Research Projects

Fossil shark teeth are remarkably durable and abundant in the fossil record, and they preserve geochemical signatures that record the chemistry of ancient seawater. My M.S. research focused on using strontium (Sr) isotope ratios and rare earth elements (REEs) preserved in fossil shark teeth as age proxies for Neogene fossil sites across Florida. Because marine Sr isotope ratios have changed predictably through geologic time, teeth that preserve primary geochemical signatures can be matched to a global Sr isotope curve to estimate the age of the deposit in which they were found.

This work demonstrated that marine strontium isotopes preserved in fossil shark teeth can calibrate Neogene land mammal evolution, providing chronological anchors for fossil sites that lack other reliable dating material. The approach has broad implications for improving the temporal resolution of Florida's rich Neogene fossil record and for calibrating biostratigraphic frameworks across the southeastern United States. I also investigated REE uptake patterns to assess diagenetic alteration and evaluate which specimens retain reliable primary geochemical signals.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning are transforming how paleontologists can interrogate large morphological datasets. My research applies deep learning models, including convolutional neural networks and interpretable AI approaches, to images of vertebrate fossils to classify taxa, quantify morphological variation, and identify micro- and macroevolutionary patterns at scales impractical to achieve through manual measurement alone. A key focus of this work is understanding how sample size,taxonomic diversity, and image quality affect model performance, with practical implications for museum digitization and collections-based research.

Chewing on Change — Module 4: AI & Machine Learning

Chewing on Change is a K-12 curriculum on the macroevolution of horses in response to climate change, developed in partnership with the Florida Museum of Natural History. Module 4 introduces students to machine learning by having them use real fossil horse tooth images and a cloud-based Jupyter notebook on MyBinder.org — no coding experience required. Students train and evaluate an image classification model, explore how AI identifies patterns in fossil data, and discuss the broader implications of AI across science disciplines through a jigsaw reading activity.

Classroom materials include a full curriculum PDF, teaching slides, a video walkthrough, and an under-the-hood code explainer to support teachers and students who want to go deeper. A curated set of readings on AI applications across disciplines and areas of concern, including water use, energy costs, and data center ethics, is available for classroom discussion.

This module is part of an IRB-approved research study (UF-IRB202600133: Chewing on Change: Using AI to Study Fossil Horse Teeth) investigating how student and teacher understanding of macroevolutionary traits, AI/ML literacy, attitudes about science, and self-efficacy for using AI change after participating in the lesson. The study is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF Award No. 2147625) and is currently being implemented in middle and high school classrooms across Florida, Georgia, and Ohio.

Science is most powerful when it is accessible. As the coordinator for the Scientist in Every Florida School (SEFS) program at the University of Florida Thompson Earth Systems Institute and Florida Museum of Natural History, I develop and manage programs that place scientists directly into K-12 classrooms and build lasting partnerships between researchers and educators. This work spans teacher professional development, research-based curriculum design, scientist-classroom partnerships, and outreach programming that expands access to Earth and environmental sciences across Florida — particularly in underserved and rural communities. Since 2019, I have developed, coordinated, and delivered more than 20 professional development programs connecting K-12 teachers with cutting-edge research in paleontology, artificial intelligence, ecology, plant biology, and environmental science.

Montbrook Teacher Field Experiences

One of SEFS's most powerful teacher professional development experiences takes place at the Montbrook fossil site in Levy County, Florida, one of the most productive late Miocene vertebrate fossil localities in the southeastern United States. Teachers participate in authentic paleontological fieldwork alongside museum scientists, excavating and identifying fossil specimens in the field. This immersive experience is designed to give teachers firsthand exposure to scientific methods, helping them translate authentic scientific practices into their own classrooms. Lessons developed around this experience connect fossil collection, stratigraphic context, and evolutionary history directly to K-12 science standards.