Duncan McIlroy

Dr. Duncan McIlroy is a Research Professor in the Earth Sciences Department at Memorial University of Newfoundland, Faculty of Science. His research focuses on the palaeobiology and palaeoenvironments of Neoproterozoic-lower Cambrian organisms, particularly Ediacaran biota. He leads studies on fossil preservation, taphonomy, and geoconservation of Newfoundland’s unique Ediacaran sites like Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve and the Upper Island Cove Lagerstätte.

Current graduate students include Jenna Nevill (M.Sc.), Chris McKean (Ph.D.), Giovanni Pasinetti (Ph.D.), Daniel Peréz-Pinedo (Ph.D.), Pascal Olschewski (Ph.D.), and Nagi Chida (M.Sc.). Their research spans topics like Ediacaran rangeomorph morphology, taphonomic processes, and geoheritage protection.

McIlroy’s work integrates sedimentology, palaeontology, and mathematical modeling to explore early macrobial ecosystems. His recent projects address fossil orientation dynamics, cnidarian origins, and the environmental impact on Ediacaran fossilization. He actively advocates for the conservation of Newfoundland’s globally significant fossil sites through interdisciplinary collaboration.

Publications emphasize exceptional fossil preservation mechanisms, Ediacaran-Cambrian ecological transitions, and the application of 3D morphometric techniques. His research bridges geological and biological sciences, offering insights into the rise of complex life during Earth’s most transformative evolutionary periods.