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Adam Hartstone-Rose is a Professor of Biological Sciences at North Carolina State University, where he runs the Comparative Anatomy & Functional Morphology Research Lab. His research is a fascinating blend of paleontology, evolution, and functional morphology, but it is his unwavering commitment to his students that defines his work. Hartstone-Rose's lab, which focuses on anatomical adaptation—predominantly dietary and locomotive specialization in mammals, especially primates and carnivores—is a hub for student-led discovery and life-changing travel. "All of the research that I do is for student opportunities," Hartstone- Rose shared. "I don't have to publish another paper ever again. If we want to publish papers, it's stuff for them. So my students are the lead authors on everything." Hartstone-Rose's research has produced groundbreaking and sometimes whimsical discoveries that have captured global attention: • The Puppy Dog Eyes Muscle: Perhaps his most famous work, which was covered in the New York Times, identified a face muscle in dogs that does not exist in wolves. This muscle, which pulls up the inner part of the eyes, is what creates the endearing "puppy dog eyes" look. The research suggests that humans selectively bred the progenitors of dogs based on their ability to visually communicate with us, evolving a mechanism for better expression. • Dire Wolf Howls: His research on dire wolves, an extinct Ice Age canid, involved analyzing the bones of their vocal apparatus (specifically the larger hyoid bones) to determine if they howled as modern wolves do. The findings suggested they likely could have howled, but perhaps at a lower pitch. • Advocacy Through Anatomy: Much of his lab's work directly informs animal welfare. A key study led by one of his students documented the severe effects of declawing on big cats (such as lions and tigers). By dissecting and comparing both declawed and intact animals across various cat species, they demonstrated that the practice—which involves chopping off the last bone of the toe—has an even stronger impact on bigger animals due to the mechanics of scaling. This research has since been utilized by animal welfare Adam Hartstone-Rose's professional trajectory, marked by a deep passion for comparative anatomy and a student- centric approach to research, is a remarkable story of early curiosity and the power of flexible, nurturing education. His path, though seemingly "straight" to those who knew him as a child, was constantly broadened and deepened by key experiences, many of which trace back to a novel NYC childhood and his time at Trevor Day School. At Trevor, we follow Adam's career with great interest and pride (his alumni profile ran in the Fall 2008 issue of Trevor Magazine), and when I read a spring 2025 article in Science News that referenced his work with wolves, the first thing that came to mind was connecting Adam with former Trevor 2nd-grade teacher, Jean Kosky. Jean was one of the first teachers I met when I joined Trevor in 2014; I quickly discovered that she was beloved for her celebration of wolves through a multifaceted wolf study. Not only did I know that Jean and Adam would enjoy talking about all facets of science, especially wolves, it also afforded us an opportunity to expand upon a new model of communication in our magazine—that is, communication not just about our alumni community, but among our alumni community (first explored by Class of 2008 Alumna Hannah Ashe, in her profile of Class of 1982 Alumnus Hugo Lindgren, in the Spring 2024–25 issue of Trevor Magazine). I hope you'll enjoy this curated retelling of themes and stories from their conversation. In Conversation: Adam Hartstone-Rose '99 and Jean Kosky, Former Faculty Introduction and conversation curation by Morgan Porzio, Director of Marketing & Communications Hartstone-Rose working in the basement of Maxilla & Mandible circa 1994/7th grade. 52 / TREVOR MAGAZINE WINTER 2025–26

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