Members

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Members

Senior Researchers
website / email	Dr. Blaine W. Schubert Center & Museum Director ETSU, Geosciences, Associate Professor Research Interests : Late Cenozoic vertebrate paleontology and paleoecology; the impact of climatic change on vertebrates; the paleobiology and evolution of bears; cave paleontology. Current Projects: Paleobiology and systematics of tremarctine bears; excavation and analysis of vertebrate fossils from the Gray site, Saltville, and caves in the Appalachians and Ozarks.
website / email	Dr. Yusheng (Christopher) Liu Museum Curator (Fossil Plants) ETSU, Biological Sciences, Associate Professor Research Interests : Paleobotany; paleoecology and paleogeography of Cretaceous - Cenozoic plants of the Northern Hemisphere; quantitative paleoclimatic reconstructions based on plants. Current Projects: Analysis of fossil fruits/seeds from the Gray Fossil Site in Tennessee and quantitative paleoclimate reconstructions on Neogene floras from East Asia.
website / email	Dr. Jim I. Mead Museum Curator (Fossil Vertebrates) ETSU, Geosciences, Professor and Chair ETVP Curator Research Interests: Evolution and dispersal of bovids; cranial morphology of lizards; evolution of Australian lizards; vertebrate faunal changes in response to Neogene climatic changes. Current Projects : Pleistocene biodiversity of Sonora, Mexico; cranial osteology of Australian lizards; Pleistocene lizards from caves of Western Australia; lizards from the Gray Fossil Site.
website / email	Dr. Steven C. Wallace Museum Curator (Fossil Vertebrates) GFS Site Manager ETSU, Geosciences, Associate Professor Research Interests : Vertebrate paleontology; morphometrics; small carnivore evolution, and the interchange between Eurasia and North America over the last 10 million years. Current Projects: Descriptions of the Gray site panda and badger; systematic excavations at Gray; evolution of mustelids, ailurids, felids, and tapirids; technological advances in molding and casting.
email	Dr. Michael J. Whitelaw ETSU, Geosciences, Associate Professor Research Interests: Paleomagnetism; geology and stratigraphy of east Tennessee; vertebrate paleontology; geology and paleontology outreach and education. Current Projects: Origin, geology and stratigraphy of the GFS; possible GFS contemporaries in east Tennessee; geology of petroglyph sites in Western Mongolia; geoscience outreach programs.

Research Associates
email	Aaron Abernethy ETSU, Paleontology Program, M.S. Gradauate Research Interests: Vertebrate paleontology; functional morphology and variation in Perissodactyla; osteoderm histology, convergence, and development; Permian synapsid paleobiology. Current Projects : The functional morphology of the sagittal crest of Tapirus polkensis at the Gray Fossil Site, Tennessee.
website / email	Dr. Brian J. Axsmith U. of Southern Alabama, Biology, Professor Research Interests : Neogene floras of the Southeast; the fossil record of conifers; Mesozoic gymnosperms and ferns. Current Projects: Triassic plant fossils from northern China; ferns from the Triassic Chinle Formation; Cheirolepidiaceous conifers from the Jurassic and Cretaceous of North America.
email	Grant S. Boardman University of Nebraska, Ph.D. Student ETSU, Paleontology Program, M.S. Graduate Research Interests : Vertebrate Paleontology, Paleoecology. Current Projects: Description of the GFS salamanders; determining regional paleoenvironmental successions in the White River of Nebraska based on mammals.
email	Keila Bredehoeft Hagerman Fossil Beds, Preparator ETSU, Paleontology Program, M.S. Graduate Research Interests: Cenozoic vertebrate paleontology, morphometrics, cryptobranchid salamanders, cave paleontology, field and preparatory work. Current Projects : A Re-evaluation of the Pleistocene hellbender, Cryptobranchus guildayi, and an overview of Cryptobranchus remains from Appalachian caves.
website / email	Dr. Larisa R. G. DeSantis Vanderbilt U., Earth and Environmental Sciences, Assistant Professor Research Interests : Paleoecology and paleobiology of Cenozoic mammals; assessing effects of climate change on mammals and their environments; paleoecology of forests. Current Projects: Paleoecology and paleoclimatology of Miocene - Pleistocene sites in southeastern North America (e.g., GFS) and Australia; integration of multiple tools for paleoecological studies.
email	Dr. Yongli Gao ETSU, Geosciences, Associate Professor Research Interests : karst hydrology, human impact on environment, paleoclimate and paleohydrology investigations, GIS applications in Geosciences. Current Projects: Investigating climatic and environmental changes using speleothems and paleokarst deposits. Modeling surface water and groundwater interactions in karst settings.
email	Matthew L. Gibson ETSU, Paleontology Program, M.S. Graduate Research Interests: Paleobiology of tapirs, paleobiology of whales and dolphins, and Mesozoic reptiles. Current Projects : Population structure based on age-class distribution of Tapirus polkensis from the Gray Fossil Site, Tennessee.
email	Fade Gong ETSU, Biological Sciences, M.S. Graduate Research Interests : Paleobotany; paleoclimate; phytogeography; evolution and diversity of plants; morphometrics on fossil plants. Current Projects: Systematics of fossil grape seeds (Vitaceae) from the Gray Fossil Site; Quantitative paleoclimatic reconstructions on eastern Asian Neogene floras.
email	Patrick Hawkins ETSU, Paleontology Program, M.S. Graduate Research Interests: Vertebrate paleontology; functional morphology, mostly in mammals; skeletal variation due to environmental factors. Current Projects: Variation in the modified first metatarsal of a large sample of Tapirus polkensis and the functional implications for ceratomorphs.
email	Sharon E. Holte University of Florida, Ph.D. Student ETSU, Paleontology Program, M.S. Graduate Research Interests: Vertebrate paleontology - from dinosaurs to mammals. Current Projects: A comprehensive paleobiological analysis of the ground sloth material ( Megalonyx jeffersonii) from ACb-3 Cave, Northwestern Alabama; Beaded lizard (Heloderma) osteology
website / email	Dr. Mark N. Hutchinson South Australian Museum, Adelaide, Senior Researcher Research Interests : Evolution and systematics of lizards; fossil history of Australian lizards; origins and timing of reptile evolutionary radiations. Current Projects: Pleistocene fossil record of Australian lizards and implications for past climates; lizard fossils as calibration points for molecular phylogenetics; Tertiary history of lizards in Australasia.
email	Elizabeth Schmitt ETSU, Paleontology Program, M.S. Graduate Research Interests: Vertebrate paleontology; dietary behavior of Pleistocene carnivorans; predator - prey relationships; language and brain development in human evolution. Current Projects : Analysis of bone crushing behavior in the dire wolf ( Canis dirus) using microwear texture analysis.
email	Dr. H. Gregory McDonald National Park Service Senior Curator of Natural History Research Interests : Paleobiology of American mammals with an emphasis on Xenarthra; Great American Biotic Interchange; taxonomy, systematics, and evolution of ground sloths. Current Projects: Description of sloth remains from the GFS; biostratigraphy and chronology of ground sloths in North America; Pleistocene tar pit faunas of Venezuela.
email	Dr. Roger Moore FLMNH, Research Associate Research Interests : Eocene paleobotany southeast U.S., paleoecology, paleo-CO2 reconcentrations, Cenozoic depositional environments, Neogene plant fossils in Thailand. Current Projects: Eocene plant fossils of Tennessee-Kentucky; leaf ecophysical and epidermal architecture; Plio-Pleistocene fossils of Thailand; west Tennessee Neogene locality.
email	Diana Ochoa Lozano ETSU, Biological Sciences, M.S. Graduate Research Interests: Palynology; paleoecology; biodiversity and dynamics of floristic communities through time (mainly in tropical and subtropical regions). Current Projects : Description and analysis of the Gray site palynoflora and comparison to other Mio-Pliocene sites in North America.
email	Dr. Cheng Quan Jilin University, China, Associate Professor ETSU, Biological Sciences, Visiting Scholar Research Interests : Paleobotany; paleoecology of Cretaceous - Cenozoic plants; quantitative paleoenvironmental reconstructions based on plants. Current Projects: Evolution of the genus Ginkgo; climate evolution in eastern Asia during the Cenozoic; quantitative climate reconstructions during the early Cenozoic.
email	Dr. Aaron Shunk Geologist, Shell Exploration and Production Research Interests : P aleoclimatology using paleosols, spectral analyses, stable isotopes, and sedimentology and stratigraphy. Of particular interest is the interaction between the sun and climate. Current Projects: S pectral analyses of lacustrine rhythmites and annual tree-rings to characterize the GFS paleoclimate. Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway and its record of paleoclimate.
website / email	Dr. Leopoldo H. Soibelzon Universidad Nacional de La Plata, CONICET La Plata Museum of Natural History Adjunct Researcher / Professor Research Interests : Great America Biotic Interchange; South American carnivorans; late Cenozoic extinctions; paleobiology; geometric morphometrics; biostratigraphy. Current Projects: Description of bear remains from GFS; morphological phylogeny of fossil and recent bears; systematics and palaeobiology of fossil procyonids; paleopathologies in bears.
email	Jeremy B. Stout ETSU, Paleontology Program, M.S. Graduate Research Interests : Vertebrate paleontology and paleoecology; systematics; evolutionary history of archosaurs (paticularly crocodilians); Pleistocene cave paleontology. Current Projects: Cranial morphology and systematics of Late Pliocene Alligator from Florida; description of new crocodilian material from the Bridger Formation of Wyoming.
website / email	Dr. Peter S. Ungar U. of Arkansas, Anthropology, Professor and Chair Research Interests : Hominid paleobiology; dental microwear and functional morphology; Cenozoic mammalian community ecology. Current Projects: Dental microwear studies of living and fossil primates, rodents, carnivorans and ruminants, developing new technologies for inferring diet from tooth shape and wear.
website / email	Richard S. White, Jr. International Wildlife Museum, Director Research Interests : Neogene North American artiodactyls; Great American Biotic Interchange; xenarthrans; turtles; history of vertebrate paleontology, especially in North America. Current Projects: Neogene vertebrate sites in Sonora, Mexico; phylogeny of the Antilocapridae; North American capybaras; the late Blancan 111 Ranch fauna from Arizona.
email	Yuan Wang Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences Research Interests : Paleomammalogy and Biostratigraphy during the Neogene and Quaternary. Current Projects: Proboscidean evolution and systematics in China during the late Cenozoic; evolution of Muridae in China; dental microstructure of hominoids from China.
Student Researchers
email	Laura Gilmore ETSU, Graduate Student Research Interests: Vertebrate paleontology; comparative anatomy; functional morphology; general osteology (particularly of carnivorans and crocodilians). Thesis: Modern and fossil raccoon (Procyon) osteology and systematics. (Advisor: Wallace)
email	Steven E. Jasinski ETSU, Graduate Student Research Interests: Vertebrate paleontology; evolution, systematics, paleobiology; biostratigraphy; biology of turtles; evoution of felids; pachycephalosaurs, ankylosaurs, and theropods. Thesis: A new species of the pond slider Trachemys (Testudines: Emydidae) from the Hemphillian of east Tennessee, USA, with a review of the genus. (Advisor: Mead)
email	Jeff Martin ETSU, Graduate Student Research Interests: Vertebrate paleontology; comparative anatomy; Pliocene and Pleistocene paleoecology; North American bovids (particularly bison and big horn sheep). Thesis: To be determined (Advisor: Mead)

Technical Associates
email	Arturo Baez University of Arizona, Tucson Specialties: Pleistocene mammals of Sonora Mexico and Arizona. Fieldwork. Interests : Vertebrate paleontology; Pleistocene localities of the Moctezuma River Valley, east-central Sonora, and coastal Sonora.
email	Jeff Supplee ETSU, Contractor & Volunteer Specialties: Fossil preparation and fieldwork; molding and casting; surveying; 3D scanning and rapid prototyping. Interests: Paleontology; fossil preparation and preservation; skeletal morphology; travel.
email	Sandra Swift ETSU, Contractor & Volunteer ETVP Collections Manager Specialties: Management of vertebrate comparative collection (ETVP) for Geosciences; prepartion of fossils; photography and image processing. Interests: Travel; paleontology; photography; anything to do with nature; working with students; the wonder of bones.

Abbreviations :
ETSU = East Tennessee State University
GFS = Gray Fossil Site, Washington County, Tennesse
Museum = ETSU and General Shale Brick Natural History Museum and Visitors Center
ETVP = ETSU Vertebrate Paleontology Laboratory
FLMNH = Florida Museum of Natural History

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