Merrilee Guenther
Dr. Merrilee F. Guenther studies the paleobiology, biomechanics, growth and development of hadrosaurid dinosaurs and their relationships to modern birds and crocodylians. Her current research projects include:
- The ontogeny and biomechanics of the postcranial skeleton of hadrosaur dinosaurs
- The diversity of hadrosaur dinosaurs in the San Juan Basin, New Mexico
- Ontogenetic changes (changes during the growth of the animal) in the biomechanics (structure and function) of hadrosaur jaws and determining how those changes differ across different species of hadrosaur dinosaur
- The use of micropaleontology to reconstruct the ecology of western North Dakota during the Paleocene (55 to 60 million years ago) Epoc
Dr. Guenther earned a Ph.D. in Earth and Environmental Science at the University of Pennsylvania. Her doctoral dissertation focused on the “Morphology and Ontogeny of the Postcranial Skeleton of the Hadrosauridae.” She has also served as a visiting assistant professor of biology at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.
- FYS 100 Welcome to Jurassic Park
- BIO 107 Human Anatomy and Physiology I
- BIO 108 Human Anatomy and Physiology II
- BIO 201 General Biology II
- BIO 330 Comparative Chordate Anatomy
- BIO 331 Paleontology
- BIO 355 Evolution of the Vertebrates
- BIO 430 Advanced Human Anatomy
- KEY 120 KEYSTONE Spring STEMinar
- Guenther, M.F., Wosik, M.*, and McCarthy, S.M.* 2016. Perinatal Hadrosaurid Postcranial Elements from the Upper Cretaceous Kirtland Formation, San Juan Basin, New Mexico. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin.
- Wosik, M.* and Guenther, M.F. 2016. Examination of a historic collection of isolated cranial and appendicular hadrosaurid material from the lower Kirtland Formation of the San Juan Basin, New Mexico. Journal of Paleontology.
- Marsh, T.L., Guenther, M.F., and Raimondi, S.L., 2015. When do students “learn-to-comprehend” scientific sources?: Evaluation of a critical skill in undergraduates progressing through a science major. Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education.
- Guenther, M.F., 2014. Comparative ontogenies (appendicular skeleton) for three hadrosaurids and a basal iguanodontian: divergent developmental pathways in Hadrosaurinae and Lambeosaurinae. In D. A. Eberth, and D. C. Evans (eds.), Hadrosaurs. Indiana University Press, Bloomington, Indiana.
- Sullivan, R.M., Jasinski, S.E., Guenther, M.F., and Lucas, S.G., 2011. The First “Lambeosaurin” (Dinosauria, Hadrosauridae, Lambeosaurinae) from the Upper Cretaceous Ojo Alamo Formation (Naashoibito Member), San Juan Basin, New Mexico. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin.
- Guenther, M.F. 2009. Influence of Sequence Heterochrony on Hadrosaurid Dinosaur Postcranial Development. The Anatomical Record.
- Guenther, M.F. 2005. The Hadrosaurs of Alberta: Revisiting and Revising Postcranial Anatomy. Dinosaur Park Symposium Volume.
- Sankey, J.T., D.B. Brinkman, M.F. Guenther, and P.J. Currie. Small Theropod and Bird Teeth from the Judith River Group (Late Campanian), Alberta. Journal of Paleontology.