Dr. Lowe's current research is focused on the evolution and development, specifically the evolution of the deuterostomes. His laboratory research focuses on the early evolution of deuterostomes and the origin of our own phylum, the chordates. They use descriptive and functional techniques to study the development of the hemichordate Saccoglossus kowalevskii and a range of echinoderm species to address fundamental hypotheses about the macroevolution of animal body plans.