Sterling Nesbitt

Sterling Nesbitt is a Professor of Geobiology at Virginia Tech's Department of Geosciences within the College of Science. His research focuses on the evolution of Mesozoic terrestrial vertebrates, particularly archosaurs (dinosaurs, crocodilians, and their relatives), with emphasis on the Triassic Period. He leads a lab group conducting fieldwork in Zambia, Tanzania, Argentina, and the southwestern US, and teaches courses including 'Evolution of the Vertebrates' and 'Introduction to Paleobiology.'

Education: PhD in Geosciences from Columbia University (2009), BA in Integrative Biology from UC Berkeley (2004). Current students include PhD candidates Helen Burch (ecological modeling), Isaac Pugh (microvertebrate accumulations), Brynden Perkins (silesaurid evolution), and Emily Keeble (vertebrate functional morphology). He holds affiliations with institutions like the American Museum of Natural History and the National Museum of Natural History.

Research interests center on archosaur phylogeny, growth dynamics, and how preservation and morphology influence paleontological interpretations. Notable work includes discovering venomous reptiles from the Late Triassic and redefining dinosaur origins through Teleocrater studies. His NSF CAREER Award supports investigations into Triassic-Jurassic vertebrate transitions.

Publications emphasize Triassic vertebrate ecosystems, with recent trends focusing on lagerpetids, pterosaur origins, and the role of climate in shaping faunal distributions. Lab activities include anatomical studies using CT scanning and collaborations with global museums.