Michael D. D'Emic | Faculty Profiles

Diplomas/Degrees

PhD, University of Michigan (2011)

MS, University of Michigan (2010)

BA with Distinction, Boston University (2006)

Personal Statement

I study the evolution of body size, bone tissues, and teeth, focusing on dinosaurs and their living descendants, the birds.

Potential Master's Students: Please send me an email inquiry if you are interested in pursuing a Master's Degree in my lab. Please note that admission to the Biology MS program does not guarantee a spot in my research lab, depending on space limitations. I encourage you to contact me and to apply early.

Potential Undergraduate Researchers: please email me with your resume and unofficial of your transcripts if you are interested in doing a research project or capstone.

Recent Courses

Essential Skills For Graduate Students

Guided Research Dental Histology

Histology

Histology Lab

Human Anatomy And Physiology I

Human Anatomy And Physiology I I ( Lab )

Special Research Problems Histological Techniques

Special Research Problems Stable Isotope Geochemistry

Thesis Research Paleoecology

Vertebrate Evolution

Specialization/Interests

Evolution, Paleontology, Anatomy, Histology, Ecology, Geology, Stratigraphy

Research Interests

Dinosaur evolution and growth, bone histology, tooth development, paleoecology

Articles

D’Emic, M.D., O'Connor, P.M., Sombathy, R.S., Cerda, I., Pascucci, T., Varricchio, D., Pol, D., Dave, A., Coria, R., and Curry Rogers, K.A. 2023. Developmental strategies underlying gigantism and miniaturization in non-avialan theropod dinosaurs. Science 379, 811–814.

D’Emic, M.D., 2023. Evolution of the Earth Shakers: How sauropod dinosaurs became the largest land animals again and again. Scientific American 329: 26–33. [Cover Article].

D’Emic, M.D. 2023. The evolution of maximum terrestrial body size in sauropod dinosaurs. Current Biology 33, 349–350.

Finch, S.P., D’Emic, M.D. 2022. Evolution of amniote dentine apposition rates. Biology Letters 18: 20220092. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2022.0092

D’Emic, M.D., Foreman, B.Z., Jud, N.A., Britt, B.B., Crowley, J.L., Schmitz, M. 2019. Chronostratigraphic revision of the Cloverly Formation (Lower Cretaceous), Western Interior, USA. Bulletin of the Peabody Museum of Natural History.

Jud, N.A., D’Emic, M.D., Williams, S.A., Mathews, J., Tremaine, K., and Bhattacharya, J. 2018. A new fossil assemblage shows that large angiosperm trees grew in North America by the Turonian (Late Cretaceous). Science Advances 4:eaar8568.

D'Emic, M.D. (2017) Book Review: Origins: The Search for Our Prehistoric Past By Frank H. T. Rhodes. Ithaca (New York): Cornell University Press (Comstock Publishing Associates). Quarterly Review of Biology.

D'Emic, M.D., Foreman, B.Z., Jud, N.A. (2017), Anatomy, systematics, paleoenvironment, and age of the sauropod dinosaur Sonorasaurus thompsoni from the Cretaceous of Arizona, USA. Journal of Paleontology 90:102–132.

Melstrom, K.M., D'Emic, M.D., Wilson, J.A., Chure, D. (2017), A juvenile sauropod dinosaur from the Late Jurassic of Utah, U.S.A., presents further evidence of an avian style air sac system. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

Curry Rogers, K.A., Whitney, M., D’Emic, M.D., and Bagley, B. (2016). Precocity in a tiny titanosaur from the Cretaceous of Madagascar. Science 352:450–453.

D'Emic, M.D., Foster, J.F. (2016), The oldest Cretaceous North American sauropod dinosaur. Historical Biology, 28, 470-478.

D'Emic, Michael D. (2015), Comment on "Evidence for Mesothermy in Dinosaurs". Science, 348, 982-b.

D’Emic, M.D., Smith, K.M., Ansley, Z. (2015). Unusual costal histology and morphology in mosasaurs (Squamata). Palaeontology 58:511–520.

Hill, R.V., D’Emic, M.D., Bever, G., Norell, M. (2015). A complex hyobranchial apparatus in a Cretaceous dinosaur and the antiquity of avian paraglossalia. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 175:892–909.

D’Emic, M.D. and Benson, R.B.J. (2013). Measurement, variation, and scaling of osteocyte
lacunae: a case study in birds. Bone 57:300–310.

Other Work

Educator, Ted-ED Lesson: "When will the Next Mass Extinction Occur?" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAdNCIIYXvo

Host and Organizer, Northeast Regional Vertebrate Evolution Symposium, Adelphi University, April 2016

Grants

Recent Grants:

$38,255 — “Survey of the abundant fossil resources of the Pryor Mountain Wilderness Study Area.” National Conservation Lands Scientific Support Study Program, United States Bureau of Land Management. Awarded 2022–2026. PI: D’Emic

$1,169—"The growth and evolution of a group of long-necked dinosaurs from Utah, USA”. Adelphi University Faculty Development Grant, Awarded 2023. PI: D’Emic

$6,150— “The evolution of the first mammalian megaherbivore”. Eppley Foundation for Research. Awarded 2022. PI: D’Emic

$5,000 — “Impact of climate on the evolution of growth.” Toomey Foundation for the Natural Sciences. Awarded 2022. PI: D’Emic

$9,889 — “Fossil survey of the Pryor Mountain Wilderness Study Area.” National Conservation Lands Scientific Support Study Program, United States Bureau of Land Management. Awarded 2020–2021. PI: D’Emic

$3,000 — “Investigating extinction through excavation of a rare and extensive dinosaur bonebed.” Franklin Research Grant, American Philosophical Society. Awarded 2020–present. PI: D’Emic

$14,458 – “Fossils of the Pryor Mountain Wilderness Study Area: Citizen Science Meets Student Training.” National Conservation Lands Scientific Support Study Program, United States Bureau of Land Management. Awarded 2019. PI: D’Emic

$45,725 — “Body Size Evolution of the First Mammalian Megaherbivore during Paleogene Hyperthermal Events.” Keck Geology Consortium. Awarded 2019. co-PI: Dr. Simone Hoffmann, NY Institute of Technology.

$4,945 — “Excavation of Dinosaur Fossils in the Western USA.” Adelphi University Faculty Development Grant, Awarded 2019. PI: D’Emic

Community Outreach

https://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/family/dinosaur-exhibit-long-island-children-s-museum-p86727

Professional Activities

Senior Editor, Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology