Former MSc Palaeobiology graduates
As you can see from the list below, we like to keep in touch with former students and follow their progress.
Past students: if your details below are wrong, or you have been missed off the lists, please contact Mike Benton. A web link and e-mail contact details are welcome.
PhD positions
- Nidia Alvarez Armada(2014): The taphonomy of pigmentary colour in fossil insects and feathers (University of Cork, Ireland)
- Gemma Benevento(2013): How did mammals evolve into their ecological niches through time? Quantitative tests of calssic macroevolutionary hypotheses. (University of Oxford).
- Terri Cleary(2013): Lepidosaurian diversity through time: the interplay of climate and macroevolution (University College London/ Natural History Museum).
- Thomas Clements(2013): Decay, preservation and environmental controls on non-biomineralized fossil anatomy: the taphonomy of the Carboniferous Mazon Creek, USA (University of Leicester)
- Matt Cobley(2011): Physiological evolution in vertebrates (University of Utah)
- Catherine Davis(2011): PhD, University of California, Davis.
- Richard Dearden(2014): Early gnathostome evolution; title to be confirmed (Imperial College, London).
- Ross Elgin(2005): Flight and flight control in short tailed Pterosauria (University of Heidelberg).
- César Espinoza Campuzano (2014): Influence of fitness landscape in bird phylogeny (University of Oxford).
- Matteo Fabbri (2014): Title to be determined (Yale University, USA).
- Denver Fowler (2000): The Hell Creek-Lance transition (Museum of the Rockies, Bozeman). Contact.
- Nicola Heckeberg(2010): Deer, antlers and trees - a total evidence approach to cervid evolution (LMU, Munich and Cambridge)
- Andrew Jones(2014): Functional convergences between Triassic phytosaurs and modern and extinct crocodilians (University of Birmingham).
- Robert Lemanis(2014): Ammonoid morphometrics and imaging (Ruhr Universität Bochum, Germany.
- Kara Ludwig (2014): The rise of fishes after the fall of the Ordovician world (University of Pennsylvania). Contact.
- Jamie MacLaren(2011): Biomechanical evolution of equine limbs (Functional Morphology Lab., University of Antwerp).
- David Marshall(2008): Investigations into the nature of early chelicerate cuticle, University of Bristol.
- Rachael Moore (2014): The ocean crust as a microbial incubator (Institut du Physique du Globe, Paris). Contact.
- Elis Newham(2014): Feeding habits of Mesozoic mammals (provisional title; University of Southampton).
- Edine Pape(2012): Investigating biogeochemical evidence for chemosymbiosis at fossil cold seeps (University of Leeds).
- Mark Puttick(2012): Ecological selectivity during the end-Permian mass extinction (University of Bristol).
- Kelly Richards (2009): Early Carboniferous chondrichthyan faunas from the Peak District of Derbyshire: skeletal anatomy, systematics, phylogeny and environments (University of Cambridge). Contact.
- Chris Rogers(2012): Vertebrate taphonomy of the Jehol Group (Early Cretaceous), NE China (University of Bristol).
- Lara Shychoski (2006): Morphometrics of tyrannosauroid feeding (University of Alberta, Edmonton). Contact.
- Snorri Sigurdsson(2005): The evolution of birds (AMNH, City University of New York).
- Elizabeth Sweet (2006): Carbon-13 in particulate organic matter in the southern ocean (Alfred-Wegener-Institute for Polar and Marine Sciences, Bremerhaven, Germany. Contact.
- Emily Woodruff (2010): Early primate evolution (Florida Museum of Natural History). Contact.
Post-PhD
These former MSc students have completed PhDs, and are now pursuing their further careers.
- Dr Rachael Allen (2002): Basal archosaur phylogeny (Northern Illinois University, DeKalb); now Assistant Teaching Professor, School of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri-Kansas City. Rachael Allen Contact.
- Dr Vivian Allen(2005): Dinosaur biomechanics (Royal Veterinary College, London); now postdoc, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena.
- Dr Colin Barras (2002): Origin and early diversification of irregular echinoids (University of Birmingham/ NHM, 2003-6); now a science writer. Contact.
- Dr Huw Boulton (1998): Taphonomy of insects (University of Bristol); now a laboratory technician at University of Cardiff.
- Dr Bjørn-Gustaf Brooks (2001): The Colonisation of Land by Arthropods: a functional analysis and ichnological investigation (University of Iowa). Postdoc., Center for Climatic Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison (2009-11); Postdoc., University of Illinois (2011-3); now Visting Assistant Professor, Department of Earth Sciences, Saint Francis Xavier University, Nova Scotia. Contact.
- Dr Steve Brusatte (2008): Theropod phylogeny (American Museum of Natural History). Now Chancellor's Fellow, University of Edinburgh. Contact.
- Dr Tom Challands(2003): Biosphere and geosphere dynamics during end Ordovician climate change (University of Durham). Now, Teaching Fellow in Hydrocarbon Geology, University of Edinburgh.
- Dr Andre Butler(2006): Global scale patterns in below-ground tropical biome functioning (University of Edinburgh); now Research Manager at the Centre for Development Finance, Chennai, India.
- Dr John Clarke(2010): How does phylogeny impact interpretations of extinction in 'deep time'? (University of Oxford); now Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Pennsylvania.
- Dr Andrea Cobbett (2004): The tree of life and data quality (University of Bath); now Investigating officer, Somerset CID. Contact.
- Dr Ian Corfe (2002): Biodiversity, the tree of life, and objectivity: testing the concept of character weight (University of Bristol/NHM, 2002-6); postdoc University of Helsinki (2008-). Contact.
- Dr Nick Crumpton (2009): Anatomical correlates of electrosensitivity in mammals (University of Cambridge). Now, Nature Live Science Communicator, Natural History Museum, London. Read about Nick's research and educational activities here. Contact.
- Dr John Cunningham (2002): The evolution of echinoid life history strategies (University of Liverpool); now postdoc., University of Bristol. Contact.
- Dr Katie Davis (2003): A supertree of birds (University of Glasgow); postdocs in Oxford, Bath, and now BBSRC Bioninformatics post, Natural History Museum, London. Contact.
- Dr Rob Davis(2006): A supertree of insect families (University of York); now, postdoc., University of Tartu, Estonia.
- Dr Keith de Blanger(2001): Shark faunas across the Permo-Triassic boundary (University of Bristol, 2001-6). Now an editor for Elsevier, based in Oxford.
- Dr Julien Divay (2005): Microvertebrates from the Late Cretaceous (University of Alberta). Now, Instructor, Rpyal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology, Drumheller.Contact.
- Dr Danny Elvidge(1998): Morphometrics of Middle Jurassic dinosaur footprints (University of Sheffield, 2000-5); now a Senior Scientist-Statistician at the Environment Agency.
- Dr Stefan Gabriel (2001): The phylogeny of a form-function complex: correlated evolution of dental morphology and diet in shrews (Queen Mary College, London, 2001-6); Teaching Fellow in Anatomy, University of Manchester (2008-). Contact.
- Dr Andrew Gillis (2005): Developmental and genetic basis of fin/limb evolution (University of Chicago, 2005-9); Newton Research Fellow, and now Royal Society University Research Fellow (2015-2020), studying gill arch serial homology and the origin of the jawed vertebrate body plan, at Cambridge, UK. Read Andrew's account of his experiencestudying for the MSc in Palaeobiology in Bristol,
- Dr Phil Hadland(2006): Assistant Collections Manager, Beaney Institute and Art Gallery, Canterbury.
- Dr Thomas Halliday(2011): Paleocene mammal phylogenetics and evolution (University College London). Now, Postdoc on project on 'Paleocene mammal phylogenetics and evolution' at UCL.
- Dr Susan Hammond (2000): Progymnosperms and the origin of the seed (University of Cardiff, 2000-4).
- Dr Megan Harrison (1998): Marine invertebrate biology (CUNY, 2002-2008); postdoc at the American Museum of Natural History. Contact.
- Dr Tom Harvey (2004): Early zooplankton and the Cambrian explosion (University of Cambridge); Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge; now, Lecturer in Geoscience, University of Leicester.
- Dr Peter Heintzmann(2008): The rate, timing and extent of insect species turnover in response to climatically-driven change (Royal Holloway, University of London). Now, postdoc at University of California, Santa Cruz, USA.
- Dr Christophe Hendrickx (2008): Evolution of teeth and feeding-related bones in nonavian theropods (Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal); now Postdoc at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. Contact.
- Dr Phil Hopley (1999): Palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of South African hominin-bearing cave deposits (Liverpool University, 1999-2003); then postdoc in Bristol; now (2007-) postdoc on reconstructing ancient hominin environments at the new Environment Institute at University College, London. Now, Lecturer in Palaeoclimatology at Birkbeck College London. Contact.
- Dr Jennifer Hoyal-Cuthill (2006): Quantifying evolutionary convergence (University of Cambridge); Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Cambridge. Contact.
- Dr Aaron Hunter (2000): Echinoderm palaeoecology in marginal marine settings (Birkbeck College, London, 2000-2004); postdoc on modern Pacific crinoids at University of Tokyo. Now, Lecturer in Malaysia. Contact.
- Dr Simon Jackson (1999): Jurassic dinosaur footprints from the Yorkshire coast (University of Sheffield, 1999-2005). Volunteeer at the Natural History Museum, London. Read about Simon's work on dinosaur tracks in Times Higher Education.
- Dr Phil Jardine (2006): Palaeocene vegetation and climate change from the US Gulf coast (University of Birmingham). Now, postdoc at the Open University. Contact.
- Dr Suzanne Jennions(2010): Consequences of ocean acidification for biodiversity and food resources in the future (University of Bristol); Lecturer in Palaeobiology, University of Bristol.
- Dr Sarah Joomun(2003): Microwear in mammal teeth and climate evolution (Royal Holloway, University of London). Now, Scanning Technician, Museum of Natural History, University of Oxford.
- Dr Sarah Keenan (2009): Ancestral Crocodylomorpha-microbe symbioses based on the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) gut microbiome (University of Tennessee). Now, Postdoc, Saint Louis University.
- Dr Sarah King (2008): Teaching Assistant, GEES, University of Birmingham. Read Sarah's fascinating account of Life as a Palaeontologist: How I learnt to stop worrying and love the fossils. Contact.
- Dr Stewart Knott (2000): Plankton extinctions (University of Bristol): project/ change management, Avon & Somerset Constabulary. Contact.
- Dr Benjamin Kotrc (2006): Coordinator of education and public outreach activities of the NASA Astrobiology team at MIT, Cambridge, USA. Contact.
- Dr Tai Kubo (2004): Evolution of vertebrate locomotion (University of Tokyo). Then, postdoc at Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology, Drumheller, Alberta, and now Curator at the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum, Japan. Contact.
- Dr James Lamsdell (2008): Selectivity in evolution of arthropod groups, with focus on mass extinctions and radiations (University of Kansas). Now, postdoc, Yale University (2014-). Contact.
- Dr Abigail Lane (1999): The Palaeozoic plateau: real or artefact? (University of Bristol, 2000-2002); now working for the Environment Agency. Contact.
- Dr David Legg(2009): Fitting fossil arthropods into modern phylogenies (Imperial College London). Now, Postdoc, Oxford University Museum of Natural History.
- Dr Graeme Lloyd (2003): Character acquisition through geological time (University of Bristol); now postdoc at the Natural History Museum. Contact.
- Luke Mander (2006): Vegetation dynamics across the Triassic/Jurassic boundary (University College Dublin); now postdoc at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Contact.
- Dr Chloe Marquart(2008): Investigating morphological diversity in dinosaurs (University of Cambridge).
- Dr Jeremy Martin (2005): Revision of the gneus Diplocynodon(Crocodylia): phylogeny, origins and evolution in a palaeoclimatic context (Université de Lyon, France); now temporary lecturer at Université de Corse, Corsica.
- Dr Alistair McGowan(1998): Palaeobiology of Triassic ammonoids (University of Chicago, 1998-2002); postdoc. on dinosaur biogeography, University College, London (NERC), then Postdoc fellowship at the Humboldt Museum, Berlin; now Royal Society of Edinburgh Research Fellow at University of Glasgow.
- Dr Charlotte Miller (2005): Locomotor biomechanics of elephants (Royal Veterinary School, London);Instructor and Postdoc,Duke University, Evolutionary Anthropology. Read a profile of Charlotte from the Independent here . Contact.
- Dr Lance Morrissey (2001): Integrating trace fossils, sedimentology and trace element geochemistry as correlative tools in Old Red Sandstone reservoir rocks (University of the West of England, Bristol). Now a geology instructor for GAP Adventures, leading tours in the Antarctic, Falkland Islands and South America. Contact.
- Dr Lucy Muir (1999): Graptolite functional morphology and strategies of recovery from near-extinctions (University of Edinburgh, 2000-2003); various posts at NHM and elsewhere; now postdoc at Nanjing Institute of Geology & Paleontology. Contact.
- Dr James Neenan(2009): Phylogenetic relationships of placodont reptiles (Diapsida, Sauropterygia) as evidenced by 3D imaging, bone histology, and developmental data (University of Zürich). Now, SFSC Postdoc, University of Oxford.
- Dr Emma-Louise Nicholls(2006): Sharks as indicators of trophic structure within mid-Cretaceous watermasses (University College, London). Museum Assistant, Grant Museum of Zoology, UCL.
- Dr Liz Nunn (2003): High-latitude Jurassic and Cretaceous climates (University of Plymouth, 2003-7); postdoc, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany. Contact.
- Dr Dan Oakley(2004): Early angiosperm systematics and ecology: evidence from charcoal assemblages in the Czech Republic (University of Bristol). Bristol.
- Dr Lorna O'Brien (2006): Palaeoecology of the Burgess Shale (Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada). Contact.
- Dr Kate Olde(2009): Ocean acidification and selective mass extinction at the Cretaceous-Palaeogene boundary (Kingston University, London). Palynologist and geochemist, Kingston.
- Dr John Orcutt(2006): Faunal recovery after the Permo-Triassic mass extinction (University of Oregon); Post-Doctoral Teacher-Scholar Fellow in Geology, Cornell College, Iowa.
- Javier Ortega-Hernández (2009): Aspects of developmental biology in Palaeozoic euarthropods (Cambridge University); now Research Fellow at Emmanuel College, Cambridge. Contact.
- Dr Matthew Pound (2008): Lecturer in Physical Geography, University of Northumbria.
- Dr Abby Othman Wilson (2007): High-resolution record of environmental change in lacustrine sequences (University of Aberdeen); now professional photographer and geologist, Aberdeenshire. Contact
- Dr Jessica Pollitt (2002): The phylogeny and evolution of Trilobita (University of Bath, 2002-5); now Editor at the Geological Society of London Publishing House, Bath. Contact.
- Dr Nathan Price-Lloyd (2002): What makes biological clocks tick? (University of Manchester). Now a medical writer. Read about Nathan's MSc project work here.
- Dr Laura Säilä (2002): The phylogeny of procolophonids (University of Bristol, 2008); now Postdoc., Department of Geology, University of Helsinki (Academy of Finland). See a profile of Laura and her PhD work here.
- Dr Manabu Sakamoto(2004): Biomechanics of feeding in theropod dinosaurs (University of Bristol). Now Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol.
- Dr Emma Schachner (2005): Comparative anatomy and evolution of maniraptoran theropods (University of Pennsylvania). Currently a postdoc in the Department of Biology at University of Utah. Read Emma's account of her experience studying for the MSc in Palaeobiology in Bristol, and see her art here. Contact.
- Dr Ben Slater(2009): Reconstructing the Permo-Triassic floras of Prince Charles Mountains (Antarctica): phylogenetic and evolutionary significance (University of Birmingham). Now, Postdoc., University of Cambridge.
- Dr James Tarver: Evolution of miRNAs using plant, actinopterygian and eutherian datasets; the evolution of miRNA expression patterns within eyes: Bioinformatics Centre, Maynooth University, Ireland (IRCSET Empower Fellowship). Contact.
- Dr Ceri-Wyn Thomas(2006): Decoding the fossil record of early metazoan development (University of Bristol). Publishing Editor, IOP Press.
- Dr Gavin Thomas (2001): Sexual selection, ecology and breeding systems of shorebirds (University of Bath, 2001-5); then postdoc at Imperial on bird conservation and distribution; now NERC Postdoctoral Research Fellow at University of Sheffield. Contact.
- Dr David Waterhouse (2002): The evolutionary history of parrots (University College, Dublin, Ireland, PhD 2006). Now Curator of Natural History, Castle Museum, Norwich. See Dave's artwork here. Contact.
- Dr James Wheeley (2002): Taphonomy and sedimentology of Ordovician platform carbonates of the Baltic region (University of Cardiff); now Lecturer in Sedimentary Geology, University of Birmingham. Contact.
Careers in Media, Museums and Education
- Kate Anderson (2002): Environmental Officer, Kirkconnel Parish Heritage Society/ Scottish Natural Heritage. Contact.
- Jacqueline Barber (2004): Primary school teacher, Fife. Contact.
- Amirah Barri (2007): Researcher, Burning Gold Productions. Contact.
- Emma Bernard (2006): Curatorial Assistant, Natural History Museum, London. Contact.
- Massimo Bernardi (2009): Curatorial assistant, Trento Natural History Museum, Italy. Contact.
- Suzanne Bowie (1999): PGCE Teacher Training, Bath; now teaching in Salisbury. Contact.
- Margaret Browne (1999): Issue Manager, Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd; now, PhD on Quaternary palynology, University of Limerick Contact.
- Mark Buckingham (2003): Teacher, Surrey (after PGCE at Sheffield Hallam University). Contact.
- Colette Cherry (2002): Policy Adviser to the Vice Chancellor, University of Bournemouth. Contact. Read about Colette's role as a university policy adviser in Times Higher Education and in the University of Bournemouth Newsletter..
- Simon Clabby (2003): Digital Marketing Coordinator, Mary Rose Museum. Contact.
- Ben Davies(2001): Hydrodynamics of the jawless fishes (MPhil, University of Leicester).
- Sophie Edwards (2012): Teacher training (PGCE).
- Craig-Marcus Ellis (2002): Archaeological Assistant (Landscape Characterisation), North East Lincolnshire Council. Contact.
- Kate France (2001): Warden, Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre, Dorset. Contact .
- Isla Gladstone (2006): Curator of Natural Science, Yorkshire Museum, York (2008-13); Curator of Natural History, Bristol City Museum (2013-). Contact.
- Matthew Gordon (2000): TV researcher, John Downer Productions, Bristol. Contact.
- Carlos Grau(2005): Presenter, Explorer Dome, Bristol; Curator, Natural History Museum, London.
- Jonathan Gregson (2000): Assistant Scientific Officer, South-East Asia Team, Kew.
- Gillian Harrison (1999): Further Education resources manager, Leeds.
- Sally Haseman (2003): PA to Sir Richard Gregory. Contact.
- Deborah Hutchinson (2005): PGCE Training, Bath. Contact.
- Rachel Jennings(2007): Curatorial Assistant, Hunterian Museum, University of Glasgow.
- Caroline John (née Milner) (2001): @t-Bristol (2001-2); Bristol Dinosaur Education officer (2002-3); Education Officer, Thinktank, Birmingham (2003-12); Manager of Gloucestershire STEM Ambassadors programme and schools advisory service. Contact.
- Matt Larvan (2008): Gallery enabler, Thinktank, Birmingham. Contact.
- Becky Laver (2000): PGCE Teacher Training, Bath.
- Suzanne Lee (2002): PGCE Teacher Training, Nottingham. Contact .
- Charlotte Mabey (2000): Researcher, BBC Natural History Unit, Bristol. Contact
- Myles McLeod (1999): Animation, print and internet design, Spark and Zoom Productions. Contact.
- Louisa New (2000): Conservation and cataloguing assistant, Peterborough Museum & Art Gallery. Contact.
- Alan O'Connor (2007): Documentation assistant in the National Museum of Ireland, Natural History Division. Contact.
- Steve O'Connor (2001): TEFL, English Language School, Milan. Contact.
- Natasja den Ouden (2005): Research Associate, Naturalis, Leiden. Contact. Read about Natasja's work on Pleistocene mammals from the North Sea in Nature.
- Claire Pepper (2002): PGCE Teacher Training, Institute of Education, London.
- Sheila Phillips (2003): PGCE Teacher Training, Exeter. Contact.
- Stephen Rawlinson (2000): PGCE Teacher Training, Bath.
- Jane Retter (2000): Field officer, Lochranza Field Station, Arran.
- Matt Riley (2004): Documentation Assistant - Natural History, Horniman Museum.
- Hector Rivera (2003): Palaeontology Coordinator, UNAM and Museo del Desierto, Mexico.
- Chris Rollason (2007): PGCE, Worcester.
- Jonathan Ruffle (2003): Museums assistant, Commonwealth Museum, Bristol.
- Snorri Sigurdsson (2005): Biology teacher, Reykjavik, Iceland. Contact.
- Rebecca Smith (2001): Curatorial Assistant - Natural Sciences, Manchester Museum. Contact.
- Dr Adam Stuart Smith (2003): PhD, University College, Dublin; 2004-7; Collections Access Officer (Natural History), Wollaton Hall Museum, Nottingham. See Adam's plesiosaur website . Contact.
- Emmajane Trickett (1998): Community Liaison Officer, RSPB Fairburn Ings, West Yorkshire. Contact .
- Vicky White (1999): Animal Science and Welfare Lecturer, Otley College, Ipswich. Contact.
- Matt Williams (2003): Geological curator, Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution.
- Jane Worrall (2002): Director, North-east Yorkshire Geology Trust.
Commercial and other careers
- Leila Blankley (1999): PA, National Heritage Memorial Fund. Contact.
- Joseph Bonsor(2010): Junior consultant, Venture Information Management.
- Byron Blessed (1998): Commercial rock and fossil shop in Whitby, Yorkshire. Contact.
- Alison Brimacombe (2015): Editor, Elsevier.
- Hannah Caine (2009): micropalaeontologist, RPS Energy, Aberdeen. Contact. See Hannah's gallery of amazing palaeontological artworks here.
- Una Cassidy (2003): Hydrogeologist, Atkins. Contact.
- Adele Dodgson(2003): Environmental technician, BAM Nuttall Ltd.; Chair, Greater Manchester RIGS group.
- Toby Fountaine (2003): Solicitor, Fisher Meredith, Richmond. Contact.
- Kieran Hardman (2007): Demand Manager, Johnson & Johnson. Contact.
- Zena Kain (2000): Personnel management, Hays Montrose Personnel.
- Brian Leigh(1999): Hydrologist, Environment Agency, Leeds.
- Christine Lipkin Gordon (2003): Formerly IT Manager, Linacre College, Oxford.Now, Christchurch, New Zealand. Contact.
- Nicholas Loughlin(2007): Geo-environmental consultancy, Vertasefli, Bristol.
- Sean Parker (2014): Research Data Analyst, Money Saving Direct.
- James Renshaw (2002): Exploration Geoscientist, Shell International Exploration & Production, Rijswijk, Netherlands. Contact.
- Polly Snowden (2000): Trainee forensic scientist, Forensic Science Service.
- Kate Yarrington (2003): International Relationship Manager, Technology Strategy Board. Contact.