It is his doctoral dissertation research proposal that earned the prestigious award. All that sounds rather dry and academic until one learns exactly what has captured Ryan's imagination for the past three years. Then it sounds more like a hybrid between philosophy and good science fiction.
Life histories define a creature and make it what it is from birth until death.
He is not speaking philosophically, at least not entirely. Some animals have a simple cycle, like humans. We look pretty much at birth how we will look all our lives. Proportions change, we grow, but we're still the same organism. Other animals have a complex life cycle.