Research Interests
Structural mechanics of fish armor
I am currently investigating potential elastic energy storage in the overlapping bony plates of Agonidae armor using both a quasi-static and a dynamic approach.
Come find me at WCB 2026 or SEB 2026 to find out more!
Evolution of dermal armor in Cottoidei
Phylogenomic analyses support a monophyletic Agonidae only when restricted to fully armored poachers, and ancestral-state reconstructions identify multiple independent gains of armor plates following a transition from scales to minute dermal spines, coinciding with ecological shifts to continental shelf habitats.
Link to paper
Hydrodynamics benefits of armor in agonids
Digital particle image velocimetry performed on 3D-printed models revealed that species with larger spines exhibit prolonged boundary layer retention and reduced flow separation, suggesting increased surface rugosity reduces drag and enhances hydrodynamic efficiency in benthic environments.
Link to paper
Other research
Cervical vertebrae morphology of plunge-diving birds - Paper coming soon!
Publications
Megan L. Vandenberg, Zach Heiple, Matthew A. Kolmann, Thaddaeus Buser, Adam P. Summers, Fernando Meléndez-Vazquez, Dahiana Arcila, Katherine P. Maslenikov, Luke Tornabene. (2026). Phylogenomics of poachers (Agonidae) and the evolution of armor in cottoid fishes (Perciformes: Cottoidei). Molecular Phylogenetics & Evolution.
Megan L. Vandenberg, Olivia H. Hawkins, Eric Chier, Shirel R. Kahane-Rapport, Adam P. Summers, Cassandra M. Donatelli. (2024). How rugose can you go? Spiny Agonidae armour decreases boundary layer separation. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society.
Megan .L. Vandenberg*, K.E. Cohen*, R.Rubin, J.A. Goldbogen, A.P. Summers, E.W.M Paig-Tran, S.R. Kahane-Rapport. (2023). Formation of a fringe: A look inside baleen morphology using a multimodal visual approach. Journal of Morphology, 284, e21574. *Co-first authors
L. Martinez, M.L. Vandenberg, K.E. Cohen, A.P. Summers, C.M. Donatelli. (2026). Testing the Limits: Functional strengths and weaknesses of Poacher (Agonidae) Armour. Proceedings of the Royal Society Biology.
C.M. Donatelli, M.L. Vandenberg, L. Martinez, E.W.M. Paig-Tran, K.E. Cohen. (2025). The Bioinspiration Feedback Loop - Fostering a Continuous Exchange Between Biology and Engineering. Integrative and Comparative Biology.