Michael Rischbieter

Michael Rischbieter is the Charles A. Dana Professor of Biology at Presbyterian College, specializing in paleoecology, palynology, and biostratigraphy. He holds a Ph.D. in Geology from the University of South Carolina, an M.S. in Biology from Western Illinois University, and a B.S. in Botany from the University of Washington.

His research focuses on Carboniferous coal swamp floras, Pleistocene palynology of South Carolina, and Eocene/Oligocene mammalian biostratigraphy in Wyoming. He emphasizes student involvement, particularly in fossil curation, database management, and fieldwork. Notable projects include curating the John Cooke Collection and analyzing the Harleyville Pleistocene deposits. He also studies tree-ring climatology and explores the impact of urbanization on dendroclimatic signals.

Rischbieter teaches courses such as Paleontology, Botany, and Evolution, integrating research into pedagogy. His recent publications address Permian flora in Brazil, Eocene/Oligocene transitions, and White River Badlands paleoecology. He has mentored over 30 student researchers, with many presenting at regional/national conferences.

• Awards: Robert H. Freymeyer Award, 2025 Faculty Research Fellowship, and 2018 Professor of the Year
• Labs/Teams: Tree Campus USA Arbor Day Internships, Summer Fellows Program, and collaborative fieldwork with institutions like the Smithsonian
• Grants/Support: Multiple student-led projects funded through grants, including BLM permits for Wyoming fieldwork