The Department of Paleontology is currently engaged in research on several of Earth’s time periods, both in the United States and abroad. The scope of the research projects ranges from broad, globally relevant topics such as climate change and phylogenetics to narrower, more specific topics such as species interaction and the dynamics of paleo animal communities. Our research efforts have already produced excellent results, including high resolution reconstructions of the Late Cretaceous environment, dinosaur predator/prey interactions, new biologically controlled fossil preparation techniques, and the discovery of new species. In addition to assisting scientists in reconstructing Earth’s exciting past, our research in paleontology is producing data that will create a better understanding of our modern world and trends that will shape Earth’s future. The primary areas of current research are as follows:

Preliminary Notes on the First Recorded Amber Insects from the Hell Creek Formation

Late Cretaceous; Hell Creek Formation;
South Dakota; DINOSAURS

Permian Lagerstatte

Pennsylvanian marine/nearshore deposits

New raptor from Siberia