Graduate Degree Programs in Paleontology and Paleobiology
at the Florida Museum of Natural History
The Florida Museum of Natural History, a research and educational
unit within the University of Florida, has an active program in
paleontology and paleobiology. There are three large, relevant research
collections, including invertebrate paleontology, paleobotany and
vertebrate paleontology, which taken together, include over one
million specimens. The research facilities within the museum or
in the affiliate departments are modern, comprehensive and include
screenwashing and preparation laboratories, stereo, light, and scanning
electron microscopes, mass spectrometer, image analysis systems,
and paleomagnetic laboratory.
In addition to the main UF libraries, the FLMNH includes the George
Gaylord Simpson and Paleobotany research libraries, the John Grayson
Palynology Library, which together contain about 3,000 books, runs
of 25 specialized journals, and 50,000 reprints.
Prospective graduate students intending to pursue Master's or Doctoral
studies in paleontology and paleobiology can apply to the departments
of Anthropology, Botany, Geology, or Zoology, depending upon their
particular background and research interests. Financial support
is available in the form of graduate teaching assistantships and
museum assistantships. For application materials and further information
about these programs contact:
Graduate Coordinator
(appropriate department as listed above)
University of Florida
Gainesville FL 32611
It is also helpful during the application process
to contact one of the faculty members with interests similar to yours
listed below.
There are many graduate courses in paleontology, paleobiology,
and related disciplines taught at UF. Each program of graduate coursework
is quite flexible, depending upon the particular needs and interests
of the student. Courses taught by FLMNH paleobiologists include:
BOT 5115/GLY 5678; Paleobotany, 3 credits (Manchester,
Dilcher)
BOT 6927; Evolution and Paleoecology of Plants: Terrestrial Plants
and their Environment, 1 credit (Dilcher and Manchester)
BOT 6927; Evolutionary Processes in Plants, 1 credit (Dilcher, co-taught)
GLY 6660; Paleoecology, 3 credits (Jones)
GLY 6698; Topics in Paleobiology, 2 credits (Jones, MacFadden)
PCB 4674; Evolution, 3 credits (MacFadden, co-taught with Zoology
Faculty)
ZOO 4926/GLY 6932; Vertebrate Macroevolution, 3 credits (MacFadden)
ZOO/GLY 5640; Vertebrate Paleontology, 3 credits (Bloch, MacFadden)
BOT/GLY/ZOO 6905; Individual studies
BOT 6935 Paleobotanical Microtechnique, 1 credit (Manchester)
BOT/GLY/ZOO 6910; Supervised research
BOT/GLY/ZOO 6971 & 7980; Master's and Doctoral Research
Other related courses available to paleobiology graduate
students include, e. g., systematics, mammalogy, herpetology, ornithology,
ichthyology, community ecology, morphometrics, micropaleontology,
invertebrate paleontology, paleomagnetism, vertebrate paleoecology,
biological photography, human osteology, isotope geology, and zooarchaeology.
Museum Faculty in Paleontology and Paleobiology
Jonathan I. Bloch
Ph.D. University of Michigan
Assistant Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology
Email: jbloch@flmnh.ufl.edu
Douglas S. Jones
Ph.D., Princeton
Curator of Invertebrate Paleontology, Professor of Geology, and Director
of the Florida Museum of Natural History; molluscan paleoecology;
paleoclimatology; marine ecology; biogeochemistry of marine invertebrates;
Cenozoic invertebrates of Florida.
EMAIL: dsjones@flmnh.ufl.edu
Bruce J. MacFadden
Ph.D., Columbia
Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology and Professor of Geology, Latin
American Studies, and Zoology; Systematics, geochronology, and paleoecology
(particularly using stable isotopes) of late Cenozoic mammals from
the New World.
EMAIL: bmacfadd@flmnh.ufl.edu
Steven R. Manchester
Ph.D., Indiana
Curator of Paleobotany and Professor of Botany and Geology; Angiosperm
paleobotany, systematics, and paleobiogeography of the Northern Hemisphere,
Eocene floras of North America.
EMAIL: steven@flmnh.ufl.edu
David W. Steadman
Ph.D., Univ. Arizona
Curator of Ornithology, and Professor of Zoology; Avian paleontology
and biogeography, extinction on oceanic islands.
EMAIL: dws@flmnh.ufl.edu
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