Jennifer Peteya

Jennifer Peteya is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Biological and Health Sciences within Bloomsburg University. Her research bridges paleontology and molecular biology, focusing on the preservation of soft tissues and pigments in fossils to decipher the biology of extinct organisms.

• Education:
  • Ph.D. in Integrated Bioscience, The University of Akron
  • M.S. in Earth Sciences, The Ohio State University
  • B.S. in Geology, Mount Union College

Dr. Peteya's lab investigates how pigments and soft tissues are preserved in the fossil record, enabling reconstruction of colors and patterns in extinct animals. Her team employs techniques such as scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy to analyze microstructures and chemical signatures.

Recent publications highlight her work on structural coloration, melanosome analysis, and dinosaur-bird transitional features. Collaborative studies span topics like keratinolytic bacteria and supraorbital salt glands in Early Cretaceous fossils.

• Contact:
  • Email: jpeteya [at] bloomsburg [dot] edu
  • Phone: 570-389-4132