About the Curator - Dr. Robert M. Sullivan, Senior Curator

At The Museum
Dr. Robert M. Sullivan (seen above at a recent dig) has been the Senior Curator of the Section of Paleontology and Geology at The State Museum of Pennsylvania since November 1992. He oversees the collections of rocks, minerals and fossils.

Dr. Sullivan conceived of, and developed, the popular exhibit Dino Lab -an interactive exhibit where visitors can watch a technician prepare dinosaur fossils. He has also developed two new additions to the Hall of Geology: the Coelophysis diorama, and the Paleozoic Fishes exhibit that features the prehistoric fish Dunkleosteus.

Research
Dr. Sullivan's research interests are in the specialized field of paleoherpetology (the study of fossil amphibians and reptiles). His primary focus has been the study of the phylogenetic systematics of fossil lizards and dinosaurs, as well as the controversial topic of dinosaur extinction. Dr. Sullivan has conducted paleontological fieldwork in Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Montana, and Nebraska, and has traveled abroad to Germany, Czechoslovakia, Sweden, England and China to study fossil vertebrates. His recent dinosaur discoveries in New Mexico, a new specimen of Parasaurolophus, and a new genus and species of ankylosaur dinosaur (Nodocephalosaurus kirtlandensis), have received much media attention.

Visit Notes from the Field interactive with journals from 2003 through the summer of 2005.

Visit Notes from the Field interactive for more on Dr. Sullivan's research trips to New Mexico. Just click on the image above.

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He has over 90 scientific publications to his name, has taught an array of college courses in geology, paleontology and biology, and has served as Program Officer (1991-1993) and on the Richard Estes Memorial Award Committee (1998-present), and is presently chairperson for this committee, for the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology.

Education
BA Geology, University of New Mexico, 1973
MS Vertebrate Paleontology, San Diego State University, 1978
Ph.D. Geology, Michigan State University, 1980

Recent Publications
Click here to download a pdf file of Dr. Sullivan's publications
(last update-Fall 2006).

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Contact Dr. Sullivan
rsullivan@state.pa.us

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