Project Grant 2422838

Award Date 11/1/24
Completion Date 10/31/27
Dollars Obligated $372K
Federal Grant Program
47.050
Assistance Type
Project Grant
Place of Performance
Aurora, CO 80045, USA
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  • Generating 3D datasets from micro-CT scans of mammalian fossils to characterize functional diversity metrics such as molar dental topography, tarsal facet curvature, and distal phalange measurements
  • Developing new, publicly-available AI tools to rapidly isolate, segment, and crop 3D fossil surfaces for functional analysis
  • Analyzing changes in mammalian functional diversity before, during, and after the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) to elucidate the relationship between mammal functions, floral composition, and abiotic factors like temperature
  • Recruiting undergraduate students for STEM research training and implementing a fieldwork education program to train the next generation of paleontologists

The project is being led by the University of Colorado-Denver, a major public research university with extensive federal research capabilities.

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