Our Staff

Maeve is a Ph.D. student at USC and a graduate student-in-residence in Ornithology, working with Allison Shultz.

Allison is an ornithologist who integrates research across evolutionary timescales to gain an understanding of the processes that produce the patterns of biodiversity.

John has assisted the Vertebrate Paleontology department with field, lab, and collections work since 2015.

As a Curator in the Dinosaur Institute, Dr. Nathan Smith supervises the Dinosaur Institute staff and conducts paleontological research in support of the Institute's programs.

As Collections Manager for our Ornithology department, Young is responsible for the care and operation of our extensive collection of birds.

As Collections Manager, Mr. Takeuchi co-manages all of the fossils at Rancho La Brea.

Sam works with scientists and community members through our Community Science office.

As a Preparator at Project 23, Ms. Tewksbury is responsible for excavating fossils, training volunteers and students and sharing her expertise with the public.

Curator Emerita Dr. Christine Thacker joined the Natural History Museum in 1998 after receiving her Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. Dr. Thacker’s research concerns the evolution, systematics, and biogeography of gobies and cardinalfishes.

Karl Urhausen has a background in painting, sculpture and antiquities conservation, with an emphasis on the preservation of leather and wood.