Douglas S. JonesDouglas S. Jones
Director Emeritus of the Florida Museum of Natural History and Curator
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Research interests include exploring shell growth records of modern and fossil mollusks. These range from coquina clams such as Donax variabilis that live for several months, to bivalves like Arctica islandica that can live for centuries. From growth increment variability and stable isotope profiles in shells of these organisms, it is possible to reconstruct detailed records of life history and environmental change.

head shot of a man with short hair and a deep blue simple shirt with trees out of focus int he backgroundMichal Kowalewski

Jon L. and Beverly A. Thompson Chair of Invertebrate Paleontology
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Research interests include ecology, evolution and taphonomy of marine benthic communities.


Roger W. PortellRoger W. Portell
Collection Director of Invertebrate Paleontology and Micropaleontology
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Oversight of all aspects (curation, cataloging, computerization, personnel, budgets, fund raising, outreach, etc.) of one of the largest and most active invertebrate paleontology collections in North America.  Currently serving as Florida Paleontological Society Editor of the specimen identification series Florida Fossil Invertebrates.

Research interests include systematics, paleoecology, biogeography, and biostratigraphy of Cenozoic invertebrates of the southeastern USA, Caribbean, and South America with an emphasis on arthropods, echinoderms, and mollusks.


Sean RobertsSean Roberts
Collection Manager
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Specimen and GIS databasing and photography of fossil invertebrates with focus on the SE USA, South America, and Caribbean. Member of the National Speleological Society and the Florida Speleological Society (Served as board member and President).

Research interests include mapping of Florida caves (both underwater and dry) and photographic documentation and voucher collecting of fossil invertebrates found within.


a person with a name badge is sitting at a microscope in what looks like a fossil lab surrounded by tools and boxes of tiny fossils

Jeanie Ziven
Collections Assistant
Email: zivenj@ufl.edu

Jeanie is interested in all aspects of paleontology and especially fieldwork.


a person is standing at an open cabinet with a shallow drawer pulled out partially filled with small boxes of shells in a corridor lined with metal cabinets

Jessie So
Collection Manager Trainee
Email: tinyanso@ufl.edu

Cataloging, identification, and preparation of fossil specimens as well as organization and management of collections (primarily taxonomic, stratigraphic, and teaching with other collections as needed). Oversees new acquisitions to the Simpson Library. Currently serving as Secretary of the Florida Paleontological Society.

Jessie’s research interests include earliest life forms.


a smiling person is standing at some type of lab machine with a box of large clumps of rocks in a room with other lab equipment

Hannah Alfieri
Student Collections Assistant

Hannah enjoys curating fossil crabs and echinoids. She plans to continue to conduct research that will produce a Senior Thesis.