Jason Anderson

Jason Anderson is a Professor (Teaching & Research) at the University of Calgary's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and holds an Adjunct Professor position in the Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science. He is a founding faculty member of the University of Calgary's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (2005) and previously held roles at Western University of Health Sciences (2003). His research focuses on vertebrate paleontology, particularly the origins of modern amphibians, fin-to-limb transitions, and CT imaging techniques for studying fossil anatomy. He has contributed significantly to understanding Carboniferous and Devonian vertebrate fauna through studies of Nova Scotia and Canadian Rocky Mountain fossils.

Education: B.S. in Geological Sciences from the University of Michigan (1996), Ph.D. in Biological Sciences (Vertebrate Paleontology) from McGill University (2001), followed by postdoctoral work at the University of Toronto. His awards include the UCVM Award for Research Excellence (2017) and University of Calgary Teaching Award (2014). He has published extensively on topics ranging from salamander braincase morphology to dinosaur migration patterns using strontium isotope analysis.

Research interests include: (1) Evolutionary origins of amphibians and reptiles, (2) Paleontological applications of CT imaging and histology, (3) Functional morphology of early tetrapods, and (4) Biomechanical analyses of fossil locomotion. He has participated in strategic initiatives such as Engineering Solutions for Health (2015–2021).

Publications highlight interdisciplinary approaches combining fieldwork, micro-CT scanning, and geochemical methods. Recent work includes descriptions of new actinopterygian species and insights into Cretaceous dinosaur ecology through isotope studies. His teaching contributions include courses like Veterinary Anatomy and Clinical Presentations I.