Amanda Peng

Dr. Amanda Peng is an Assistant Professor of Geosciences at Fort Hays State University, joining in Fall 2024. She specializes in vertebrate paleontology, focusing on mammalian biology, paleoecology, and morphological disparity within the context of tectonic and climatic change. Her research explores Cenozoic diversity dynamics and their environmental drivers. She teaches courses such as Invertebrate Paleontology and Paleobiology.

Education: PhD in Earth Sciences (University of Oregon, 2024); BS in Biology and Earth & Space Sciences (University of Washington, 2017).

Research Interests: Her work integrates paleontological data with geological and climatic frameworks to understand evolutionary patterns. Key areas include rodent evolution, morphological diversity, and participatory science practices in academia.

Publications: Recent work examines tectonic influences on North American rodent diversity and emphasizes the role of public engagement in scientific discourse.

• Awards: Riggs Emerging Scientist Fellowship, FIELD Fellowship.

Advising & Grants: While her advising record is emerging, she is actively involved in securing grants to support fieldwork and collaborative studies. Her lab focuses on integrating fossil records with modern ecological data.