The University of Michigan is proud to celebrate the success of this year’s recipients of the Stocker-Nesbitt Professional Development in Paleontology Award: Abby Waller and Anna Zhao. This award, supported by generous contributions to the Stocker-Nesbitt Professional Development in Paleontology Fund, provides undergraduate students with financial assistance to attend professional conferences in vertebrate paleontology, fostering invaluable academic and professional growth.
Abby Waller, an Earth and Environmental Sciences major with a Paleontology minor, and Anna Zhao, an Ecology and Evolutionary Biology major with a Paleontology minor, each attended conferences this year that offered immersive experiences and unique opportunities to connect with experts and peers in the field.
Reflecting on the experience, Abby highlighted the collaborative and supportive atmosphere of the conference:
"It was really nice to just be surrounded by so many people who have the sort of interest that we do. I tried to attend every mammal lecture that I could, and they were all super awesome. To be able to discuss topics with them and learn from people doing things I want to be involved with in the future was incredible. It’s a very collaborative environment, and it’s really cool to see how people are so supportive of each other."
Anna emphasized the accessibility and conversational nature of the conference:
"It felt really cool to be immersed in the field for days on end. The way the conference was set up, it made everyone feel more like peers rather than being lectured at. The poster session was especially exciting because I got to chat with passionate people about their work. There was even a student panel with topics like finding grad school opportunities and dealing with imposter syndrome, which was incredibly helpful."
These conferences offer more than academic enrichment—they provide a space for students to envision their future in paleontology, engage with cutting-edge research, and build connections that will shape their careers. The Stocker-Nesbitt Award continues to foster the next generation of leaders in the field.
