Douglas Erwin

BIOGRAPHY

CURRENT POSITION:
Senior Scientist and Curator of Paleozoic Invertebrates, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution Chair of Faculty (from 1 July 2011) and Professor, Santa Fe Institute

EDUCATION:
• PhD University of California, Santa Barbara, 1985
• AB Colgate University, 1980

HONORS:
• Charles Schuchert Award, Paleontological Society, 1996
• Overseas Visiting Scholar, St John's College, Cambridge University, Lent Term

COMMITTEES:
• NSF: GEO Division Advisory Committee, 2009-2011

AFFILIATIONS:
• Associate, Earth Systems History Program, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research
• Part-Time Resident Faculty, Santa Fe Institute and Chair, Science Steering Committee
• Honorary member, Academic Committee, Laboratory of Earth Surface System (China University Geosciences), PR China

RESEARCH INTERESTS:
Most of my current research focuses on major evolutionary transitions and evolutionary innovation. I am currently attempting to understand both the role of developmental invention in generating novel morphologies and how new niches are constructed to facilitate the persistence of these new inventions. Much of my work has focused on the events of the early radiation of animals about 540 million years ago, but I am beginning to look at other events as well.

HOME PAGE
http://paleobiology.si.edu/staff/individuals/erwinD.cfm