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 potentially venomous lizard-like reptile from the Late Triassic (Norian) of the southwestern United States
I am extremely excited to be describing a new species of diapsid reptile from the Green Site of the Chinle formation near Petrified Forest National Park. This specimen consists of a partial dentary with three teeth which could potentially conduct venom for predation or defense.
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.
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