We are thrilled to welcome Luke Weaver as our new Assistant Curator at the University of Michigan Museum of Paleontology (UMMP).
Hailing from the scenic surroundings of Boulder, Colorado, Luke Weaver embarked on his academic journey at Colorado State University (CSU), where he earned his B.A. in Biological Anthropology with a Minor in Geology in 2015. It was at CSU that Luke’s passion for paleontology was ignited, particularly during a transformative field course in the Bighorn Basin, Wyoming. Under the mentorship of renowned paleontologist Tom Bown and CSU professor Kim Nichols, Luke delved into the rock and fossil record, with a keen focus on early mammals.
Luke pursued his Ph.D. at the University of Washington, collaborating with Greg Wilson Mantilla in the Department of Biology and the Burke Museum. His research in the Wilson Lab opened the door to the fascinating world of Mesozoic mammals and the Cretaceous-Paleogene mass extinction. Luke’s dissertation shed light on multituberculates, an extinct group of rodent-like mammals, revealing unexpected behavioral and reproductive diversity.
After completing his Ph.D. in the summer of 2021, Luke joined the University of Michigan as an NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellow, working with Catherine Badgley and other experts to explore how mountain building influenced mammalian diversification during the Cretaceous. Last fall, Luke accepted an Assistant Professor position in the Department of Earth Sciences at Kent State University. However, the opportunity to return to U-M was too compelling to pass up. We are delighted that Luke will join UMMP and the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences as an Assistant Curator and Assistant Professor in fall 2024.
Luke’s new lab at UMMP will focus on the evolution of mammals during the Mesozoic and early Cenozoic eras. Joining him are Anna Wisniewski (postdoc), Athena Vohs (Master’s student), Rory Sweedler (Ph.D. student), Jared Shiffert (Ph.D. student), and numerous undergraduate collaborators engaged in both field and lab research.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Luke and his wife, Chloe, are avid live music enthusiasts, particularly of jam bands like Phish, with frequent visits to venues like the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor. As a native of the Denver area, Luke is a devoted fan of the Colorado Broncos, Nuggets, and Avalanche, though he has also developed a deep affection for Michigan’s football, basketball, and hockey teams. When not attending concerts or sports events, Luke enjoys culinary adventures in the kitchen and outdoor activities.
This summer, Luke and Chloe celebrated the arrival of their first child, a baby boy named Nile. With a summer birthday, Nile is set to experience the thrill of birthdays in the field, starting with Wyoming.
Please join us in welcoming Luke Weaver to the UMMP community, where his expertise and enthusiasm will undoubtedly contribute to our continued success and growth.
