Julia A Clarke

Areas of Expertise

Evolution of anatomical novelty, vertebrate paleontology, systematic biology, avian vocalization and the evolution of flight, fossil birds. Dinosaurs.

Research Locations

Current Research Programs & Projects

Wings to Flippers - Phylogenetics, character acquisition, and feather biomechanics in the evolution of wing-propelled diving

Early ornithurine bird evolution

Evolution of flight

Fellow (FRSB) - Royal Society of Biology (2018)

Elective Member, an honorary membership category that recognizes contributions to ornithology - American Ornithological Society (2017)

Provost's Teaching Fellow - The University of Texas (2016)

Humboldt Research Award - Humboldt Foundation (2016)

Outstanding Research Award - Jackson School of Geoscience (2013)

Knebel Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching Award - Jackson School of Geosciences (2012)

Gigapan Science Outreach Fellow - Fine Foundation/NASA/Carnegie Mellon Robotics (2010)

Outstanding Faculty Member Engaged in Extension Award - North Carolina State University (2008)

NSF Research Highlights - OISE Directorates (2007)

G.G. Simpson Award - Yale University (2006)

Argentine Fulbright Commission, 50th anniversary volume, distinguished alumna (2006)

NSF Research Highlights - OPP Directorates (2005)

Sigma Xi - Full Associate Member - Brown University (2004)

G.G. Simpson Award - Yale University (2001)

Orville Prize-best dissertation in the Earth Sciences - Yale University (2001)

Estwing Hammer Prize for outstanding research in Geology - Yale University (2000)

Hutchinson Prize Fellowship for Biospheric Studies - Yale Institute (2000)

Henry Gardiner Ferguson Fellowship in Geology - Yale University (1999)

Graduate Student Fellowship - National Science Foundation (1997 - 2000)

Arnold Prize Fellowship for undergraduate achievement and an original research project ($15,000; declined to accept Fulbright Grant). - Brown University (1995)

Sigma Xi - Brown University (1995)

Phi Beta Kappa - Brown University (1994)

Associate Editor, Science Advances, Proceedings of the Royal Society Series B, Evolution (2018)

Associate Editor, Paleobiology (2013)

Co-Editor in Chief, Journal of Anatomy (2012 - 2018)

Editor in Vertebrate Morphology, Zoologischer Anzeiger (2011 - 2012)

Executive Committee, Member-At-Large, Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (2008 - 2011)

Operations Committee, Member-At-Large, National Center for Evolutionary Synthesis (NESCent.org) (2007 - 2008)

Session moderator, Meetings of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (2006 - 2007)

Editor in Vertebrate Morphology and Paleontology, Journal of Anatomy (2005 - 2011)

Chair, Predoctoral Fellowship Committee, Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (2004 - 2006)

Sigma Xi Grants, Aid of Research, Committee (2004)

Governing Council, Member-At-Large, International Society of Phylogenetic Nomenclature (2004 - 2006)

Predoctoral Fellowship Committee, Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (2003 - 2008)

Co-convener, "Missing Data- Practical Problems and Theoretical Issues" Symposium, Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (2000)

Organizing committee member and moderator, "New Perspectives on the Origin and Early Evolution of Birds: an International Symposium in Honor of John H. Ostrom,", Yale Peabody Museum and Yale University Department of Geology and Geophysics (1999)

NSF Panelist: Systematics (BIO),

NSF Referee: Systematics (BIO), Paleobiology (EAR), and Polar Programs (OPP),

NERC Referee, UK: Fellows Program,

National Geographic Society, Exploration Fund Referee,

One current postdocs, four graduate students and an array of undergraduate researchers are focused on broad questions concerning evolutionary morphology and the deep time diversification of birds.

Right now we are focused on the evolution of early bird lineages, feathering and wing morphology, wing propelled diving and the origin of bird song. Some student projects are focused on other archosaur lineages and other character systems such as the evolution of armor.

Postdocs

Lucas J Legendre

Xia Wang, 2013 - 2015, University of Jinan
Assistant Professor

Daniel Ksepka, 2007 - 2009, Columbia University, (PhD) now Postdoctoral Associate, NESCENT

Chad Eliason

Sterling Nesbitt

Graduate Students

Christopher Torres, Ph.D. (Co-supervisor)
Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior

Sarah Davis, Ph.D., 2022 (Supervisor)
Jackson School of Geosciences

Grace Musser, Ph.D., 2022 (Supervisor)
Jackson School of Geosciences

Jasmine Nelson, M.S., 2021 (Supervisor)
Department of Geosciences, UT Austin

Lauren English, Ph.D., 2018 (Supervisor)
Department of Geosciences, UT Austin

James Proffitt, Ph.D., 2018 (Supervisor)
Department of Geosciences, UT Austin

Zhiheng Li, Ph.D., 2015 (Supervisor)
Department of Geosciences, UT Austin

Katherine Browne, M.S., 2014 (Supervisor)
Department of Geosciences, UT Austin

A.J. DeBee, Ph.D., 2012 (Supervisor)
Department of Geosciences, UT Austin

Drew Eddy, M.S., 2008 (Supervisor)
NCSU
"New information on the skull of Acrocanthosaurus atokensis and the phylogenetic relationships of the Allosauroidea"

Clint Boyd, Ph.D., 2005 (Supervisor)
"Taxonomic revision of the North American neorithischia, implications for ornithischian phylogeny"

Adam Smith, Ph.D., 2001 (Supervisor)
"Phylogeny and evolution of extinct and extant Alcidae (Aves, Charadriiformes)"

Undergraduate Students

There are always about 5 undergraduate doing reseach in the lab. They are typically listed on my CV. I started an undergraduate "research fair" in paleontology where we link up faculty, graduate students and undergraduate collaborators across the program.

See CV,

Year	Semester	Course
2023	Fall	GEO 382E	Scientific Research Design
2023	Fall	GEO 322E	Scientific Research Design
2022	Fall	GEO 382E	Scientific Research Design
2022	Fall	GEO 322E	Scientific Research Design
2021	Fall	GEO 405	Life Through Time
2021	Spring	GEO 391	Rsrch Dsgn/Data Anly/Visltn-Wb
2021	Spring	GEO 371T	Rsrch Dsgn/Data Anly/Visltn-Wb
2020	Spring	GEO 391	Rsrch Dsgn/Data Anly/Visltn
2020	Spring	GEO 371T	Rsrch Dsgn/Data Anly/Visltn
2019	Fall	GEO 405	Life Through Time
2019	Spring	GEO 391	Rsrch Dsgn/Data Anly/Visltn
2019	Spring	GEO 371T	Rsrch Dsgn/Data Anly/Visltn
2018	Fall	GEO 405	Life Through Time
2018	Spring	GEO 391	Rsrch Dsgn/Data Anly/Visltn
2018	Spring	GEO 291	Asian Monsoon
2018	Spring	GEO 371T	Rsrch Dsgn/Data Anly/Visltn
2017	Fall	GEO 394	Rsch In Geological Sciences
2017	Fall	GEO 405	Life Through Time
2017	Spring	GEO 391	Rsrch Dsgn/Data Anly/Visltn
2017	Spring	GEO 371T	Rsrch Dsgn/Data Anly/Visltn
2016	Fall	GEO 405	Life Through Time
2016	Spring	GEO 391	Rsch Mthd/Anly/Vis Paleobio
2016	Spring	GEO 371T	Rsch Mthd/Anly/Vis Paleobio
2014	Fall	GEO 394	Rsch In Systematic Paleontol
2014	Fall	GEO 391	Avian Anatomy
2014	Fall	GEO 371C	Avian Anatomy
2014	Fall	GEO 405	Life Through Time
2014	Spring	GEO 394	Rsch In Systematic Paleontol

NPR- penguin

NYT-penguin

EUREKA-UT