Associate Professor Eric Roberts is the Head of Earth and Environmental Sciences at James Cook University in Townsville, Australia. He is a sedimentary geologist who specializes in reconstructing the geological context of important vertebrate fossil localities. This field of research, known as taphonomy, involves piecing together the details that surround the life, death and burial of fossilized remains. Dr. Roberts’ research also focuses on dating these fossil deposits and reconstructing their ancient paleoenvironments. He began his research career investigating the taphonomy and geology of dinosaur ecosystems in Montana and Utah but has since worked on the discovery and context of some of the most interesting fossil discoveries around the globe. His research highlights include nearly 20 years of exploration for fossil vertebrates in America, Antarctica, Australia, China and all over Africa (Tanzania, Mali, Zimbabwe, South Africa). Among his most important contributions have been his work on the discovery and taphonomy of early primates and hominin fossils in Africa. In 2015, he was part of the team that discovered the new hominin species, Homo naledi, from a deep cave in South Africa. He spent ~ 5 years working on the taphonomy of this site, which was featured on the cover of National Geographic and ranked 2nd among the top science stories for 2015 in Discover Magazine. He has published over 100 peer reviewed papers and book chapters, and he has introduced dozens of students to research careers.

Eric Lund is the manager of the new SECU DinoLab. Eric is interested in the paleobiology and functional morphology of ceratopsian (horned) dinosaurs and faunal evolution in the Western Interior Basin during the Cretaceous Period. He received his BS and MS degrees in geology and geophysics from the University of Utah in 2004 and 2010. He has had the opportunity to conduct paleontological fieldwork in many parts of the United States including Utah, Montana and North Carolina, and in countries around the world including Mexico, Tanzania and Madagascar. Eric is currently completing a PhD through Ohio University, focusing his research around ceratopsid evolutionary morphology and functional anatomy while also serving as the Paleontology Lab Manager and Paleontology Volunteer Coordinator at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences working with Dr. Lindsay Zanno. Eric originally hails from Salt Lake City, Utah, and after a few years residing in Southeast Ohio, moved to North Carolina in June, 2018.

Lisa Herzog is the Paleontology Operations Manager at The NC Museum of Natural Sciences, where she oversees specimen management and handling both in the lab and collections. Lisa holds a Master of Science degree in biological sciences from North Carolina State University and a Master of Arts in sociology from DePaul University. She is versed in the technical aspects of specimen preparation and the paleontological value of specimens as information and has over two decades of experience. She has prepared specimens from all over the world including multiple holotypes.

Lisa sees the field of paleontology as an interconnected science and considers all components to the process of research and discovery as essential. Working in a museum setting with responsibilities ranging from educational outreach to volunteer recruitment and training as well as lab management has provided her with a clear understanding of the importance of passing this information along concisely and effectively. So much of our scientific world and understanding is comingled with public interest and consumption that properly and correctly recording and disseminating information is key. To that end, Lisa participates in the process from field collecting to data management, fossil preparation, conservation, curation, measurement, analysis and presentation.

Her current work includes focusing on improving data management at the Museum, overseeing fossil preparation and training, studying new specimens of a unique clade of Mesozoic turtle known as Helochelydridae and researching unique solutions to the problem of pyrite decay in collections.

Dr. Thomas Cullen is a Postdoctoral Research Scholar at the NC Museum of Natural Sciences and NC State University, where he is conducting research and designing education programs with NCMNS Head of Paleontology Dr. Lindsay Zanno and PhD student Haviv Avrahami. Cullen’s research focuses on understanding how dinosaur-dominated ecosystems were structured and how they responded to environmental change. He also studies the evolution, growth, and biodiversity of North American theropod dinosaurs, particularly ornithomimids and troodontids. He completed a PhD in the Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology at the University of Toronto and Royal Ontario Museum in 2017, and prior to joining NCMNS/NCSU in 2020 he was a postdoc at the Field Museum in Chicago, where he researched dinosaur growth and was a scientific consultant on several education and exhibit projects, including the permanent exhibit on ‘SUE the T. rex’. He has performed field research looking for dinosaurs and other fossils on multiple continents, in both polar regions, and across western North America. In addition to this, he is involved in numerous educational and public outreach programs (including on Twitter @cullen_thomas), recently served as a scientific advisor for the PBS documentary “Prehistoric Road Trip” and serves on the executive committee of the Canadian Society of Vertebrate Palaeontology. A major component of his work here at NCMNS involves the development and implementation of citizen science and education programs related to the Dueling Dinosaurs program that focus around paleoecological reconstructions using Late Cretaceous microfossil bonebeds.

Haviv Avrahami is a PhD student at NCSU studying the anatomy, paleobiology, ontogeny, and phylogeny of orodromine dinosaurs. His research is focused on an exceptional assemblage of a new species from Utah. He is interested in big picture questions about these dinosaurs such as: how did these animals compare to their evolutionary relatives, what roles did these animals play in their ancient environments and ecology, why do some members of the species look so different from each other, and what were the environmental and ecological patterns that contributed to their rapid success and subsequent extinction?

Research Assistant Haviv Avrahami has over half a decade of experience excavating and hunting for dinosaurs in Montana, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona and North Carolina.

Haviv’s previous research experience was focused on documenting the biodiversity of a Cretaceous microvertebrate fossil assemblage and quantifying shape variation among archosaurian teeth using 2D and 3D geometric morphometrics.

Haviv is passionate about engaging in opportunities to share paleontology with the public, specifically middle school and high school students from disenfranchised and underprivileged backgrounds. He hopes to present science as a tangible, realistic and attainable career path for students facing adversity. Haviv is currently working on designing a microfossil-themed citizen science program, associated with the Dueling Dinosaurs.