Current Research
I am currently a PhD student in the Nesbitt Laboratory at Virginia Tech, studying Late Triassic vertebrate communities. My research focuses on the paleoecology of these communities, with particular emphasis on the role of environmental change in driving patterns of functional diversity. I have presented my research at several conferences, including the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology. Through my research, I aim to contribute to our knowledge of ancient life and the processes that have shaped the world we live in today.
A small venomous reptile from the Late Triassic (Norian) of the southwestern United States.
I have described a new species of diapsid reptile from the Green Site (Revueltian, Sonsela Member) of the Chinle formation near Petrified Forest National Park. This specimen consists of a partial dentary with three teeth which likely could conduct venom for predation or defense.
Active Project: Reconstructing community dynamics using the fossil record: Estimating body mass from fragmentary fossils
I am conducting an ongoing study of lepidosauromorphs, archosauromorphs, and temnospondyls to look for a predictive relationship between tooth crown height and body mass. The majority of the fossils we find in the field are isolated teeth, so being able to estimate the body mass of an animal based on a single tooth would greatly increase the amount of ecological data we can obtain from the vertebrate fossil record.
Active Project: Modeling community structure for reptile-dominated vertebrate communities
I am tracking the structure of a vertebrate community in the 14 million years preceeding a major extinction event (End Triassic Extinction) to look for stabilization or restructuring.
