Tiffany Slater

I am a palaeobiologist interested in the preservation of ancient biomolecules. I use an experimental approach to investigate whether different biomolecules, such as pigments and proteins, can survive fossilisation and which chemical techniques are appropriate for their detection (e.g., Raman, FTIR and XANES spectroscopy, immunohistochemistry, etc.).

07/2022–present Postdoctoral Research Associate University College Cork, Ireland

Project: Investigating the chemical preservation of fossil integumentary structures (funded by the European Research Council (ERC))

07/2017–2022 PhD Candidate University College Cork, Ireland

Project: Investigating the physical and chemical preservation of fossil feathers (funded by the ERC)

06/2016–07/2016 Research intern University of Vienna, Austria

Project: Examining intrarelationships of extant and extinct bullhead sharks (Heterodontiformes) (funded by the Palaeontological Association)

06–09/2015 Research intern University of Bristol, UK

Project: Analysing ecological and evolutionary change throughout the Rhaetian (Late Triassic)

01–05/2014 Research intern University of Cincinnati, USA

Project: Mapping craniofacial changes in the blind Mexican cavefish

2017–2022 PhD Geology (awarded with no corrections) University College Cork, Ireland

Thesis: “The taphonomy of feathers” (Supervisor: Prof. Maria McNamara)

2014–2017 BSc Biological Sciences (Hons; 1st class) University of Worcester, UK

Thesis: “Sharks with question marks – impacts of a new fossil on interrelationships of early bullhead sharks” (Supervisors: Dr Kate Ashbrook, Prof. Jürgen Kriwet)

2013–2014 Undergraduate study in Biological Sciences University of Cincinnati, USA

2010–2013 Undergraduate study in Liberal Arts and Sciences Northern Kentucky University, USA