Ian Silver-Gorges is a Postdoctoral Scholar at the University of Central Florida, focusing on marine biology and conservation ecology. His research addresses the impacts of environmental stressors on imperiled species, particularly sea turtles. Institution: University of Central Florida Role: Research Fellow His work examines ecological connectivity, niche partitioning, and population dynamics in marine megafauna. Current studies include synergistic stressors in marine reptiles and systems-based approaches to conservation management. His recent publications highlight trends in marine species conservation, with emphasis on genetic connectivity, environmental sex determination, and biodiversity hotspots. Key themes include climate change impacts, foraging ecology, and migratory patterns. NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology (PRFB)
Heidi Lyn, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor and Joan M. Sinnott Chair of Psychology at the University of South Alabama. She holds a Ph.D. in Psychology (Comparative Animal Communication and Cognition) from Georgia State University (2001), an M.A. in Psychology from Georgia State University (1998), and dual B.A./B.S. degrees in Linguistics and Computer Science Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania (1992). Her research focuses on nonhuman animal cognition and communication, including studies of intelligence in animals, neural-behavioral correlates in primates, and communication in dolphins, sea mammals, and primates. Notable contributions include over 25 articles on topics such as cognitive differences in dogs, environmental influences on ape social behavior, and cross-species symbolic development. Her work has been featured in Scientific American , Science , and media outlets like the Today show. Dr. Lyn has held positions at UCLA, the New York Aquarium, St. Andrews University, and the University of Southern Mississippi. She actively advises graduate students and contributes to marine mammal welfare research. Her lab explores cognitive mechanisms in sea turtles, enrichment programs for bottlenose dolphins, and comparative studies of animal communication across species. Recent projects include investigations into spatial memory in dogs, vocal communication in dolphins, and the role of socio-communicative environments on ape cognition. She has presented at major conferences such as the Evolution of Language and the Comparative Cognition Conference, and her edited works include The Evolution of Language: Proceedings of EVOLANG10 . Labs/Teams: Her research involves collaborations with institutions like the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory and the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies, focusing on marine and terrestrial animal cognition.
Alison E. Moyer is Assistant Teaching Professor in Drexel University's Department of Biology, specializing in molecular paleontology and STEM education. She earned her Ph.D. in Biology from North Carolina State University (2016) and B.S. from Drexel (2008). Her interdisciplinary research combines paleontology with molecular biology to study soft tissue preservation in fossils. She leads the SEA-PHAGES program (HHMI/Pitt partnership) where undergraduates discover and sequence bacteriophages, resulting in multiple GenBank genome submissions. Recognized as a Top 40 Under 40 innovator, she implements evidence-based teaching strategies developed during her CASTLE postdoc. Paleontological contributions include: Keratin preservation studies in fossil feathers/claws Analyses of dinosaur soft tissues and melanosomes Co-discovery/description of the titanosaur Dreadnoughtus schrani Her pedagogy research focuses on inclusive, research-centered STEM curricula for large courses.
James M. Clark is the Ronald Weintraub Professor of Biology at The George Washington University's Columbian College of Arts and Sciences. His research focuses on the evolution of extinct land vertebrates, particularly from the Mesozoic Era. He has conducted extensive field work across four continents, leading to numerous significant fossil discoveries in China, Mongolia, Mexico, South Africa, and other locations. Clark received his A.B. from the University of California, Berkeley in 1978, followed by an M.S. from the same institution in 1985. He completed his Ph.D. at the University of Chicago in 1986. His postdoctoral work included positions at U.C. Davis (1987-1989), the National Museum of Natural History (1989-1991), and the American Museum of Natural History (1991-1994). Clark's research program centers on fossil vertebrates from the Age of Dinosaurs, with particular expertise in crocodylomorphs, dinosaurs, pterosaurs, and lepidosaurs. His laboratory addresses evolutionary relationships of these groups and their connections to living relatives. A major focus has been the Shishugou Formation in Xinjiang, China, where his expeditions have uncovered numerous new species including Limusaurus, Guanlong, and Haplocheirus. His work on theropod dinosaurs has significantly contributed to our understanding of the dinosaur-bird transition. Analysis of Clark's recent publications reveals consistent research themes across paleontology, evolutionary morphology, and phylogenetics. His work spans multiple vertebrate groups including dinosaurs, crocodylomorphs, pterosaurs, and lepidosaurs, with a strong geographic focus on Jurassic deposits from China. The publications demonstrate methodological diversity, incorporating field discovery, detailed morphological analysis, phylogenetic studies, and advanced imaging techniques like CT scanning. Clark has mentored numerous graduate students who have gone on to make significant contributions in paleontology, including Jonah Choiniere, Josef Stiegler, and Drew Moore. His research has been consistently supported by major funding agencies including the National Science Foundation and the National Geographic Society, enabling extensive field expeditions and laboratory analyses. He has taught courses in Evolution and Extinction of Dinosaurs, Current Topics in Systematic Biology, Vertebrate Phylogeny, Morphological Systematics, and Foundations of Evolution. Clark's laboratory conducts research through international collaborations, primarily with the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology in Beijing. His field work has resulted in the discovery of numerous new species across multiple vertebrate groups. Current projects include studying the paleobiology of Limusaurus and the relationships of Bellusaurus, with future work planned in Early Jurassic deposits of South Africa.
Tushar Sirsat is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physician Assistant Studies at Clarkson University, affiliated with the Lewis School of Health & Life Sciences. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of North Texas (2017) and an M.B.B.S. from the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (2005). His teaching responsibilities include foundational courses in basic sciences and clinical medicine for physician assistant and physical therapy programs. Dr. Sirsat's research focuses on physiological mechanisms of metabolism, endocrine regulation, cardiovascular & respiratory systems, mitochondrial bioenergetics, and clinical practice methodologies. His work explores developmental physiology in avian species (e.g., red-winged blackbirds, Pekin ducks) and reptiles (e.g., American alligators), investigating how thyroid hormones and environmental factors influence endothermy development, respiratory control, and metabolic processes. He also examines clinical applications such as vaccination strategies and mindful clinical practice. His publications emphasize thyroid hormone manipulation effects on developmental physiology, mitochondrial function, and thermoregulatory adaptations in vertebrates. Recent work includes studies on skeletal muscle mitochondria in nestling birds and thermal acclimation in reptiles. He has collaborated extensively with Dr. E.M. Dzialowski on comparative physiology projects. No scientific awards or grants are explicitly listed in the provided materials. His advising profile remains unspecified, though his research involves collaborative projects with graduate students. His office is located in 1206B Clarkson Hall, and he can be reached at tsirsat@clarkson.edu.
Prof. Dr. Madelaine Böhme is a faculty member in the Department of Geosciences at Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen , where she leads the Terrestrial Palaeoclimatology work group. She is also affiliated with the Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment (HEP) . Her research integrates fossil amphibians and reptiles to reconstruct Miocene climate patterns and paleoprecipitation gradients in Europe. Her primary research interests include: Palaeoclimatology and Neogene environmental dynamics Fossil-based climate reconstruction using herpetofauna Miocene precipitation modeling European biogeography and ecosystem evolution Taxonomy and evolution of vertebrates, especially mammals and reptiles Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on quantitative paleoclimatic methods, fossil vertebrate assemblages, and large-scale environmental reconstructions across Eurasia during the Neogene. She frequently employs interdisciplinary approaches combining geochronology, sedimentology, and paleontology. Her scientific contributions include key papers on: Miocene 'washhouse' climate in Europe Paleoprecipitation estimation methods Chronology of hominid localities in Bulgaria Evolution and taxonomy of Miocene mammals (rhinos, chalicotheres) New hominid discoveries in Germany She actively supervises PhD and Master’s students, including Panagiotis Kampouridis and Josephina Hartung , and collaborates on international field projects in Bulgaria, Greece, and Germany. She has been involved in major research programs such as the ESF's EEDEN initiative. Her work is supported by institutional affiliations and collaborative grants, though specific grant details are not listed. She leads a research team that includes postdocs, students, and technical staff, and she participates in fossil excavations and collection-based research.
Prof. Dr. Rainer Schoch is Professor of Palaeontology at the University of Hohenheim and head of the Palaeontology department at the State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart (SMNS). His research focuses on the evolution of early terrestrial vertebrates and Triassic ecosystems, with extensive work on temnospondyl amphibians, early reptiles, and the water-to-land transition. Education 1990–1995: Studies in Geology and Palaeontology, University of Tübingen 1998: PhD, University of Tübingen 2018: Habilitation, University of Jena Research Interests Prof. Schoch’s work centres on early land vertebrate evolution , examining the fossil record of the first tetrapods, their bone micro-structure, and the depositional settings that preserve them. He investigates how bony fishes colonised land 365 million years ago, the life cycles and metamorphosis of early amphibians, and the functional changes in organs (feeding, respiration, locomotion) during this transition. A second major theme is Triassic ecosystems , where he reconstructs food webs and habitats using exceptionally preserved fossils from southern Germany, analysing the aftermath of the Permian–Triassic mass extinction and the recovery of terrestrial and aquatic communities. Methodologically, he integrates traditional anatomy, bone histology, CT scanning, and geochemistry in collaboration with the University of Mainz. Current Projects Evolution of life histories in early terrestrial vertebrates Tetrapod faunas of the Middle and Upper Triassic Origin of turtles based on the stem-turtle Pappochelys Palaeoecology of early land vertebrates Scientific Awards Friedrich von Alberti-Preis (2010) – awarded for outstanding contributions to Triassic research. Supervision & Collaboration Prof. Schoch leads a dynamic research group that currently hosts four post-doctoral researchers (Dr Eudald Mujal Grané, Dr Orla Bath Enright, Dr Stephan Spiekman, Dr Gabriela Sobral, Dr Daniel Schwarz, and Dr Sanjukta Chakravorti) and four doctoral students (Joep Schaeffer, Raphael Moreno, Feiko Miedema, Samuel Cooper). His team benefits from DFG funding and international collaborations spanning the USA, UK, China, Russia, Argentina, Brazil, and Morocco. Laboratory & Fieldwork At SMNS he curates the fossil amphibian and reptile collections and oversees active excavations in the Triassic strata of southern Germany. He also serves as monument commissioner for vertebrate fossils from the Palaeozoic and Mesozoic of Baden-Württemberg, ensuring the preservation of key sites such as Holzmaden.
Dr. Florian Witzmann serves as Curator for Fossil Fishes and Amphibians at the Museum of Natural History Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Research in Berlin, Germany, a position he has held continuously since June 2016 (and previously from April 2009 to November 2014). He also functions as Editor-in-Chief of 'Fossil Record,' the museum's paleontological open-access journal. His academic credentials include a habilitation completed in November 2014 at Humboldt University of Berlin with the thesis 'Physiological aspects of the fish-to-tetrapod transition - skin structure, breathing and feeding in early tetrapods,' supervised by Prof. Johannes Müller, and a PhD earned in September 2004 from the same institution focusing on the Permo-Carboniferous temnospondyl amphibian Archegosaurus decheni. His research program centers on three primary interconnected domains: (1) physiological adaptations during the fish-to-tetrapod transition in the late Paleozoic, particularly examining morphological and histological changes in dermal bones and scales alongside restructuring of the gill skeleton related to feeding and respiration mechanisms; (2) evolution of cranial muscles in early tetrapods and amphibians; and (3) paleopathology, with special emphasis on spinal diseases in fossil amphibians and reptiles and the evolutionary history of bone healing mechanisms. His work frequently employs advanced imaging techniques including microCT, FIB-SEM tomography, and phylogenetic disease bracketing to analyze both modern and fossil specimens. Dr. Witzmann's scholarly impact is reflected in publications across prestigious interdisciplinary journals including Nature, Science Advances, Current Biology, The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, and JAMA Oncology. His research has identified ancient diseases in the fossil record such as the oldest known osteopetrosis case in human skeletons, cancer in a 240-million-year-old stem-turtle, and metabolic bone diseases in Permian amniotes. His methodological approach bridges paleontology, evolutionary developmental biology, and clinical medicine to understand deep-time patterns of disease and physiological adaptation. Feodor Lynen-Research Fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt-Foundation (2014-2016) at Brown University's Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Endeavour Leadership Award recipient (2019-2020) supporting research at the Queensland Museum, Brisbane His academic trajectory demonstrates consistent progression from doctoral research on temnospondyl amphibians through postdoctoral work on dermal bone histology to his current leadership role in paleopathology and evolutionary morphology. Dr. Witzmann maintains active collaborations with researchers across Europe, North America, and Australia, contributing significantly to our understanding of vertebrate evolution and the deep history of physiological adaptations.
Randall Irmis is a Professor in Geology & Geophysics at the University of Utah and Curator of Paleontology at the Natural History Museum of Utah since 2009. He was Chief Curator at the museum until 2023. His work integrates high-precision geochronology paleoclimatology vertebrate evolution sedimentary systems analysis to study Earth-life interactions during the Paleozoic and Mesozoic. His research focuses on Triassic non-marine ecosystem transitions dinosaur origins and diversification Gondwana paleobiogeography geochemical fingerprinting of fossils Carnian Pluvial Episode impacts synapsid-crocodylomorph evolution using fieldwork, core analysis, and multi-proxy datasets. Recent publications analyze Triassic tetrapod community evolution ankylothecodonty in Silesauridae Carnian paleoclimate in Argentina U-Pb zircon geochronology ochrostratigraphic uncertainties early pterosaur-dinosaur precursor relationships across North and South America, Japan, and China. Teaching activities include PhD/MSc thesis supervision Paleontology special topics courses Field geology instruction . Major grants from the National Science Foundation and Bureau of Land Management fund his work on Grand Staircase-escalante fossil protection Colorado Plateau coring projects Triassic impact event analysis Paleotropical climate calibration .
Jacques Gauthier is a Professor of Earth & Planetary Sciences and Curator at Yale University. His research focuses on vertebrate paleontology, reptile and bird evolution, and phylogenetic systematics. He holds a B.S. (Zoology, 1973), M.S. (Biology, 1980), and Ph.D. (Paleontology, 1984) from San Diego State University and University of California, Berkeley. His work combines fossil analysis with molecular data to reconstruct evolutionary relationships. Key contributions include studies on turtle origins, snake evolution, and the development of phylogenetic nomenclature (PhyloCode). He teaches courses like Vertebrate Paleontology and Systematics Discussion Group. His research spans reptile phylogeny, dinosaur metabolism, and the impact of mass extinctions on biodiversity. Active in curating the Yale Peabody Museum’s collections, he collaborates on projects involving fossil imaging and genomic analysis to resolve evolutionary debates.
Steve Lougheed is a Professor and Baillie Family Chair in Conservation Biology at Queen's University, affiliated with the Department of Biology and School of Environmental Studies. He leads the Lougheed Lab, focusing on genomics, ecology, and conservation biology. His research addresses biodiversity origins, human impacts (e.g., climate change, habitat fragmentation), and species at risk, particularly in amphibians, reptiles, and polar bears. He is Director of the Queen's University Biological Station and collaborates with Indigenous communities on conservation projects like BearWatch, which monitors polar bears using genomics and traditional ecological knowledge. Research Interests: Conservation genomics, environmental DNA (eDNA), species distribution modeling, and climate change impacts on wildlife. Current projects include polar bear monitoring, eDNA-based biodiversity surveys, and conservation strategies for snakes and turtles. Teaching: Field courses in East Africa, Latin America, and Canada; lectures on speciation, ecology, and conservation. Lab Members: Supervises numerous graduate and undergraduate students in genomics, ecology, and conservation. Key Projects: BearWatch (polar bear genomics), eDNA manual development, and snake conservation genetics. Publications: Over 50 peer-reviewed articles on topics like polar bear diet analysis, eDNA applications, and snake population genetics. Recent works include advanced genomics tools for wildlife monitoring and Arctic char population studies.
Associate Professor Javier Leon is a physical geographer specializing in coastal systems at the University of the Sunshine Coast's School of Science, Technology and Engineering. Originally from Peru, he conducts research across Australia's Great Barrier Reef, eastern coast, and Pacific Islands including Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. His educational background includes: PhD in Earth and Environmental Sciences from University of Wollongong M.Sc. in Geography from University of Canterbury BA in Humanities from Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú Professor Leon's research integrates field data, geospatial techniques and modeling to address coastal morphology, ecology and management in the context of climate change and sea-level rise. He employs innovative drone technology and remote sensing methods to study sandy beaches and coral reefs. Current projects include sediment budget mapping, coastal ecosystem monitoring with drones/LiDAR, beach imaging systems, and coral reef island dynamics under climate change. His scholarly work demonstrates strong interdisciplinary connections across: Coastal geomorphology and dynamics Coral reef and island systems Remote sensing and geospatial information science Drone technology applications Climate change adaptation strategies Professor Leon maintains an active media presence through The Conversation, where he explains complex coastal processes to the public, as seen in his recent article about Cyclone Alfred's impact on beaches. His work provides practical applications for coastal management authorities facing climate change challenges.
Isabella Pignocco is a Research Fellow at the University of Catania's Department of Religious Studies within the Faculty of Humanities. She holds this position under the PRIN 2022 Project "Resilient Septuagint. An Initial Exploration of the Semantics of Killing and Healing in the Septuagint and Its Reception in Patristic and Late Antique Sources (3rd cent. BCE–5th cent. CE)" with disciplinary focus on History of Christianity and the Churches (M-STO/07). Her research is supervised by Professor Arianna Rotondo and is linked to Work Package 8 "uBIQUity" of the PNRR project "ITSERR – Italian Strengthening of the ESFRI RI RESILIENCE". Her educational background includes a Master's Degree in Philology, Literature, and Ancient History from the University of Turin (2023), where she graduated with honors (110/110 with lode) for her thesis "L'imperatrice e il mago: analisi dei rapporti tra il secondo libro del De Sancto Cypriano di Eudocia Augusta e la Confessio Cypriani." She also earned a Bachelor's Degree in Literature with an ancient-medieval curriculum from the same institution (2019). Additional training includes the "Digital Tools for Humanists" summer school at the University of Pisa and specialized Digital Humanities courses at the University of Turin. Pignocco's research centers on the development of EnGraSept, a dataset based on the Göttingen critical edition of the Septuagint designed to identify biblical citations and allusions within patristic literature, particularly Clement of Alexandria's Protrepticus and Nonnus of Panopolis's Parafrasi del Vangelo. Her work bridges traditional philological methods with computational approaches, focusing on text reuse analysis and digital scholarly editions. She possesses advanced technical skills in XML/TEI encoding, RDF-Turtle, JSON, and various digital humanities tools including EVT-2 for digital critical editions. Her recent scholarly contributions demonstrate a consistent focus on the intersection of biblical studies, digital humanities, and patristics, with particular attention to semantic analysis of biblical concepts in early Christian literature. The research trajectory shows increasing sophistication in computational methods applied to textual analysis of ancient sources, with growing participation in international collaborations through the ITSERR project. Pignocco is an active member of professional organizations including AIUCD (Association for Digital Humanities and Digital Culture) and EADH (The European Association for Digital Humanities). She has presented her work at numerous international conferences and workshops, including events at the University of Bologna, University of Naples L'Orientale, and the Society of Biblical Literature meeting in Amsterdam. Her technical expertise spans digital text encoding, computational linguistics applications to ancient texts, and digital scholarly publishing. She has collaborated with multiple institutions including the University of Bologna, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, and the Foundation for Religious Sciences (Fscire) on interrelated projects examining sacred texts in the digital world.
Dr Blake Dickson is a Lecturer in the Department of Anatomy at the University of New South Wales , affiliated with the School of Biomedical Sciences . He earned his Ph.D. and M.Sc. in 2020 from Harvard University, following a First Class Honours B.Sc. in Biological Sciences from UNSW in 2013. Research Interests Evolution of biomechanical traits during ecological transitions Functional morphology of vertebrates Adaptive landscapes and evolutionary modeling Primate locomotion and musculoskeletal trade-offs Development of morphometric software tools (Morphoscape, AlignR) Publications highlight his work on: Terrestrial adaptation in early tetrapods Jaw biomechanics in mammalian evolution Vertebral evolution paradigms Swimming adaptations in aquatic tetrapods 3D digitization techniques for morphological analysis Scientific Awards Leakey Foundation Research Grant (2022) Duke Lemur Center Director’s Fund (2022) Duke ASC Faculty Research Grant (2022) Gans Collections and Charitable Fund travel grant (2019) Robert A. Chapman Fellowships (2019, 2018) Grants funded studies on primate locomotion, fossil analysis, and adaptive landscape modeling.
Brandon R. Peecook is an Associate Professor in Biological Sciences at Idaho State University and serves as Curator at the Idaho Museum of Natural History . His research focuses on the fossil record of Permian and Triassic terrestrial ecosystems, mass extinction recovery, and vertebrate evolution using museum collections and fieldwork in regions like Zambia and Antarctica. Ph.D. in Biology, University of Washington (2016) B.S. in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan (2009) His work integrates high-resolution synchrotron tomography via the Idaho Virtualization Lab to study small-bodied fossils, with notable contributions including the first non-avian dinosaur from Washington State. Recent publications (2025) span biostratigraphy, dire wolf ancestry, and Permian reptile neuroanatomy, emphasizing biogeography and evolutionary transitions. Peecook’s teaching includes courses in comparative vertebrate anatomy, paleontology, and mass extinction seminars, with guest lectures in diverse biological disciplines.
