Principle Investigator

Luke Weaver

I (he/him) was born and raised in Colorado and received my B.A. from Colorado State University in 2015, Ph.D. from the University of Washington in 2021, did a postdoc at the University of Michigan from 2021–2023, and was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth Sciences at Kent State University from 2023–2024. I am now an Assistant Curator & Assistant Professor in the Museum of Paleontology & Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at the University of Michigan. Outside of work, I love cooking, Denver sports, and live music (especially Phish and other jam bands)

Graduate Students

Athena Vohs

Athena (she/her) received her B.S. in geology from Kent State University. She is continuing on at Kent State studying vertebrate paleontology and is interested in mammalian morphology and evolution over time. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, rock hunting, and playing the piano.

Rory Sweedler

Rory (she/her) received her B.S. in geology from the University in Kansas. She is broadly interested in environmental effects on mammal paleoecology and evolution as well as the deposition and preservation of fossils. For her PhD research, she is focused on the impacts of mountain building on mammal communities during the late Cretaceous of the Bighorn Basin, WY. Outside of research, she spends a lot of time quilting, but also enjoys hiking and nature photography.

Jared Shiffert

Jared Shiffert (he/him) was born in Almaty, Kazakhstan and grew up in both Newnan, Georgia and Flourtown, Pennsylvania. He received his B.A. in Anthropology from American University in 2020, and his MPhil from the University of Cambridge in 2023. His research focuses on Mesozoic vertebrates from Central Asia, with particular interest in Late Cretaceous mammals. Outside of PhD life, Jared enjoys spending time outdoors with family and friends, anything science fiction and fantasy related, live music, and Philadelphia sports (Go Birds!).

Undergraduate Students

Megan Riley

My name is Megan. I go to the University of Michigan where I am a senior in EEB and paleontology. I am interested in mammal diversification after the K-Pg extinction event. I enjoy baking and chilling with my cat, Moth, in my free time. 

Abby Waller

Abby (she/her) is a third year at the University of Michigan studying Earth and Environmental Sciences. She is interested in the relationships between stratigraphy and vertebrate paleontology. Outside of her studies, she enjoys hiking, painting, and playing clarinet in the Michigan Marching Band.

Jake Downey

​I am a Junior at the University of Michigan double majoring in Ecology, Evolution, & Biodiversity and Program in the Environment, alongside a minor in Statistics. I am interested in freshwater ecology and freshwater management, particularly as it relates to outreach and engagement with communities. I have also done work in characterizing microfossil bonebeds in the Corral Bluffs of the Denver Basin, particularly regarding their taphonomy in relation to more mountain distal localities. I am a member of a philanthropic acappella group on campus and an environmental fraternity. I love anything that gets me outside, music, and cooking.

Sofia Belabbes

Biology major, Archaeology minor at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Project description: Paleontological research concerning the species identification of a Paleocene mammal specimen found in the Denver Basin  
Outside of research I enjoy listening to music, playing volleyball, and spending time with my friends and family!

Ella Squire

My name is Ella Squire and I recently transferred to the University of Michigan from Loyola University Chicago as a 3rd year undergraduate student. In Chicago, I studied under Dr. Megan Whitney and wanted to continue my passion for paleontology in my transition back to Michigan. I am currently focused on the Dumbbell Hill microsite working to identify the biodiversity of that area and how it not only relates to the surrounding sites, but also how it plays into the Bighorn Basin Project. Outside of class and lab, I enjoy taking my adventure cat, Ophelia, hiking, camping, and anything that gets us outdoors :)