Personal profile
Author IDs
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-5026-6216
Scopus Author ID: 7201596089
ResearcherID: C-8758-2014
Google Scholar Profile: pnFYEM8AAAAJ
Impact
Biography
Mason Dean is a marine biologist, zoologist and anatomist, studying skeletal development, structure and function in vertebrate animals, but with a particular focus on (and affection for) sharks and rays.
In addition to his work at CityU, he is a Guest Scientist at in the Department of Biomaterials, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces (where he led a research workgroup prior to moving to Hong Kong) and an Associate Investigator in the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin’s Excellence Cluster ‘Matters of Activity’, collaborating with designers, engineers and architects to study anatomy. His work on “form-function” relationships in animal skeletons allows him to combine Zoology and Comparative Anatomy with illustration and 3D digital visualization.
Research Interests/Areas
My research investigates principles of organization/mechanics in animal muscle-skeletal systems, deriving core concepts in biology and evolution, but also principles relevant for biomedicine, engineering and design. Our group's multidisciplinary studies include investigations of animal biomechanics down to tissue material analyses, applying engineering, computer science and materials science to the natural sciences.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure -
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities -
SDG 14 Life Below Water -
SDG 15 Life on Land
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Collaborations from the last five years
Research output
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A comparative study of portable ultrasound devices in the evaluation of Atlantic bottlenose dolphin mammary gland morphology
Robles-Malagamba, M. J., Sánchez-Contreras, G. J., Wölfer, J. & Dean, M. N., Oct 2025, In: Biology Letters. 21, 10, 9 p., 20250230.Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Link opens in a new tab Citation (Scopus)1 Downloads (CityUHK Scholars) -
Cellular, bone-like tissue in the bucklers and thorns of the thornback ray Raja clavata (Batoidea, Chondrichthyes)
LeBlanc, A. R. H., Meredith Smith, M., Debiais-Thibaud, M., Manzanares, E., Dean, M., Underwood, C. & Johanson, Z., Sept 2025, In: Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 292, 2054, 20250489.Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review
Open AccessFile23 Downloads (CityUHK Scholars) -
Crystal nucleation in biominerals: general discussion
Ayre, O., Azaïs, T., Barbosa, N., Bertinetti, L., Birkedal, H., Chamard, V., Chevrier, D. M., Christensen, T. E. K., Dauphin, Y., Dean, M. N., Deering, J., Demichelis, R., Duer, M., Elbaum, M., Gonnah, R., Gower, L., Grünewald, T. A., Houben, L., Hsu, Y.-L. & Kröger, R. & 13 others, , Sept 2025, In: Faraday Discussions. 261, p. 166-191 26 p.Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › Comment/debate
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Functional models from limited data: A parametric and multimodal approach to anatomy and 3D kinematics of feeding in basking sharks (Cetorhinus maximus)
Li, T., Schindler, M., Paskin, M., Surapaneni, V. A., Scott, E., Hauert, S., Payne, N., Cade, D. E., Goldbogen, J. A., Mollen, F. H., Baum, D., Hanna, S. & Dean, M. N., 9 Jun 2025, (Online published) In: Anatomical Record. 24 p.Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review
Open AccessFile13 Downloads (CityUHK Scholars) -
Helmeted hornbill cranial kinesis: Balancing mobility and stability in a high-impact joint
Schindler, M., Flaum, B., Manafzadeh, A. R., Kamska, V., Chandra Rajan, K., Robles Malagamba, M. J., Hu, R., Baum, D. & Dean, M. N., 2 Mar 2025, (Online published) In: Anatomical Record.Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review
Open AccessFile3 Downloads (CityUHK Scholars)
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GRF: Cartilage Canals in Shark and Ray Skeletons: Establishing Structure-Function Relationships in A Unique and Promising Tissue Model
Dean, M. (Principal Investigator / Project Coordinator)
1/01/26 → …
Project: Research
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DON_RMG: Mechanics and Kinematics of the Tessellated Skeletal Supports in Stingrays - RMGS
Dean, M. (Principal Investigator / Project Coordinator), BAUM, D. (Co-Investigator) & BENJAMIN LOUIS, F. (Co-Investigator)
1/08/24 → …
Project: Research
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DON_RMG: Collagen Fiber Type-I/-II Heterofibrils as Source of Novel Biomarker to Assess Equine Joint Health - RMGS
Dean, M. (Principal Investigator / Project Coordinator), Dean, M. (Co-Investigator) & HAYAT, K. (Co-Investigator)
1/08/24 → …
Project: Research
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TDG(CityU): Virtual and Integrative Approaches to Increase Student and Visitor Biological Knowledge using the Hong Kong Biodiversity Museum Specimen Collection
Dean, M. (Principal Investigator / Project Coordinator)
15/01/24 → …
Project: Research
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DON_RMG: Three-dimensional Electron Microscopy of Molecular Bonding Mechanisms at the Cartilage-bone Interface in Equine Joints - RMGS
Dean, M. (Principal Investigator / Project Coordinator)
1/02/23 → …
Project: Research
Prizes
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Core Member: Centre for Nature-Inspired Engineering (CNIE), City University of Hong Kong
Dean, M. (Recipient), 2024
Prize: Other distinction
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Top cited article – Advanced NanoBioMed Research (1 January 2022 – 31 December 2023)
Dean, M. (Recipient), 2024
Prize: RGC 64B - Prizes and awards
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Top cited article: Journal of Fish Biology (between Jan 1 2021 and Dec 15 2022)
Dean, M. (Recipient), 2023
Prize: RGC 64B - Prizes and awards
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Top TLQ score for Department of Infectious Diseases & Public Health (PH)
Dean, M. (Recipient), 2023
Prize: Other distinction
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Stanford's top 2% most highly cited scientists 2023
DEAN, M. N. (Recipient), Oct 2023
Prize: RGC 64B - Prizes and awards
Press/Media
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Stingrays reveal nature’s elegant solution to maintaining geometric armour growth, according to CityUHK study
18/03/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
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A New Blue: Mysterious origin of the ribbontail ray’s electric blue spots revealed
4/07/24
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Exploring the casque anatomy of aerial jousting helmeted hornbills
4/07/24
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
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The helmeted hornbill can withstand high-impact collisions
4/07/24
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
Activities
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Integrative and Comparative Biology (Journal)
KAMSKA, V. (Academic Editor), Ferrari, C. (Academic Editor), Micheletti, C. (Academic Editor), Blumer, M. (Academic Editor), SURAPANENI, V. A. (Academic Editor), Bertinetti, L. (Academic Editor) & Dean, M. (Academic Editor)
4 Jan 2025Activity: Publication peer-review and editorial work (RGC: 61) › Publication peer-review
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Comparative Cartilage & Bone Biology
Dean, M. (Organiser)
2025Activity: Organizing or Participating in a conference / an event › Conference / Symposium
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Evolutionary biomaterials science @ City University of Hong Kong
Dean, M. (Speaker)
28 May 2024Activity: Talk/lecture or presentation › Talk/lecture
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Reviewer/Examiner of Doctoral dissertation and defense
Dean, M. (Examiner)
17 May 2024Activity: Examination (for external institution) › Examination
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Interdisciplinary Conversations on Wildlife Trade (Hong Kong)
Dean, M. (Organiser)
13 May 2024 → 14 May 2024Activity: Organizing or Participating in a conference / an event › Conference / Symposium