The National Science Foundation awarded a $205,877 Project Grant under the Geosciences program (CFDA 47.050) to The Research Foundation For The State University Of New York, doing business as Stony Brook University. The grant, awarded on November 1, 2024, supports a collaborative research project to study the effects of climate change on mammalian functional diversity during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum period using a high-resolution fossil record and novel AI workflows. The project aims to generate rich 3D datasets from micro-CT scans of mammalian fossils and develop new AI tools to rapidly analyze functional diversity metrics, such as molar dental topography, tarsal facet curvature, and distal phalanx measurements. This research seeks to elucidate the relationship between mammalian functional diversity, floral composition, and abiotic factors like temperature. The project also includes educational components to recruit and train undergraduate students in STEM research and implement a fieldwork education program for the next generation of paleontologists.
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