Oliver Hampe

Dr. Oliver Hampe serves as Scientific Director of the Vertebrate Paleontology and Geology Collections at the Museum für Naturkunde (Museum of Natural History), Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Research in Berlin, Germany. He also holds the position of Head of the Paleontological Preparation Laboratory. His expertise spans extinct aquatic vertebrates, paleopathology, and geoarchaeology, with significant contributions to cetacean evolution research.

Hampe completed his studies in Chemistry and Geology-Paleontology from 1981-1987 at universities in Düsseldorf and Mainz, earning his Diploma in 1987. He received his PhD from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz in 1991 and completed his habilitation for Palaeobiology and Zoology at Humboldt University Berlin in 2003, qualifying him as a Privatdozent.

His research focuses on cetacean evolution, particularly Miocene whale fossils from German sites like Groß Pampau, with significant work on periotic bone anatomy. Hampe integrates traditional morphological analysis with advanced imaging techniques including CT scanning to study fossil specimens non-destructively. His paleopathological research examines diseases in fossils, such as osteomyelitis in Tyrannosaurus rex and bone tumors in whale specimens. He also maintains scholarly interest in the history of paleontology, particularly Werner Janensch's work and German expeditions to Tendaguru, Tanzania.

Analysis of Hampe's recent publications reveals consistent focus on cetacean evolution, especially baleen whales from the Miocene epoch. His methodological approach frequently combines detailed morphological analysis with geological context to understand evolutionary patterns. He has made significant taxonomic contributions through studies of whale ear bone anatomy and has extended his research to pathological conditions in diverse fossil vertebrates. His interdisciplinary work bridges paleontology with medical imaging techniques and historical studies.

As Head of the Paleontological Preparation Laboratory, Hampe oversees the curation and preparation of vertebrate fossil collections. His current research projects include cetacean studies from Groß Pampau, pathology research on dinosaurs and mammals, and investigations into aquatic adaptation in Cetartiodactyla supervised with PhD student Apolline Alfsen. His collaborative approach is evident in numerous publications with international researchers across Europe.