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, and did a postdoc at the University of Michigan from 2021–2023. I am now an Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth Sciences at Kent State University. I also 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.
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!
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!
Jillian Findling
My name is Jillian Findling, I am a sophomore geology major at Kent State with a minor in Paleontology. Currently, I am researching invertebrate crustaceans while also assisting in the Weaver Lab in sorting through microvertebrate fossils. In the future, I am hoping to specialize in mammals from the Pliocene. Outside of work, I train in Muay Thai, cook, and write.
