PI: Dr. Advait M. Jukar, FLS
I am the Assistant Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology at the Florida Museum of Natural History.
As a vertebrate paleobiologist and paleoecologist, my research focuses on four themes: ecological change during the Anthropocene, the (paleo)ecology of herbivorous dinosaurs and mammals, turnover in Cenozoic mammal assemblages, and the taxonomy and biogeography of large mammals. To learn more about the current research conducted in the lab, click here.
I also hold appointments as a Research Associate in the Department of Paleobiology at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, as a Curatorial Affiliate in the Division of Vertebrate Paleontology at the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, as an Associate with the Lovejoy Center for Bridging Biodiversity, Conservation Science & Policy at the University of Arizona, and as Affiliate Faculty in the Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Earth Sciences at George Mason University.
I have been a Gaylord Donnelley Postdoctoral Associate at the Yale Institute for Biospheric Studies and Department of Anthropology where I worked with Dr. Jessica Thompson, and a Deep Time – Peter Buck Fellow at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution working with Dr. Matthew T. Carrano. I received my Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Policy from George Mason University while being mentored by Dr. Mark D. Uhen and Dr. Kate Lyons, and an M.S. in Environmental Science and Policy under the mentorship of the late Dr. Thomas E. Lovejoy.
As a vertebrate paleobiologist and paleoecologist, my research focuses on four themes: ecological change during the Anthropocene, the (paleo)ecology of herbivorous dinosaurs and mammals, turnover in Cenozoic mammal assemblages, and the taxonomy and biogeography of large mammals. To learn more about the current research conducted in the lab, click here.
I also hold appointments as a Research Associate in the Department of Paleobiology at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, as a Curatorial Affiliate in the Division of Vertebrate Paleontology at the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, as an Associate with the Lovejoy Center for Bridging Biodiversity, Conservation Science & Policy at the University of Arizona, and as Affiliate Faculty in the Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Earth Sciences at George Mason University.
I have been a Gaylord Donnelley Postdoctoral Associate at the Yale Institute for Biospheric Studies and Department of Anthropology where I worked with Dr. Jessica Thompson, and a Deep Time – Peter Buck Fellow at the National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution working with Dr. Matthew T. Carrano. I received my Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Policy from George Mason University while being mentored by Dr. Mark D. Uhen and Dr. Kate Lyons, and an M.S. in Environmental Science and Policy under the mentorship of the late Dr. Thomas E. Lovejoy.
Graduate Students
Shrutik Boricha
Shrutik Boricha is a PhD student in the Department of Biology at UF. He is working on the paleoecology of Neogene mammal faunas from North America. He has a MS in Applied Geology from National Institute of Technology Rourkela and a BSc in Geology from St. Xavier's College, Mumbai.
Shay Rice
Shay Rice is a Master's student in the Department of Geological Sciences at UF. Shay is working on the morphological evolution of hooved mammal (ungulate) faunas in Florida’s fossil record and their relationship to changing environmental factors. They have a BSc in Earth and Space Sciences and Paleobiology from the University of Washington, where they worked in the Wilson Mantilla Lab studying middle Paleocene mammals (including possible ungulate ancestors) from Montana
Undergraduate Students and Researchers
Amaya Garcia
Amaya Garcia is an undergraduate student in the Biology Department at UF and is working on making a comprehensive database of published radiocarbon dates and dated sites that have produced extinct North American megafauna to identify gaps in knowledge and serve as the basis for future targeted dating efforts.
Kysa Marske
Kysa Marske is a current Florida Museum Intern and researcher in the lab working on the taxonomy and systematics of Florida amebelodontids (shovel-tusked proboscideans). She uses morphological measurements, 3D scanning, and 2D images in her study. She is an undergraduate student in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation at UF
Diego Bruna
Diego Bruna is an undergraduate in geology at Santa Fe College and is currently working on the taxonomy and variation in Cuvieronius from Florida.
Staff
Jeanie Ziven
Jeanie is a collections professional who works with the lab to curate the fossil megafauna and update and maintain digital assets.
