Mateusz Tałanda

Mateusz Tałanda is a Researcher at the Institute of Paleobiology, Polish Academy of Sciences, specializing in vertebrate paleobiology. His work focuses on reptile evolution, Triassic ecosystems, and biogeography. He leads projects such as 'New Miocene land vertebrates from the northwestern Paratethys shores' (NCN OPUS-24) and previously studied the early evolution of squamate and rhynchocephalian skulls (NCN PRELUDIUM).

Education & Professional Experience: Completed an internship at University College London (2018–2019 under MOBILNOŚĆ PLUS). Collaborates with institutions including Uppsala University, University of Oxford, and University College London. Active in fieldwork, including expeditions to Greenland and Tunisia.

Research Interests: Combines paleontology with developmental biology to explore reptile evolution. Specializes in Triassic vertebrate assemblages, fossil morphology, and the interplay between paleoenvironments and biodiversity.

Publications Highlight: Over 20 peer-reviewed articles in journals like *Nature*, *Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences*, and *Acta Palaeontologica Polonica*. Key contributions include studies on crocodilian evolution in the Miocene, early squamate anatomy via synchrotron tomography, and the discovery of a mammaliaform fossil in Greenland.

Grants & Projects: Principal investigator for NCN-funded projects. Previously managed research on Triassic reptiles and vertebrate burrow systems.

Labs/Teams: Part of the Institute of Paleobiology’s vertebrate paleontology team. Collaborates internationally on fossil expeditions and taxonomic studies.