Degrees
B.Sc. Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, 1980
B.Ed/AD Secondary Education, University of Alberta, 1984
M.Sc. Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, AB 1992
Ph.D. Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, AB 2001
Positions
Adjunct Research Professor (2007 – present), Dept. of Earth Sciences, Carleton University
Curator and Head of Vertebrate Paleontology (2004 – 2018); Coordinator of Research (2006 – 2010), Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Chief Paleontologist (2000 – 2015), Phaeton Consulting Group
Director, Education and Public Programs (1994 – 1998); Head, Field Operations (1999 – 2002) Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology
Bio: I am dinosaur palaeontologist currently holding the position of Adjunct Research Professor in the Dept. of Earth Sciences at Carleton University (Ottawa) where I co-supervise undergraduate and graduate students, and teach a vertebrate paleontology field course as well as the in-demand course Dinosaurs to more than 400 students each year.
I have previously held positions as Head of Vertebrate Paleontology at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and Director of Education and Public Programs at the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology.
My research involves the systematics, taphonomy and palaeoecology of Late Cretaceous dinosaur faunas of western North America and Mongolia, with a specialization in Ceratopsia (the horned-dinosaurs). My primary research is conducted through my Southern Alberta Dinosaur Program that I co-lead with Dr. David Evans (ROM/U of Toronto). This long term project is investigating the patterns of dinosaur evolution, ecology, and biogeography in the Late Cretaceous as they relate to shifting land mass availability and environmental changes during this period. I also have broad interests in the history of evolutionary thought, and non-dinosaur vertebrates such as Late Devonian placoderms and crocodylomorph evolution.
Over the course of my career I have lead or co-lead expeditions in Canada, the United States, Mongolia, Greenland, South America and Africa. I has described more than a dozen new dinosaur species and authored more than 200 research papers and conference presentations.
Professional Affiliations
Canadian Society of Vertebrate Palaeontology
Society of Vertebrate Paleontology
Dinosaur Research Institute
Editorial Appointments
FACETS
Royal Society Open Science
Dr. Michael J Ryan 