Kris Kusnerik

Kris Kusnerik is an Assistant Professor of Geosciences at Hamilton College. He received his Ph.D. in Geology with a minor in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation from the University of Florida (2021), an M.S. from the University of Georgia, and a B.S. from the College of William & Mary.

Research Interests: Kusnerik specializes in invertebrate paleontology and conservation paleobiology, integrating fossil, historical, and modern records to analyze long-term faunal changes in threatened ecosystems. His work focuses on Florida's freshwater springs and rivers, using mollusks as proxies to understand human- and climate-driven ecological shifts.

Publications & Trends: His research spans taphonomy, historical ecology, and paleoclimatology, with a focus on molluscan assemblages, time-averaged death records, and the application of paleontological data to conservation. Recent work also addresses systemic racism in Western paleontology.

Awards:

• Nichol Paleontology Award, University of Florida (2021)
• College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dissertation Fellowship, University of Florida (2020)
• Ernst Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award, University of Florida (2020)

Academic Roles: He has taught courses in Paleontology, Marine Environments, and the Age of Dinosaurs. His research combines fieldwork, taphonomic analysis, and interdisciplinary collaboration with ecologists and conservationists.