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
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.
Rachel Reid
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
Mariah Green is the Museum and Collections Manager at the Museum of Geosciences. Mariah's MS thesis applied 2D and 3D imaging techniques to evaluate and measure bite force in recent and extinct early Paleocene mammals.
Mariah earned a BS in Earth Science from Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago, Illinois, and earned an MS in Museum and Field Studies with a paleontology specialization from the University of Colorado Boulder.
Mariah Green
Post-Doctoral Fellows
Scott Evans
Post Doctoral Fellow
Office: 5051A Derring
Ph.D. Geological Sciences, University of California, Riverside (2019)
M.Sc. Geological Sciences, University of California, Riverside (2015)
B.A. Geology, Math, State University of New York, Geneseo (2013)
Research topics:
Paleoecology of the Ediacara Biota
Taphonomy of soft-bodied macrofossils
Biotic turnover and developmental biology of early animals
Davide Foffa
Post Doctoral Fellow
Office: 5051A Derring
Ph.D. Geology and Geophysics, University of Edinburgh, UK (2018)
M.Sc. Palaeobiology, University of Bristol, UK (2012)
B.Sc Geological Sciences, Universita' di Pisa, Italy (2010)
Research topics:
Permian-Triassic Mass Extinction
Paleoecology of terrestrial and marine assemblages
Mesozoic vertebrate anatomy, systematics, functional morphology and evolution
Graduate Students
Adam Fitch
MSc Student
adamfitch@vt.edu
Office: 3053 Derring
B.Sc. Zoology, Geology and Geophysics, & Conservation Biology, University of Wisconsin–Madison (2020)
Research topics:
Phylogeny of crown-Reptilia (Sauria)
Locomotor evolution and development of the tetrapod forelimb
Flight acquisition in vertebrates
Erika Goldsmith
PhD Student
ergoldsmith@vt.edu
Office: 3051 Derring
M.Sc. Geology, Temple University (2018)
B.S. Geology, CUNY-Queens College (2014)
Research topics:
Phytosaur paleobiology and evolution
Osteohistology and growth of archosaurs and related taxa
Vertebrate responses to environment and/or climate change
Devin Hoffman
PhD Candidate
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
Office: 3067 Derring
B.Sc. Geology, Peking University, China (2018)
Research topics:
Sedimentary Geochemistry
Paleoenvironment
The Tonian Period
Emily Keeble
PhD Student
ekeeble@vt.edu
Office: 3043 Derring
M.Sc. Paleontology and Evolution, University of Bristol (2017)
Research topics:
Vertebrate anatomy and evolution
Functional morphology of extinct vertebrates
Faunal change throughout the Triassic
Instagram: @deinonychusfloof
Ben Kligman
PhD Candidate
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
mnolan1@vt.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
Jack Stack
PhD Student
jackrs@vt.edu
Office: 3051 Derring
M.Sc. Geological Sciences, Michigan State University (2021)
B.A. Earth Sciences, University of Pennsylvania (2019)
Research topics:
Paleobiology and phylogenetic comparative biology of extinct ray-finned fishes
Repeated evolution and innovation in fishes
Evolutionary history of extant biodiversity
Khanh To
PhD Candidate
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
Twitter: @TheKhanine
Prescott Vayda
PhD Student
Office: 5051A Derring
M.Sc. Earth Science, The Ohio State University (2021)
B.Sc. Earth Science, The Ohio State University (2019)
B.Sc. Evolution and Ecology, The Ohio State University (2019)
Research topics:
Evolution of life during the Ediacaran-Cambrian transition
Taphonomy of exceptionally preserved fossils
Brenen Wynd
PhD Candidate
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
Hannah-Marie Eddins
Animal and Poultry Science
Phytosaur Feet
Michael Mellett
Biology
Trilophosaurus Teeth Microwear
Megan Sodano
Geosciences
Drepanosaurus Unguals
James Lotts
Biology
Amphisbaenian Head Burrowing
Neil Pezzoni
Geosciences
Early Dinosaur Life History
Volunteers
Lab Night Volunteers
Louisa Gay
Angela Vikesland
Travis Oishi
Stacy Estes
Former Undergraduates
Zach Lester
Simon McKay
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Camille Do
Alexa Mullin
Colin Sweeney
Kayla Plattman
Elizabeth Evans
Lauren Bano
Emily Patellos
Emily Lessner
Tara Helms
Mason McCabe
Rebecca Hawkins
Hunter Edwards
Christopher Hayes
Grant Plunkett
