Sam William Heads

Dr. Sam William Heads is a Researcher in Paleontology at the University of Illinois, affiliated with the Illinois Natural History Survey and the Lemann Center for Brazilian Studies. His work focuses on fossil insects, evolutionary morphology, and ancient ecosystems.

• Specializes in Orthoptera (grasshoppers, katydids) and Echinodermata
• Key research areas: Baltic amber preservation, Green River Formation fossils, Cretaceous/Ordovician biota

His 2023 discovery of a fossil katydid with preserved organs in Colorado gained international media attention. Recent publications address evolutionary adaptations in Tetrigidae and the biogeography of Phaulotettix species.

Active collaborations include studies on:

• Eocene insect evolution
• Anthozoa fossil records
• Brazilian paleontological connections