Current members

Past members

Undergraduate Research Students

• Jessica Mo, Vanderbilt University, 2020-2022

• Riley Edie, Indiana University, 2019-2021

• Daniel Rhoda, Indiana University, 2017-20

• Michol Deutsch, Indiana University, 2017-19

• Andrew Reese, Indiana University, 2015-17

• Kimberly Cook, Indiana University, 2015-17

• Alexander Beyl, Indiana University, 2015-17

• Charisse Mitchell, Charles Tindley School, Indianapolis, 2014-15

• Alyssa Ruthkay, Indiana University, 2013-14

• Mackenzie Kirchner-Smith, Indiana University, 2012-13

• Beth Reinke, Indiana University, 2009-11

• Georgina Adams, Queen Mary, University of London, 2005-6

• Anup Gupta, Queen Mary, University of London, 2005-6

• Shruti Karia, Queen Mary, University of London, 2005-6

• Komal Khan, Queen Mary, University of London, 2005-6

• Nicola MacGregor, Queen Mary, University of London, 2005-6

• Rekha Sharma, Queen Mary, University of London, 2005-6

• Lisa Wilson, Queen Mary, University of London, 2005-6

• Rayhana Yasmin, Queen Mary, University of London, 2005-6

• Angelina Ansah, Queen Mary, University of London, 2004-5

• Kamaljit Attariwala, Queen Mary, University of London, 2004-5

• Sabrina Campbell, Queen Mary, University of London, 2004-5

• Simon Cyrus, Queen Mary, University of London, 2004-5

• Kirran Khalid, Queen Mary, University of London, 2004-5

• Lauren Morris, Queen Mary, University of London, 2004-5

• David O'Milegan, Queen Mary, University of London, 2004-5

• Elaine Wong, Queen Mary, University of London, 2004-5

• Radhekshmi Caumul, Queen Mary, University of London, 2003-4

• Alana George, Queen Mary, University of London, 2003-4

• Cynthia Kanagasundaram, Queen Mary, University of London, 2003-4

• Naz Qureshi, Queen Mary, University of London, 2003-4

• Mohammed Ajmal, Queen Mary, University of London, 2002-3

• Adwoa Asare, Queen Mary, University of London, 2002-3

• Neha Bhardwaj, Queen Mary, University of London, 2002-3

• Linh Hy, Queen Mary, University of London, 2002-3

• Gengiz Gursoy, Queen Mary, University of London, 2001-2

• Cherry Smith, Queen Mary, University of London, 2001-2

• Christopher Strowbridge, Queen Mary, University of London, 2001-

• Helen Melvill, Queen Mary, University of London, 1999-2000

• Ebitare Sawacha, Queen Mary, University of London, 1999-2000

• Claire Sutton, Queen Mary, University of London, 1999-2000

• Ajay K. Mathur, Queen Mary, University of London, 1998-1999

• Georgina E. Hirschler, University of Michigan, 1995-1996

• David T. Cohen, University of Michigan, 1995-1996

Graduate Committees

• Brabson, Bristol. Indiana University, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, 2024-present.

• Hartzell, Samantha. Indiana University, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, 2024-present. 

• Koelbel, Matthew. Indiana University, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, Masters, 2023-2024. Thesis title: Temporal trends in hominin dentognathic morphology and size: a magnitudinal and morphometric analysis of dental arcade shape and tooth dimensions. 

• Terry, Hal, Indiana University, Biological Sciences, Ph.D., 2023-present.

• Bögner, Emily. University of California Berkeley, Integrative Biology, Ph.D., 2022-present.

• LaBarge, Thomas. Indiana University, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, Ph.D., 2022-present. 

• Chandroth, Anupama. Indiana University, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, Ph.D., 2021-present.

• Reed, Susan. Indiana University, Biological Sciences, MS, 2022-2024. Thesis title: Latitudinal Variation in Migratory Distance, Reproductive Timing, and Energy Utilization in Male and Female American Robins.

• LaBarge, Thomas. Indiana University, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, MS, 2020-2022. Thesis title: Taphonomy and ichnology of Nile Crocodile feeding behavior.

• Peltier-Thompson, Danielle. Indiana University, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, PhD, 2018-present.

• Valenza, Jeffery. Indiana University, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, PhD, 2018-2021. Thesis title: “Controls on river avulsion style and stratigraphy in foreland basins”.

• Burtt, Amanda. Indiana University, Anthropology, PhD, 2013-2021.

• Thorpe, Emily. Indiana University, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, Masters, 2018-2020. Thesis title: “Taxonomy and Paleoecology of Rudist Bivalves from the Barrancas, Río Matón, and Aguas Buenas Limestone Members, middle Cretaceous, Puerto Rico”.

• Camargo-Perez, Issac. Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico, PhD, 2017-2021. Dissertation title: “Filogenia y filogeografía de las musarañas desérticas del genero Notiosorex (Mammalia:Soricomorpha)”. 

• Zimmerman, Alex. Indiana University, Department of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, PhD, 2014-2020. Dissertation title: “The importance of biodiversity in understanding evolutionary paleoecology”.

• Farrugia, Paul. Indiana University, Department of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, PhD, 2012-2024. Dissertation title: “Crocodylian craniodental ecomorphology and ecological niche modeling: a new approach for reconstructing hominin paleoecology in the East African rift system”.

• Mirza, Ali. Indiana University, Department of History and Philosophy of Science and Medicine, PhD, 2016-2020. Dissertation title: “Living in Stone: The History and Philosophy of Behavior, Morphology, and Traces in the Fossil Record”.

• Dickson, Blake V. Harvard University, Museum of Comparative Zoology, PhD, 2016-2020. Dissertation title: “A three-dimensional analysis of tetrapod humerus shape and function across water-land transitions: an evolutionary and ontogenetic perspective”.

• Kearney, John. Indiana University, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, PhD, 2018-2020. Thesis title: “Using phenocryst compositions from reworked tephra to enhance chronostratigraphic resolution of Bed III and Bed IV, Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania”.

• Fuentes Gonzales, Jesualdo. Indiana University, Department of Biology, PhD, 2011-2018. Dissertation title: “Phylogenies and the comparative method in morphometrics”.

• Sacks, Lita. Indiana University, Department of Anthropology, PhD, 2014-2019. Dissertation title: “Temporal use of Koster Mounds: functional morphology, mortuary practices, and paleopathology in the prehistoric lower Illinois River valley”.

• Nold, Katie. Indiana University, Department of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, PhD, 2009-2018. Dissertation title: “Caribbean coastal ecosystems and the people who utilized them: A geoarchaeological approach to the Caribbean past”.

• Mongle, Carrie. Stony Brook University, Interdepartmental Doctoral Program in Anthropological Sciences, PhD, 2015-2019. Dissertation title: “Modeling hominin variability: the alpha taxonomy of ‘Australopithecus africanus’”

• Smits, Peter. University of Chicago, Committee on Evolutionary Biology, PhD, 2012-2017. Dissertation title: “Bayesian approaches to trait evolution in the fossil record”. 

• Kufeldt, Chrisandra. George Washington University, Center for Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, PhD, 2011-2017. Dissertation title: “Trees from teeth? Exploring the role of dental microstructure in the reconstruction of hominin relationships”.

• Kuhn, William. Rutgers University, Department of Biological Sciences, PhD, 2011-2016. Dissertation title: “Three approaches to automating taxonomy, with emphasis on the Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies)”.

• Topalov, Katarina. Indiana University, Department of Geological Sciences, PhD, 2008-2016. Dissertation title: “Environmental, trophic, and ecological factors influencing bone collagen δ2H values”.

• Nava Garcia, Elizabeth. Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, PhD, 2010-2015. Dissertation title: “Sistemática de Reithrodontomys megalotis con base en datos moleculares y morfológicos”.

• Kirchner-Smith, Mackenzie. Hays State University, Kansas MS, 2015. Thesis title: “3D geometric morphometrics in modern and extinct foot-propelled diving birds: an evaluation of the tarsometatarsus for species identification”.

• Rudolf, Katie J. Indiana University, Department of Anthropology, PhD, 2015. Dissertation title: “An investigation of Late Woodland and Mississippian biological relationships using odontometric and discrete trait analyses”.

• Ascari, Silvia. Indiana University, Department of Geological Sciences, Masters, 2015. Thesis title: “Isotopic analyses of fossil bones and teeth of herbivores and crocodiles from Upper Bed I, Lower Bed II, and Upper Bed II of the Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania”. 

• Parzer, Harald F. Indiana University, Department of Biology, PhD, 2013. Dissertation title: “Causes and consequences of insect genital divergence: A case study in Onthophagus dung beetles”. 

• Herrmann, Edward. Indiana University, Department of Anthropology, PhD, 2013. Dissertation title: “Geoarchaeology of Paleoindian and Early Archaic site distributions in the White River Valley, Indiana”. 

• Muir, Chris. Indiana University, Department of Biology, PhD, 2013. Dissertation title: “Ecophysiology and genetics of phenotypic diversification in Solanum”. 

• Green, Robin. Indiana University, Department of Geological Sciences, MS, 2013. Thesis title: “Analysis of coral reef variation in Bonaire”. 

• Costa, August. Indiana University, Department of Anthropology, PhD, 2012. Thesis title: “A Pleistocene passage to India: The paleoanthropology of early human settlement in coastal western India”. 

• Puchalski, Stephaney. Indiana University, Department of Geological Sciences, PhD, 2011. Dissertation title: “Taphonomic approaches to interpretation of the fossil record of chitons (Mollusca, Polyplacophora)”. 

• Morgenthien, James N. Indiana University, Department of Geological Sciences, Masters, 2011. Thesis title: “Taphonomic approaches to interpretation of the fossil record of chitons (Mollusca, Polyplacophora)”. 

• Uhen, Mark D. University of Michigan–Ann Arbor, Department of Geological Sciences, PhD, 1996. Dissertation title: “Dorudon atrox (Mammalia, Cetacea): Form, function, and phylogenetic relationships of an archaeocete from the late middle Eocene of Egypt”

• Bloch, Jonathan I. University of Michigan–Ann Arbor, Department of Geological Sciences, MS, 1995. Thesis title: “New Species of Batodonoides (Lipotyphla, Geolabididae) from the Early Eocene of Wyoming: Smallest Known Mammal?”. 

Examiner, PhD Dissertations

• Tim Shuurman de Boer, Universidad de Burgos, PhD, 2024 (external examiner). Thesis title: “Network analysis: Applications in craniocerebral topology & human evolution”.

• Ben Carter, Macquarie University, PhD, 2024 (external examiner). Thesis title: “Impacts of Pleistocene extinctions on local mammal assemblages from across the globe”.

• Paige dePolo, University of Edinburgh, PhD, 2023 (external examiner). Thesis title: “A pandemonium of pantodonts: the anatomy of Pantolambda with notes on body size and behaviour”.

• Inessa Voet, Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, PhD, 2022 (Rapporteur). Thesis title: “The evolution and phylogeography of crocidurine shrews”.

• Lisandro Milocco, Helsinki University, PhD, 2022 (external examiner). Thesis title: “Quantitative genetics in nonlinear genotype-phenotype maps”.

• Abigail Parker, Cambridge University, Department of Zoology, PhD, 2022 (external examiner). Thesis title: "Body size histories in Cenozoic reptiles from global to community scales".

• Amy Tims, Macquarie University, Department of Biological Sciences, PhD, 2021 (external examiner). Thesis title: “Macroecology and conservation biology of Australian freshwater fishes: a big data approach”.

• Thomas Clarke, Macquarie University, Department of Biological Sciences, MSc, 2017 (external examiner). Thesis title: “Drivers of spider body plans: time, geography, or climate?”

• Heather Ahrens, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, PhD, 2017 (external examiner). Dissertation title: “Phylogeny and locomotor ecomorphology of Oxyaenidae and macroevolutionary patterns in North American “Creodonta” (Mammalia, Placentalia)”.

•  Aidan Couzens, Flinders University, School of Biological Sciences, PhD, 2011-2017 (external examiner). Dissertation title: “Late Cenozoic evolution of the macropodoid dentition”.

• Sílvia Pineda-Munoz, Macquarie University, PhD, 2011-2016 (external examiner). Dissertation title: “Diet, ecology and dental morphology in terrestrial mammals”.

• Juha Saarinen, Helsinki University, PhD 2014 (external pre-examiner). Thesis title: “Ecometrics of large herbivorous land mammals in relation to climatic and environmental changes during the Pleistocene”. 

• Francois Gould, Johns Hopkins University, PhD 2012 (external reader). Dissertation title: “The morphology of the distal femoral articular surface and the evolution of cursoriality in ungulates”.

• Pedro Cordeiro Estrela de Andrade Pinto, Université Paris VI-Pierre et Marie Curie, PhD. 2005 (Rapporteur). Thesis title: “Systématique et evolution morphologique du genre Calomys Waterhouse 1837 (Rodentia, Cricetidae, Sigmodontidae, Phyllotini): Applications de methods de morphométrie géometrique, de reconnaissances de patrons et de reconstructions phylogénétiques en systématique évolutive”.

• Annette Mahon, Cambridge University, PhD, 2004 (external examiner). Dissertation title: “Mammalian body size and phylogeny”.  

• Simon Harris, Bristol University, PhD, 2004 (external examiner). Thesis title: "Character construction in phylogenetic systematics, and the affinities of turtles".

• Amal M. Al-Hassawi, University College London, PhD, 2004 (internal examiner). Dissertation title: “The osteology and myology of the craniocervical region in squamate reptile: A comparative study”.  

• Hilary Markham, Guy’s Hospital, PhD, 2002 (internal examiner).  Thesis title: "The Role of Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptors in Mammalian Odontogenesis".

• Julia Boughner, University College London, PhD, 2002 (internal examiner). Dissertation title: “Dental and mandibular growth in Papio and Pan”. 

• Will Harcourt-Smith, University College London, PhD, 2002 (internal examiner).  Dissertation title: “Form and function in the hominoid tarsal skeleton”.  

• Dilshat Hewzulla, University of East London, PhD, 2001 (external examiner). Thesis title: "Deriving Mathematical Significance in Palaeontological Data from Large-Scale Database Technologies".

• Sam Cobb, University College London, PhD, 2001 (internal examiner). Thesis title: "Form variation in the postnatal facial skeleton of African apes".

• Andrea Webster, Imperial College London, PhD, 2001(internal examiner). Thesis title: “Ancestral body size and the evolutionary ecology of phyletic dwarfs”.

• Helen J. Chatterjee, University College London, PhD, 2000 (internal examiner). Thesis title: “Phylogeny and biogeography of gibbons, genus Hylobates”.

• Julia J. Day, University College London, PhD, 2000 (internal examiner). Thesis title: "The comparative morphology and evolutionary relationships of the Sparidae (Teleostei: Percoidea)".

• Naoko Egi, Johns Hopkins University, PhD, 1998 (external reader).  Dissertation title: “Functional morphology of the limb bones in recent carnivores and its application to North American hyaenodontid Creodonta”.

• Bryony Green, University College London, PhD, 1998 (internal examiner). Thesis title: “Fossil lizard assemblages from the Hampshire Basin (Palaeogene) of southern England”.