Elizabeth Petsios

Dr. Elizabeth Petsios is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geosciences at Baylor University, within the College of Arts & Sciences. Her research focuses on understanding ecological and evolutionary processes during dynamic periods in Earth's history, particularly mass extinctions and radiations. She holds a Ph.D. in Earth Sciences from the University of Southern California (2016) and a B.S. in Science of Earth Systems from Cornell University (2011). Her academic journey includes postdoctoral research at the University of Florida and University of Southern California, where she explored topics like post-Permian extinction recovery and echinoid evolution.

• Education:
  • Ph.D., University of Southern California (2016)
  • B.S., Cornell University (2011)

Her research interests span biogeosciences, paleontology, and paleogenomics, with a focus on marine benthic invertebrate communities. She investigates ecosystem responses to mass extinctions (e.g., Permian-Triassic) and radiations (e.g., Mesozoic Marine Revolution), integrating paleobiological and paleoenvironmental data. Recent work includes studies on echinoid evolution, predation patterns, and anthropogenic impacts on marine life.

Dr. Petsios' publications highlight advancements in understanding predator-prey dynamics, fossil preservation, and the ecological consequences of ancient mass extinctions. She actively contributes to science education research, exploring student acceptance of evolution at religiously affiliated institutions. Her work bridges paleontology with modern ecological challenges, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to unravel Earth's biological history.