Students
Graduate Students
Evan Johnson-Ransom
Evan Johnson-Ransom is a PhD student at the University of Chicago. He received his Bachelor’s from DePaul University (2018) and his Master’s from Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences (2021). Evan's Bachelor’s research focused on the descriptive paleobiology and paleoecology of fossil fishes under the advisement of Dr. Kenshu Shimada. His Master’s focused on the evolution of feeding behavior of tyrannosauroids (theropods or meat-eating dinosaurs that were related to and include Tyrannosaurus) under the advisement of Dr. Eric Snively. Evan's current research involves studying the craniocervical (head and neck) morphology of spinosaurids, a group of crocodile-snouted theropods that include the sail-backed Spinosaurus, under the advisement of Dr. Paul Sereno. He is also the author of the “Dinosaur World”, an encyclopedic book that includes over 1200 dinosaurs, in addition to details about dinosaur paleobiology, paleontologists who study dinosaurs, and museums that house important dinosaur specimens."
Evan's Google Scholar page.
Follow Evan on Twitter.
Evan's Academia Page.
Undergraduate Students
Kyle Willard
Kyle is a fourth-year Geophysical Science major and is one of the PaleoClub co-presidents for the 2024-2025 school year. He has volunteered during the school year and interned over the summer as a fossil preparator since his first year.
Student Volunteers
Gianna Austin
Gianna is a student at Montana State University studying Earth Sciences with an emphasis in Paleontology. She has months of field experience, as well as preparation both in the lab and in the field.
Christina Ela
Christina is a student at the University of Chicago studying geophysical sciences and planning on graduating in 2028. She currently volunteers during the school year as well as being a volunteer fossil preparator at the Field museum.
Liam Elward
Liam Elward is a Fossil Lab volunteer and freelance paleoartist from Chicago, Illinois. Growing up, Liam often visited the Field Museum of Natural History and recalls going to multiple talks by Dr. Paul Sereno in the Chicagoland area. In 2010 Liam began volunteering in the Field Museum's fossil prep lab under the guidance of Akiko Shinya. In high school Liam completed an internship with Dr. Ken Shimada at DePaul University, and gained fieldwork experience with Scott Williams at the Burpee Museum of Natural History. Since 2017, Liam has worked to hone his skills in digital and traditional illustration, and has artwork on display at the American Museum of Natural History, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, the University of Connecticut Department of Earth Sciences, the Field Museum of Natural History, & more.
Email: liam_elward@yahoo.com
Twitter: @paleobyliam
Instagram: @prehistorybyliam
Portfolio: artstation.com/prehistorybyliam
Nathan Groves
Nathan Groves is a senior in high school (class of '26) at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools. He began volunteering at the Fossil Lab in the summer of 2025.
Mallory Irizarry
Mallory is a recent graduate from the University of Chicago in the Biological Sciences, with a track focus on ecology and evolution. She volunteered during the 2024-25 school year and is continuing her involvement at the Fossil Lab, while also working as a volunteer on non-mammalian synapsid projects at the Field Museum.
Maya Lipton
Maya is an undergraduate student at George Mason University studying Geology with a concentration in Paleontology. She spent time during the summers of ‘23 & ‘24 gaining field experience in the Morrison Formation. After graduating (‘26), she plans to pursue graduate-level opportunities in the field of Vertebrate Paleontology.
Wyatt Milne
Wyatt graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor's degree in Integrative Biology. While studying there he worked at the Prairie Center for Paleontology associated with the university where he honed his skills in research, working with various fossil invertebrate specimens and becoming better acquainted with collections maintenance. He is looking forward to eventually pursuing a Masters degree in Paleontology. Currently, Wyatt is applying his knowledge to fossil preparation and community outreach, talking at length about dinosaurs to anyone who will listen.
Carlie Parpart
Carlie Parpart is a student at Montana State University studying Paleontology and Geology with experience in both the field and lab.
Ole Zant
Ole is a biology student from the Netherlands with years of experience in fossil preparation and paleoart. He has a deep fascination for African dinosaurs, which he expresses through research and identification of dinosaur bones in the Fossil Lab.
Ole's Twitter/X
Ole's BlueSky
Former Students
Steve Brussatte, Jeff Wilson, Hans Larsson, Matt Caranno