Denise Su

Denise Su is an Associate Professor at Arizona State University's School of Human Evolution and Social Change and a Research Scientist at the Institute of Human Origins (IHO). She previously served as Chief Academic Engagement Officer and Curator at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, focusing on integrating research with public outreach. Her work emphasizes reconstructing the paleoecologies of early hominins to understand environmental influences on human evolution.

Dr. Su holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology from New York University. Her research spans Miocene and Pliocene ecosystems, with a focus on hominin habitats in East Africa and China, including sites like Laetoli, Woranso-Mille, and Shuitangba. She employs multidisciplinary methods, including dental microwear analysis, taphonomy, and GIS-based environmental reconstructions.

Key projects include analyzing faunal assemblages to infer ancient climates, studying giant panda evolution, and investigating predator-prey dynamics in Pliocene communities. Her work bridges paleontology with conservation, advocating for accessible science education and diversity in STEM.

• Education: Ph.D. in Anthropology (New York University)
• Key Sites: Laetoli (Tanzania), Shuitangba (China), Woranso-Mille (Ethiopia)
• Research Themes: Hominin paleoenvironments, Miocene-Pliocene ecosystems, fossil mammal adaptations