In late October, the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (SVP) held an annual meeting in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In attendance and presenting a poster on the start of Ph.D. research on macroevolutionary transitions in Neogene horses, was graduate student Stephanie Killingsworth. This trip marked her second opportunity presenting at SVP. She remarked, “Poster presentations in this type of setting with experts from a variety of paleontological areas of interest can lead to engaging conversation, thought, and ideas. This experience was just what I needed at the start of my Ph.D. research. I left the conference with an improved ability to communicate my ideas as well as several new contacts”.

From the poster interactions, Killingsworth spoke with both horse experts and an expert in machine learning algorithms. They provided positive feedback on the preliminary methods and design of her project. These interactions would not be possible without the generous gift provided by the FLMNH Department of Natural History and the Louis C. and Jane Gapenski Endowment.

Killingsworth Travel Photo

Stephanie Killingsworth is a graduate student pursuing a Ph.D. through the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Department of Geological Sciences, advised by Dr. Bruce Macfadden, Founding Director of the Thompson Earth Systems Institute and Distinguished Professor here at the Florida Museum. 

The 2024 Fall Student Travel Awards are supported by the FLMNH Department of Natural History, including funds from the Louis C. and Jane Gapenski Endowed Fellowship and the B.J. and Eve Wilder Endowment. If you would like to help support this fund for future student awards, please go to:

Louis C. and Jane Gapenski Endowed Fellowship
B.J. and Eve Wilder Endowment