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Ian Farnkopf is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Preclinical Sciences at the ÌìÌì³Ô¹Ï College of Podiatric Medicine (KSUCPM).  A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Dr. Farnkopf attended the University of California, Los Angeles.  During his undergraduate education there, he discovered his passion for the anatomical sciences, in both teaching and research.  While at Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED, formerly NEOUCOM), he taught whole-body dissection to MD and master's in anatomy students.  At NEOMED, he completed his dissertation research on the olfactory anatomy and respiratory tracts of whales, dolphins, and ungulates.  His work comes from multiple perspectives: gross anatomy (morphology), histology, embryology, and evolutionary biology.  Techniques include (micro-)computed tomography scanning and reconstruction, histological staining, immunohistochemistry, the use of museum collections, and phylogenetic comparative methods.

At KSUCPM, Dr. Farnkopf is the course coordinator and sole instructor for Embryology.  He assists in teaching and lecturing in Human Anatomy.  He also teaches in the Edward J. Fiffick, DPM & Family Anatomy Laboratory for Human Anatomy and Lower Extremity Anatomy (dissection of the whole human body).  Dr. Farnkopf strongly believes that effective teaching must be done with clarity, context, and kindness.

In terms of research, Dr. Farnkopf is currently investigating human anatomical variation via dissection.  He also has an interest in olfactory research, comparative anatomy, and other anatomical fields with implications for human health, human biology, or wildlife conservation.  Specific interests, all within the realms of morphology and/or histology, include olfactory epithelium, the cribriform plate, diseases associated with the loss of the sense of smell, and animals that are thought to have a poor sense of smell.  He is also interested in medical and anatomical education research, including ways to increase student performance, perhaps using newly created teaching materials, active learning methods, 3-D printing, or curricular changes.

Recent Peer-reviewed Publications

• I Farnkopf, T Kishida, Y Sato, JS Reidenberg, Y Niimura, J. G. M. Thewissen. (2025). . Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 205(4), zlaf157.
  • CT scans of whale and ungulate skulls that were generated as part of this study are available on
• I Farnkopf, JC George, T Kishida, DJ Hillmann, RS Suydam, J. G. M. Thewissen. (2022). . The Anatomical Record, 305(3), 643-667.