technology, Applications, edited by Hasti Seifi, Astrid M. L. Kappers, Oliver Schneider, Knut Drewing, Claudio Pacchierotti, Alireza Abbasimoshaei, Gijs Huisman, Thorsten A. Kern Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS, volume 13235). Springer, 478-481.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-06249-0

Nyakatura, J. A. 2017. »Description, Experiment, and Model. Reading Traces in Paleobiological Research Exemplified by a Morpho-functional Analysis.« In Traces. Generating what was there, edited by Bock von Wülfingen, B. Berlin: De Gruyter, 15-28.
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110535068-003

Articles

Berles, P., Wölfer, J., Nyakatura, J. A. 2025. »Joint function in marmosets and tamarins: Insights from computational modeling of hip extensor muscles.« Journal of Anatomy, 247 (5): 1028-1037.
https://doi.org/10.1111/joa.14268

Ciecierska-Holmes, J., Rosenthal, N., Wölfer, J., Rasehorn, F., Yang, B., Van Le, M., Eigen, L., Nyakatura, J. A., Dean, M. N. 2025. »Tiled material systems: Exploring biodiversity and multifunctionality of a universal and structural motif.« PNAS Nexus, 4 (11)
https://doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgaf046

Mossor, A. M., McKamy, A. J., Young, M. W., Rochté, A. J., Avey‐Arroyo, J. A., Nyakatura, J. A., Granatosky, M. C., Butcher, M. T., Young, J. W. 2025. »Three‐Dimensional Limb Kinematics in Brown‐Throated Three‐Toed Sloths Bradypus variegatus During Suspensory Quadrupedal Locomotion.« Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A: Ecological and Integrative Physiology.
https://doi.org/10.1002/jez.2911

Nguyen, U., Alfieri, F., Veneziano, A., Licht, A., Nyakatura, J. A. 2025. »Trabecular structure correlates with leaping distance in tamarins.« Preprint. bioRxive.
https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.08.30.673112

Toussaint, S. LD, Youlatos, D., Nyakatura, J. A. 2025. »Kinematics and morphological correlates of descent strategies in arboreal mammals suggest early upright postures in euprimates.« eLife, 14: RP108268.
https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.108268.2

Eigen, L., Wölfer, J., Baum, D., Van Le M.-L., Werner, D., Dean, M. N., Nyakatura, J. A. 2024. »Comparative architecture of the tessellated boxfish (Ostracioidea) carapace.« Communications Biology, 7
https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-07119-z

Siqueira Rodrigues, L., Schmidt, T. T., Israel, J. H., Zachow, S., Nyakatura, J., Kosch, T. 2024. »Comparing the Effects of Visual, Haptic, and Visuohaptic Encoding on Memory Retention of Digital Objects in Virtual Reality.« Nordic Conference on Human-Computer Interaction (NordiCHI '24), 16: 1-13.
https://doi.org/10.1145/3679318.3685349

Siqueira Rodrigues, L., Schmidt, T. T., Nyakatura, J., Zachow, S., Israel, J. H., Kosch, T. 2024. »Assessing the Effects of Sensory Modality Conditions on Object Retention across Virtual Reality and Projected Surface Display Environments.« Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, 8 (ISS): 255-282.
https://doi.org/10.1145/3698137

Siqueira Rodrigues, L., Schmidt, T. T., Nyakatura, J., Zachow, S., Israel, J. H., Kosch, T. 2024. »Assessing the Effects of Sensory Modality Conditions on Object Retention across Virtual Reality and Projected Surface Display Environments.« Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, 8 (ISS): 255-282.
https://doi.org/10.1145/3698137

Longren, L. L., Eigen, L., Shubitidze, A., Lieschnegg, O., Baum, D., Nyakatura, J. A., Hildebrandt, T., Brecht, M. 2023. »Dense reconstruction of elephant trunk musculature.« Current Biology, 33: 1-8.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2023.09.007

Merten, L. J. F., Manafzadeh, A. R., Herbst, E. C., Amson, E., Tambusso, P. S., Arnold, P., Nyakatura, J. A. 2023. »The functional significance of aberrant cervical counts in sloths: insights from automated exhaustive analysis of cervical range of motion.« Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 290 (2010)
https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2023.1592

Pint, A., Hildebrandt, A., Landwehrs, J., Feulner, G., Scholze, F., Nyakatura, J., Ispas, L., Grützner, C., Frenzel, P. 2023. »Contour marks as potential indicators of evaporation rates in the early Permian continental vertebrate site Bromacker (Thuringia, Central Germany).« Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 628: 111749.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2023.111749

Berghäuser, T., Nyakatura, J. A., Wölfer, J. 2022. »Evolution of gliding in squirrel‐related rodents (Mammalia: Sciuromorpha) did not induce a new optimum on the cortical thickness of the scapular glenoid fossa.« Online Version of Record before inclusion in an issue. The Anatomical Record.
https://doi.org/10.1002/ar.25146

Eigen, L., Baum, D., Dean, M. N., Werner, D., Wölfer, J., Nyakatura, J. A. 2022. »Ontogeny of a tessellated surface: Carapace growth of the longhorn cowfish Lactoria cornuta.« Journal of Anatomy, 241 (3): 565-580.
https://doi.org/10.1111/joa.13692

Löffler, L., Wölfer, J., Gavrilei, F., Nyakatura, J. A. 2022. »Computational Modeling of Gluteus Medius Muscle Moment Arm in Caviomorph Rodents Reveals Ecomorphological Specializations.« Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 10 (806314)
https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2022.806314

Scheidt, A., Ditzel, P. C., Geiger, S. M., Wagner, F. C., Mülling, C. K. W., Nyakatura, J. A. 2022. »A therian mammal with sprawling kinematics? Gait and 3D forelimb X-ray motion analysis in tamanduas.« Journal of Experimental Biology, 225 (12)
https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.243625

Alfieri, F., Botton-Divet, L., Nyakatura, J. A., Amson, E. 2021. »Integrative Approach Uncovers New Patterns of Ecomorphological Convergence in Slow Arboreal Xenarthrans.« Journal of Mammalian Evolution.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10914-021-09590-5

Berles, P., Heymann, E. W., Golcher, F., Nyakatura, J. A. 2021. »Leaping and differential habitat use in sympatric tamarins in Amazonian Peru.« Journal of Mammalogy, 103 (1): 146-158.
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyab121

Botton-Divet, L., Nyakatura, J. A. 2021. »Vertical clinging and leaping induced evolutionary rate shifts in postcranial evolution of tamarins and marmosets (Primates, Callitrichidae).« BMC Ecology and Evolution, 21 (1)
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-021-01848-z

Eigen, L., Nyakatura, J. A. 2021. »Architectural properties of the musculoskeletal system in the shoulder of two callitrichid primate species derived from virtual dissection.« Primates, 62 (5): 827-843.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10329-021-00917-7

Fukushima, T., Siddall, R., Schwab, F., Toussaint, S. L. D., Byrnes, G., Nyakatura, J. A., Jusufi, A. 2021. »Inertial Tail Effects during Righting of Squirrels in Unexpected Falls: From Behavior to Robotics.« Integrative and Comparative Biology, 61 (2): 589-602.
https://doi.org/10.1093/icb/icab023

Müller, M. A., Merten, L. J. F., Böhmer, C., Nyakatura, J. A. 2021. »Pushing the boundary? Testing the »functional elongation hypothesis« of the giraffe's neck.« Evolution, 75 (3): 641-655.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evo.14171

Picht, T., Calvé, M. L., Tomasello, R., Fekonja, L., Gholami, M. F., Bruhn, M., Zwick, C., Rabe, J. P., Müller-Birn, C., Vajkoczy, P., Sauer, I. M., Zachow, S., Nyakatura, J. A., Ribault, P., Pulvermüller, F. 2021. »Letter: A Note on Neurosurgical Resection and Why We Need to Rethink Cutting.« Neurosurgery. E289–E291.
https://doi.org/10.1093/neuros/nyab326

Wölfer, J., Aschenbach, T., Michel, J., Nyakatura, J. A. 2021. »Mechanics of Arboreal Locomotion in Swinhoe’s Striped Squirrels: A Potential Model for Early Euarchontoglires.« Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 9
https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2021.636039

Zwafing, M., Lautenschlager, S., Demuth, O. E., Nyakatura, J. A. 2021. »Modeling Sprawling Locomotion of the Stem Amniote Orobates: An Examination of Hindlimb Muscle Strains and Validation Using Extant Caiman.« Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 9
https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2021.659039

Alfieri, F., Nyakatura, J., Amson, E. 2020. »Evolution of bone cortical compactness in slow arboreal mammals.« Evolution, 75: 542-554.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evo.14137

Granatosky, M. C., McElroy, E. J., Lemelin, P., Reilly, S. M., Nyakatura, J. A., Andrada, E., Kilbourne, B. M., Allen, V. R., Butcher, M. T., Blob, R. W., Ross, C. F. 2020. »Variation in limb loading magnitude and timing in tetrapods.« The Journal of Experimental Biology, 223 (2): jeb201525.
https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.201525

Mielke, M., Nyakatura, J. 2019. »Bone microstructure in finite element modeling: the functional role of trabeculae in the femoral head of Sciurus vulgaris.« Zoomorphology, 138 (4): 535.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00435-019-00456-2

Nyakatura, J. 2019. »Early primate evolution: Insights into the functional significance of grasping from motion analyses of extant mammals.« Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 127 (3): 611.
https://doi.org/10.1093/biolinnean/blz057

Nyakatura, J. A., Baumgarten, R., Baum, D., Stark, H., Youlatos, D. 2019. »Muscle internal structure revealed by contrast-enhanced μCT and fibre recognition: The hindlimb extensors of an arboreal and a fossorial squirrel.« Mammalian Biology, 99: 71-80.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mambio.2019.10.007

Nyakatura, J. A., Melo, K., Horvat, T., Karakasiliotis, K., Allen, V. R., Andikfar, A., Andrada, E., Arnold, P., Lauströer, J., Hutchinson, J. R., Fischer, M. S., Ijspeert, A. J. 2019. »Reverse-engineering the locomotion of a stem amniote.« Nature, 565: 351 - 355.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-018-0851-2

Scheidt, A., Wölfer, J., Nyakatura, J. A. 2019. »The evolution of femoral cross‐sectional properties in sciuromorph rodents: Influence of body mass and locomotor ecology.« Journal of Morphology.
https://doi.org/10.1002/jmor.21007

Wölfer, J., Amson, E., Arnold, P., Botton‐Divet, L., Fabre, A., Heteren, A. H., Nyakatura, J. A. 2019. »Femoral morphology of sciuromorph rodents in light of scaling and locomotor ecology.« Journal of Anatomy, 234 (6): 731-747.
https://doi.org/10.1111/joa.12980

Wölfer, J., Arnold, P., Nyakatura, J. 2019. »Effects of scaling and locomotor ecology suggest a complex evolution of scapular morphology in sciuromorph rodents.« Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 127 (2): 175.
https://doi.org/10.1093/biolinnean/blz042

Wölfer, J., Nyakatura, J. A. 2019. »Weighing homoplasy against alternative scenarios with the help of macroevolutionary modeling: A case study on limb bones of fossorial sciuromorph rodents.« Ecology and Evolution, 9 (19): 11025-11039.
https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.5592

Amson, E., Nyakatura, J. 2018. »The Postcranial Musculoskeletal System of Xenarthrans: Insights from over Two Centuries of Research and Future Directions.« Journal of Mammalian Evolution, 25 (4): 459.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10914-017-9408-7

Böhmer, C., Amson, E., Arnold, P., van Heteren, A. H., Nyakatura, J. A. 2018. »Homeotic transformations reflect departure from the mammalian ‘rule of seven’ cervical vertebrae in sloths: inferences on the Hox code and morphological modularity of the mammalian neck.« BMC Evolutionary Biology, 18 (1)
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-018-1202-5

Casper, M., Nyakatura, J., Pawel, A., Reimer, C., Schubert, T., Lauschke, M. 2018. »The movement-image compatibility effect: Embodiment theory interpretations of motor resonance with digitized photographs, drawings, and paintings.« Frontiers in Psychology, 9 (JUN)
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00991

Gaudin, T., Nyakatura, J. 2018. »Epaxial Musculature in Armadillos, Sloths, and Opossums: Functional Significance and Implications for the Evolution of Back Muscles in the Xenarthra.« Journal of Mammalian Evolution, 25 (4): 565.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10914-017-9402-0

Mielke, F., Amson, E., Nyakatura, J. 2018. »Morpho-Functional Analysis Using Procrustes Superimposition by Static Reference.« Evolutionary Biology, 45 (4): 449.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11692-018-9456-9

Mielke, F., Schunke, V., Wölfer, J., Nyakatura, J. A. 2018. »Motion analysis of non-model organisms using a hierarchical model: Influence of setup enclosure dimensions on gait parameters of Swinhoe’s striped squirrels as a test case.« Zoology, 129: 35-44.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.zool.2018.05.009

Mielke, M., Wölfer, J., Arnold, P., van Heteren, A. H., Amson, E., Nyakatura, J. A. 2018. »Trabecular architecture in the sciuromorph femoral head: allometry and functional adaptation.« Zoological Letters, 4 (1): 10.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40851-018-0093-z

Montañez-Rivera, I., Nyakatura, J. A., Amson, E. 2018. »Bone cortical compactness in ‘tree sloths’ reflects convergent evolution.« Journal of Anatomy, 233 (5): 580-591.
https://doi.org/10.1111/joa.12873

Susana Bargo, M., Nyakatura, J. 2018. »Morphology and Evolution of the Xenarthra: an Introduction.« Journal of Mammalian Evolution, 25 (4): 445.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10914-017-9419-4

Amson, E., Arnold, P., van Heteren, A., Canoville, A., Nyakatura, J. 2017. »Trabecular architecture in the forelimb epiphyses of extant xenarthrans (Mammalia).« Frontiers in Zoology, 14 (1)
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12983-017-0241-x

Krings, M., Nyakatura, J., Boumans, M., Fischer, M., Wagner, H. 2017. »Barn owls maximize head rotations by a combination of yawing and rolling in functionally diverse regions of the neck.« Journal of Anatomy, 231 (1): 12.
https://doi.org/10.1111/joa.12616

Rosin, S., Nyakatura, J. A. 2017. »Hind limb extensor muscle architecture reflects locomotor specialisations of a jumping and a striding quadrupedal caviomorph rodent.« Zoomorphology, 136 (2): 267-277.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00435-017-0349-8

Kilbourne, B., Andrada, E., Fischer, M., Nyakatura, J. 2016. »Morphology and motion: Hindlimb proportions and swing phase kinematics in terrestrially locomoting charadriiform birds.« The Journal of Experimental Biology, 219 (9): 1405-1416.
https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.124081

Loscher, D. M., Meyer, F., Kracht, K., Nyakatura, J. A. 2016. »Timing of head movements is consistent with energy minimization in walking ungulates.« Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 283 (1843): 20161908.
https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2016.1908

Nyakatura, J. A. 2016. »Learning to move on land.« Science, 353 (6295): 120-121.
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aag1092

Andrada, E., Haase, D., Sutedja, Y., Nyakatura, J., M. Kilbourne, B., Denzler, J., Fischer, M., Blickhan, R. 2015. »Mixed gaits in small avian terrestrial locomotion.« Scientific Reports, 5
https://doi.org/10.1038/srep13636

Hesse, B., Nyakatura, J., Fischer, M., Schmidt, M. 2015. »Adjustments of Limb Mechanics in Cotton-top Tamarins to Moderate and Steep Support Orientations: Significance for the Understanding of Early Primate Evolution.« Journal of Mammalian Evolution, 22 (3): 435-450.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10914-014-9283-4

Nyakatura, J., Allen, V., Lauströer, J., Andikfar, A., Danczak, M., Ullrich, H., Hufenbach, W., Martens, T., Fischer, M. 2015. »A three-dimensional skeletal reconstruction of the stem amniote orobates pabsti (diadectidae): Analyses of body mass, centre of mass position, and joint mobility.« PLOS ONE, 10 (9): e0137284.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0137284

Nyakatura, J., Stark, H. 2015. »Aberrant back muscle function correlates with intramuscular architecture of dorsovertebral muscles in two-toed sloths.« Mammalian Biology, 80 (2): 114.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mambio.2015.01.002

Andrada, E., Rode, C., Sutedja, Y., Nyakatura, J., Blickhan, R. 2014. »Trunk orientation causes asymmetries in leg function in small bird terrestrial locomotion.« Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 281 (1797): 1.
https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2014.1405

Arnold, P., Fischer, M., Nyakatura, J. 2014. »Soft tissue influence on ex vivo mobility in the hip of Iguana: Comparison with in vivo movement and its bearing on joint motion of fossil sprawling tetrapods.« Journal of Anatomy, 225 (1): 31.
https://doi.org/10.1111/joa.12187

Curth, S., Fischer, M., Nyakatura, J. 2014. »Ichnology of an Extant Belly-Dragging Lizard-Analogies to Early Reptile Locomotion?« Ichnos:an International Journal of Plant and Animal, 21 (1): 32.
https://doi.org/10.1080/10420940.2013.877006

Haase, D., Nyakatura, J., Denzler, J. 2014. »Comparative large-scale evaluation of human and active appearance model based tracking performance of anatomical landmarks in X-ray locomotion sequences.« Pattern Recognition and Image Analysis, 24 (1): 86.
https://doi.org/10.1134/S1054661814010222

Krings, M., Nyakatura, J., Fischer, M., Wagner, H. 2014. »The cervical spine of the American barn owl (Tyto furcatapratincola): I. Anatomy of the vertebrae and regionalization in their S-shaped arrangement.« PLoS ONE, 9 (3)
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0091653

Nyakatura, J., Andrada, E., Curth, S., Fischer, M. 2014. »Bridging "Romer's Gap": Limb Mechanics of an Extant Belly-Dragging Lizard Inform Debate on Tetrapod Locomotion During the Early Carboniferous.« Evolutionary Biology, 41 (2): 175.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11692-013-9266-z

Nyakatura, J., Andrada, E. 2014. »On vision in birds: Coordination of head-bobbing and gait stabilises vertical head position in quail.« Frontiers in Zoology, 11 (1)
https://doi.org/10.1186/1742-9994-11-27

Ogihara, N., Oku, T., Andrada, E., Blickhan, R., Nyakatura, J., Fischer, M. 2014. »Planar covariation of limb elevation angles during bipedal locomotion in common quails (Coturnix coturnix).« Journal of Experimental Biology, 217 (22): 3968.
https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.109355

Andrada, E., Nyakatura, J., Bergmann, F., Blickhan, R. 2013. »Adjustments of global and local hindlimb properties during terrestrial locomotion of the common quail (Coturnix coturnix).« Journal of Experimental Biology, 216 (20): 3906.
https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.085399

Haase, D., Andrada, E., Nyakatura, J., Kilbourne, B., Denzler, J. 2013. »Automated approximation of center of mass position in X-ray sequences of animal locomotion.« Journal of Biomechanics, 46 (12): 2082.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2013.06.009

Nyakatura, J., Andrada, E. 2013. »A mechanical link model of two-toed sloths: No pendular mechanics during suspensory locomotion.« Acta Theriologica, 58 (1): 83.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13364-012-0099-4

Nyakatura, J., Andrada, E., Grimm, N., Weise, H., Fischer, M. 2012. »Kinematics and Center of Mass Mechanics During Terrestrial Locomotion in Northern Lapwings (Vanellus vanellus, Charadriiformes).« Journal of Experimental Zoology Part A: Ecological Genetics and Physiology, 317 (9): 580.
https://doi.org/10.1002/jez.1750

Nyakatura, J. 2012. »The Convergent Evolution of Suspensory Posture and Locomotion in Tree Sloths.« Journal of Mammalian Evolution, 19 (3): 225.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10914-011-9174-x

Nyakatura, J., Fischer, M. 2011. »Functional morphology of the muscular sling at the pectoral girdle in tree sloths: Convergent morphological solutions to new functional demands?« Journal of Anatomy, 219 (3): 360.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7580.2011.01394.x

Nyakatura, J., Fischer, M. 2010. »Functional morphology and three-dimensional kinematics of the thoraco-lumbar region of the spine of the two-toed sloth.« Journal of Experimental Biology, 213 (24): 4278-4290.
https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.047647

Nyakatura, J., Fischer, M. 2010. »Three-dimensional kinematic analysis of the pectoral girdle during upside-down locomotion of two-toed sloths (Choloepus didactylus, Linné 1758).« Frontiers in Zoology, 7 (1): 21.
https://doi.org/10.1186/1742-9994-7-21

Nyakatura, J., Heymann, E. 2010. »Effects of support size and orientation on symmetric gaits in free-ranging tamarins of Amazonian Peru: implications for the functional significance of primate gait sequence patterns.« Journal of Human Evolution, 58 (3): 242-251.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhevol.2009.11.010

Nyakatura, J., Petrovitch, A., Fischer, M. 2010. »Limb kinematics during locomotion in the two-toed sloth (Choloepus didactylus, Xenarthra) and its implications for the evolution of the sloth locomotor apparatus.« Zoology, 113 (4): 221-234.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.zool.2009.11.003

Nyakatura, J., Fischer, M., Schmidt, M. 2008. »Gait parameter adjustments of cotton-top tamarins (Saguinus oedipus, Callitrichidae) to locomotion on inclined arboreal substrates.« American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 135 (1): 13-26.
https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.20699

Conference Proceedings

Siqueira Rodrigues, L., Kosch, T., Nyakatura, J., Zachow, S., Israel, J. H. 2024. »MorphoHaptics: An Open-Source Tool for Visuohaptic Exploration of Morphological Image Datasets.« Proceedings of the 21th International Conference on Culture and Computer Science: from Humanism to Digital Humanities. New York: Association for Computing Machinery, 1-10.
https://doi.org/10.1145/3719236.3719271

Siqueira Rodrigues, L., Nyakatura, J., Zachow, S., Israel, J. H., Kosch, T. 2024. »Evaluating Visuohaptic Integration on Memory Retention of Morphological Tomographic Images.« Proceedings of the 19th ACM SIGGRAPH International Conference on Virtual-Reality Continuum and its Applications in Industry. New York, NY, USA: ACM, 1-10.
https://doi.org/10.1145/3703619.3706055

Andrada, E., Nyakatura, J., Müller, R., Rode, C., Blickhan, R. 2012. »Grounded running: An overlooked strategy for robots.« 79.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-32217-4-9

Others

Dean, M., Dierichs, K., Eigen, L., Nyakatura, J. A., Rasehorn, F., Mareis, C., Banz, C. 2022. TESSELLATED MATERIAL SYSTEMS (TMS). Material Legacies - Design Lab #13, 12 - 13.
https://www.matters-of-activity.de/files/Material_Legacies_booklet.pdf

Haase, D., Nyakatura, J., Denzler, J. 2011. Multi-view active appearance models for the x-ray based analysis of avian bipedal locomotion. Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics). 6835 LNCS 11.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-23123-0_2

Design Projects

Rasehorn, F., Ciecierska-Holmes, J., Rosenthal N., Dean, M., Eigen, L., Nyakatura, J., Le, M.-L. V., Yang, B. 2022. The Tessellation Archive. Design Project. weißensee school of art and design berlin, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin: Comparative Zoology, Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity«. Since 1 June 2022, Virtual.
https://tessellated-materials.mpikg.mpg.de

Exhibitions

Büsse, M. (curator), de Visscher, E. (curator), Banz, C., Dean, M., Dierichs, K., Eder, M., Eigen, L., Guiducci, L., Hehemeyer-Cürten, J., Jalkh, H., Kycia, A., Mareis, C., Nyakatura, J. A., Rasehorn, F., Rešetar, I., Ribault, P., Sauer, C., Sauer, I., Schneider, M., Stock, R., Shone, J., Wenig, C. Design Lab #13. Material Legacies. Exhibition. Cluster of Excellence Matters of Activity, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Museum of Decorative Arts. Kunstgewerbemuseum. 3 November 2022 - 26 February 2023.
https://www.smb.museum/en/museums-institutions/kunstgewerbemuseum/exhibitions/detail/design-lab-13/
Highlighted by TAZ, 15.11.2022.

Talks & Presentations

Granatosky, M. C., Laurence-Chasen, J. D., Gartner, S. M., Whitlow, K. R., Westneat, M. W., Nyakatura, J. A. An XROMM and kinetic analysis of underwater walking in the West African lungfish (Protopterus annectens) with implications for the role of quadrupedal gaits during the fin-to-limb transition. Talk at the Melding Modeling and Morphology: Integrating Approaches to Understand the Evolution of Form and Function, Part. SICB Annual Meeting 2020, January 3-7, 2020, Austin, TX. 6 January 2020.

Nyakatura, J. A. The Anatomy of Movement and Nature's Design. Vertebrate Function, Evolution, and Scaling. Talk at the MoA Talks. Cluster of Excellence Matters of Activity, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, weißensee school of art and design berlin. 19 November 2019.
https://www.matters-of-activity.de/en/activities/938/moa-talks

Invited Moderation/ Comment

Cubasch, A., Petruschat, J., Eigen, L., Rasehorn, F., Nyakatura, J. A., Dierichs, K. Tessellated Material Systems. Material Legacies, Kunstgewerbemuseum, Berlin. 8 December 2022.
https://www.matters-of-activity.de/en/activities/9518/round-table-tesselated-material-systems

Events & Workshops

Schäffner, W. Materials and Materialities: Critical Conversations Across the Humanities and Sciences. Part of the Princeton University–Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin partnership program. At the Cluster ››Matters of Activity‹‹. With contributions from Craig Arnold, Dan Cohen, José D. Cojal González, Angela Creager, Alwin J. Cubasch, Susan Dackerman, Brigid Doherty, Michaela Eder, Saskia F. Fischer, Peter Fratzl, Anna A. Gorbushina, Anke te Heesen, Christian Kassung, Anupama Kundoo, Forrest Meggers, Reza Moini, Susan Morrow, John Nyakatura, Christine von Oertzen, Spyros Papapetros, Léa Perraudin, Jürgen P. Rabe, Jennifer M. Rampling, Barry Rand, Wolfgang Schäffner, Viktoria Tkaczyk. Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. 16 October 2025 - 18 October 2025.

Rodrigues, L.S., Israel, J. H., Nyakatura, J., Schmidt, T., Zachow, S., Lange Nacht der Wissenschaften – Gedächtnistraining in VR – Sind Deine Sinne bereit für eine Herausforderung? Zuse Institute Berlin. 17 June 2023.
https://www.langenachtderwissenschaften.de/programm/detail/91402?tx_aaevents_programmpunkte%5BbackPid%5D=18&tx_aaevents_programmpunkte%5Bprevaction%5D=list&cHash=15c88b7220491066b0b062fbf45993d7

Werner, K., Tikka E., Nyakatura, J, Rasehorn, F, Vaish, A, Perraudin, L., Müller, M., Nestler, A, Bullermann, E. What is the Future Made Of? A speculative workshop about bio-inspired design. Naturkundemuseum Berlin, Berlin Science Week. CollActive Materials. Cluster of Excellence Matters of Activity, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. 5 November 2022.
https://berlinscienceweek.com/de/event/what-is-the-future-made-of/

Teaching & Courses

Dierichs, K., Farmer, J., Rasehorn, F., Stoll, M., Bonavia, E., Dean, M., Eder, M., Hehemeyer-Cürten, J., Wenig, C., Yang, B., Nyakatura, J. A. Designing Matter 2 - From Tile to Tessellation. Seminar, MoA Design Research Studio, weißensee school of art and design berlin, HU Berlin, MPI of Colloids and Interfaces. 18 October 2021 - 15 February 2022.
https://www.matters-of-activity.de/en/activities/7442/designing-matter-2-from-tile-to-tesselation

Dierichs, K., Farmer, J., Rasehorn, F., Stoll, M., Bonavia, E., Dean, M., Eder, M., Hehemeyer-Cürten, J., Wenig, C., Yang, B., Nyakatura, J. A. Designing Matter 2 - From Tile to Tessellation. Seminar. MoA Design Research Studio, weißensee school of art and design berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces. 18 October 2021 - 15 February 2022.

Sauer, C., Guiducci, L., Razghandi, K., Kycia, A. Scaling Nature (2) – Fibers, Muscles & Bones. MoA Design Research Studio, With contributions by Fratzl, P., Dean, M., Nyakatura, J., Rešetar, I. and Stoll, M. weißensee school of art and design berlin. 15 October 2019 - 11 February 2020.
https://www.matters-of-activity.de/en/activities/1142/moa-design-studio-scaling-nature-2-fibers-muscles-bones, https://kh-berlin.de/projekt-detail/Project/detail/scaling-nature-2-fibers-muscles-bones-3102.html

External Grants, Fellowships, Scholarships & Residencies

Nyakatura, J. A. 2021. Mikrofocus Computertomograph (Micro CT scanner). DFG, DFG Major Research Instrumentation.
https://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/458465987

Nyakatura, J. A. 2016. On adaptation: an integrative study of jumping behaviour and functional morphology of the hind limb in callitrichid primates as model system. DFG, Project funding.
https://gepris.dfg.de/gepris/projekt/320131306

Podcasts & Videos

Rasehorn, F., Zwick, C., Petruschat, J., Dean, M., Yang, B., Rosenthal, N., Nyakatura, J. A., Van Le, M.-L. Tessellated Material Systems - A workflow towards designing surfaces with distinct kinematic properties. Video. 4 minutes, 24 February 2021.
https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/524787023