Merrilee F. Guenther

Dr. Merrilee F. Guenther serves as Professor and Chair of the Department of Biological Sciences at Elmhurst University, where she teaches courses ranging from Human Anatomy to Paleontology. Her research program centers on vertebrate paleontology with emphasis on hadrosaurid dinosaur biomechanics and evolutionary biology.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Earth and Environmental Science, University of Pennsylvania (Dissertation: Morphology and Ontogeny of the Postcranial Skeleton of the Hadrosauridae)

Research Focus: Dr. Guenther investigates growth-related structural changes in hadrosaur dinosaurs through ontogenetic studies of postcranial skeletons and jaw mechanics. Her work examines species-specific biomechanical variations across North American formations while utilizing micropaleontology to reconstruct Paleocene ecosystems in western North Dakota. This research bridges paleobiology with modern avian and crocodilian comparative anatomy.

Publication Trends: Analysis of her 2005-2016 publications reveals concentrated investigation into hadrosaurid anatomy across multiple North American sites, particularly the San Juan Basin. Her work demonstrates methodological integration of fossil morphology, biomechanical analysis, and ontogenetic sequencing to reconstruct evolutionary pathways, with secondary contributions to science education pedagogy.

Advising: Dr. Guenther actively mentors undergraduate researchers, including M. Wosik and S.M. McCarthy (Elmhurst Biology graduates), who co-authored her 2016 San Juan Basin hadrosaurid studies. Her KEYSTONE STEMinar facilitates student engagement with paleontological research methods.

Research Environment: She conducts fieldwork in New Mexico and North Dakota formations, collaborating with museum collections while integrating students into fossil analysis and biomechanical reconstruction projects.