Hi, I'm
Lauren Wilson
Art: Gabriel Ugueto
FEATURED WORK
Lauren N. Wilson
Ph.D. Candidate
I am a PhD candidate in the Department of Geosciences at Princeton University. I am interested in major evolutionary trends and transitions, with an emphasis on the origin of modern birds.
Education
Princeton University 2024-Present
Ph.D. Candidate, Geosciences
University of Alaska Fairbanks 2021-2024
M.S., Geosciences
Thesis: The avialan fauna of the Late Cretaceous Prince Creek Formation, Alaska
Montana State University 2018-2021
B.S., Earth Sciences
Research Interests
My research focuses on major vertebrate evolutionary trends and transitions. I am especially interested in the evolution of Late Cretaceous avialans and the traits that resulted in the survival of only a single lineage of birds in the wake of the K-Pg mass extinction. I strive to integrate broad-scale macroevolutionary patterns, geology, morphology, and development to understand the evolution of Late Cretaceous ecosystems at both global and local scales.
Given the sparse fossil record of Late Cretaceous avialans, I also investigate the development of living birds to elucidate evolutionary patterns that would otherwise be lost to us.
Publications
Fishes from the Upper Cretaceous Prince Creek Formation, North Slope of Alaska, and their palaeobiogeographical significance
Brinkman, D. B., López, J. A., Erickson, G. M., Eberle, J. J., Muñoz, X., Wilson, L. N., Perry, Z. R., Murray, A. M., Van Loon, L., Banerjee, N. R., & Druckenmiller, P. S.
2025, Papers in Palaeontology
Fieldwork
Fieldwork is a major priority of my research program. The process of excavating fossils fosters respect for the foundational datapoints of our science.
Further, fully understanding evolution requires a robust understanding of stratigraphy and taphonomy. These data types require rigorous geologic data collection that can only be obtained through fieldwork.
I have been fortunate enough to get to work everywhere from the badlands of Montana to above the Arctic Circle in Alaska.
I now run my own field program in eastern Montana investigating the impact of the K-Pg extinction on vertebrate evolution
