Laura E Wilson

Dr. Laura E. Wilson is an Associate Professor of Geosciences and Chief Curator at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History, part of Fort Hays State University's Werth College of Science, Technology, and Math. She holds a Ph.D. in Geological Sciences from the University of Colorado (2012), an M.S. in Earth Sciences from Montana State University (2006), and a B.S. in Geology from Washington and Lee University (2003).

Her research focuses on vertebrate paleontology, paleoecology, and osteohistology, with specializations in Mesozoic ecosystems, Cretaceous seabirds (e.g., hesperornithiforms), and comparative studies of fossil and modern vertebrate bone microstructure. She has led major grants including NSF-funded projects on museum digitization and fossil curation, securing over $500K in funding. Her work emphasizes student mentorship, integrating field and lab research with museum education.

Key awards include FHSU Faculty Member of the Year (2019) and multiple teaching/research accolades. Her current projects explore Mesozoic vertebrate growth dynamics (e.g., sea turtles, mosasaurs) and paleoecological reconstructions of the Western Interior Seaway. She also bridges academic and applied science through coastal conservation initiatives, leveraging paleobiological insights to address modern environmental challenges.

• Grants:
• Institute for Museum and Library Services ($24,478, 2018)
• NSF Digitization TCN ($116,266, 2016)
• National Science Foundation Collections ($197,597, 2016)

Dr. Wilson oversees the Sternberg Museum’s paleontology collections and leads the FHSU paleontology program, offering students hands-on training in fieldwork, lab analysis, and museum curation.