Research
Ongoing Projects
Ferruginous microbialites and redox environments
This ACS-funded project is focused on the lateral changes in the expression of the unconformity surface and overlying red crust intersecting Cambrian successions of South Australia and is the subject of Clara Wong's MS thesis.
Small shelly fossils and Cambrian reef associations
This project examines paleoecological shifts laterally across biohermal facies and forms the basis for Casey Bennett's MS thesis.
Preservational pathways in lower Cambrian small shelly fossils from South Australia
This NSF-funded project explores paleoenvironmental and taphonomic impacts on SSF datasets and forms the basis of one of Eury Speir’s PhD projects.
Virtual Feild Environments as valuble pedagogical tools
This is a collaborative project involving members of the Geological Sciences and Education Departments investigating the pedagocial impact of VFEs.
Taphonomic bias in Cretaceous fish coprolites
This is an undergraduate project examining Cretaceous fish coprolites from Kansas and the taphonomic variation of constituents therein.
Small shelly fossil preservation and sample bias
This project will form the basis of Clare Mate's forthcoming MS project.
Past Projects
Sclerite assembly, articulation and protective system of Devonian machaeridians
Systematics, taphonomy and paleoecology of Conulariids from the Silurian Waukesha Lagerstätte
Student Opportunities
If research is your jam I have a number of potential projects appropriate for undergraduate and graduate-level research. From Late Cambrian echinoid encrusted hardgrounds in SE Missouri, to Mesozoic fish coprolites from Kansas, to even some Orsten-style small shelly fossils from the Middle Cambrian of Queensland, Australia, and many more.
Or you can develop your own project!
If a lab experience (and a chance to hang with a bunch of paleontologists) is more up your alley, look no further! There are several opportunities to help out in the lab, from taking photos of fossils, picking microfossils under a microscope, to making 3D models online. Check out MizzoμX for our growing repository of virtual collections.
Together with several colleagues, we are also planning to curate, digitize, and publicize the Missouri University Paleontological and Mineral Collections, plus core teaching collections.
If any of this sounds interesting and you would like to get involved please contact me.
