Paleobiology & Geobiology Research Group
at Virginia Tech
People
Dr. Xiao is a geobiologist that studies early animal life from all over the world. His work has illustrated the extraordinary preservation of fossil cells and continues to study the early evolution of some of the most bizarre creatures to ever have lived.
Shuhai received his PhD degree from Harvard University. He taught three years at Tulane University before joining Virginia Tech in 2003. He is interested in biological and environmental evolution in the Proterozoic Eon (2500-540 Ma).
Shuhai Xiao
Dr. Nesbitt is a vertebrate paleontologist interested in terrestrial vertebrate evolution during Earth’s great transitions. Particularly, Sterling studies the rise of reptiles (archosaurs and their relatives) following the end-Permian extinction.
Sterling received a BA in Integrative Biology from the University of California, Berkeley, a PhD in Geosciences from Columbia University and has conducted postdoctoral projects at The University of Texas at Austin, University of Washington, and the Field Museum of Natural History.
Sterling Nesbitt
Dr. Stocker is a vertebrate paleontologist focusing on the evolutionary history of reptiles. Michelle splits her research between Triassic archosauromorphs and Paleogene reptiles, as well as the evolution of extant fossorial reptiles called amphisbaenians.
Michelle received a BS in Geological Sciences from the University of Michigan, a MS in Geosciences from the University of Iowa, and a PhD in Geological Sciences from The University of Texas at Austin.
Michelle Stocker
Rachel Reid
Dr. Reid is a paleoecologist interested in how disturbances, such as climate and environmental change, impact species, ecosystems, and their interactions over a range of timescales. Rachel brings an interdisciplinary approach to her research, incorporating viewpoints, tools, and data from geology, ecology, and archaeology, using stable isotope geochemistry as a central methodological tool.
Rachel received a BA in Geology from Carleton College, an MS and PhD in Earth Sciences from The University of California Santa Cruz, and conducted postdoctoral research at Washington University in St. Louis.
Vicki Yarborough is a paleontology lab manager and vertebrate fossil preparator focusing on Triassic archosauromorphs and dinosaurs. Besides carefully exposing specimens from rock, Vicki develops custom archival specimen storage housings along with support jackets for use during preparation. She trains and helps students and volunteers prepare and conserve specimens for CT (Computed Tomography) scanning and research.
Vicki received a Bachelors in Fine Art from the University of Texas at Austin, and a Foundation degree from the Wimbledon School of Art in London, England.
Vicki Yarborough
Post-Doctoral Fellows
Qing Tang
Post Doctoral Fellow
qingtatvt.edu
Office: 3053 Derring
PhD Geosciences, Virginia Tech (2018)
M.Sc. Paleontology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology &
Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (2013)
B.Sc. Geology, Northwest University, China (2010)
Research topics:
Acritarchs from the early Neoproterozoic
Neoproterozoic paleoecology & paleoclimate
Cambrian sponges
Graduate Students
Devin Hoffman
PhD Candidate
devinkhatvt.edu
Office: 3067 Derring
B.Sc. Geology, Appalachian State University (2017)
Research topics:
Vertebrate responses to mass extinction
Diversification of archosaurs
Growth rate variation in archosaurs
Website: https://dkhoffman.wordpress.com/
Junyao Kang
PhD Student
junyaokatvt.edu
Office: 3067 Derring
B.Sc. Geology, Peking University, China (2018)
Research topics:
Sedimentary Geochemistry
Paleoenvironment
The Tonian Period
Ben Kligman
PhD Candidate
bkligmanatvt.edu
Office: 3067 Derring
B.A. Integrative Biology, University of California Berkeley (2016)
Research topics:
Evolutionary response to Earth system change
Early Mesozoic paleoclimate and paleoecology
Small-bodied vertebrates in the fossil record
Morrison Nolan
PhD Candidate
mnolan1atvt.edu
Office: 3053 Derring
B.Sc. Chemistry, University of Georgia (2016)
B.Sc. Geology, University of Georgia (2016)
Research Topics:
The changes in environment and organisms during the Ediacaran - Cambrian Transition
How chemical signals can be used to explore the environment and organisms of the Cambrian
Arthropods of the early Paleozoic
Twitter: atmorrisonnolan1
Khanh To
PhD Student
khanhtoatvt.edu
Office: 3051 Derring
B.Sc. Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University (2018)
B.Sc. Geology, Oklahoma State University (2018)
Research topics:
Vertebrate feeding mechanisms (specifically archosaurs)
Cranial kinesis characteristics and evolution
Comparative anatomy
Brenen Wynd
PhD Candidate
bmwyndatvt.edu
Office: 3051 Derring
B.Sc. Biology, University of Washington (2015)
B.Sc. Biochemestry, University of Washington (2015)
Research topics:
Microfossil communities across mass extinction boundaries
Biostratigraphy of terrestrial vertebrates
Phylogenetics of archosauromorphs
Website: https://bmwynd.wixsite.com/bmwynd
Visiting Scholars
Qi Wang
Visiting Scientist
wangqichdatvt.edu
Office: 3053 Derring
M.Sc. Chang'an University, China (2017)
Tian Gan
Visiting Scientist
gantianatvt.edu
Office: 3053 Derring
M.Sc. Chinese Academy of Sciences, China (2017)
Undergraduate Students
Mason McCabe
Geosciences
Lagerpeton Forelimb
Emily Patellos
Geosciences
Triassic reptile from Madagascar
Hannah-Marie Eddins
Animal and Poultry Science
Phytosaur Feet
Zach Lester
Geosciences
Triassic Microvertebrates
Rebecca Hawkins
Wildlife Conservation
Amphisbaenian skulls
Rebecca Plosey
Miocene Teid
Kayla Plattman
Dissections
Christy Nelson
Thea Torrisi
Geosciences
Permian Diapsid
Carly Heltzel
Geosciences
Triassic Microvertebrates
Volunteers
Lab Night Volunteers
Louisa Gay
Angela Vikesland
Travis Oishi
Stacy Estes
Former Undergraduates
Simon McKay
Alexa Mullin
Hunter Edwards
Emily Lessner
Colin Sweeney
Grant Plunkett
