Julie Meachen

Dr. Julie Meachen is a Professor of Anatomy with additional roles in the Master of Science in Anatomy Program, Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences Program, and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Program. Her expertise spans Basic Science, Climate Science, and Paleontology with a focus on vertebrate morphology, evolutionary biology, and Quaternary ecosystems.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles (2008)
• M.S. in Zoology, University of Florida (2003)
• B.S. in Zoology, University of Florida (2000)

Research interests center on Pleistocene megafauna, climate-driven extinctions, and the ecological impacts of environmental shifts. She leads major projects at Natural Trap Cave, Wyoming, and Rancho La Brea, California, focusing on faunal assemblages, ancient DNA, and isotopic analyses to reconstruct prehistoric ecosystems. Key topics include predator-prey dynamics, species adaptation, and the role of fire in ecosystem collapse.

Her articles highlight interdisciplinary approaches combining morphometrics, genetics, and geochronology. Recent work explores dire wolf evolution, short-faced bear phylogeography, and the timing of megafaunal extinctions linked to climate change. Articles frequently emphasize cave systems as critical archives for understanding late Pleistocene biodiversity.

No scientific awards explicitly listed. Active in advising doctoral students in anatomy and biomedical sciences programs. Major grants include NSF-funded projects examining Quaternary ecosystems and taphonomic processes at Natural Trap Cave.

Labs/Teams: Leads the Natural Trap Cave Research Group, collaborating internationally on paleontological and genetic analyses of Pleistocene fossils. Coordinates multidisciplinary efforts in field excavation, lab-based dating, and computational modeling of ancient ecosystems.