People
Interested in joining the UMZM team? Check out our opportunities page to learn more!
Curator
Angela Hornsby, Ph.D.
Angela joined the UMZM as Curator in July 2019, after completing her Ph.D. at the University of Nevada, Reno. Her primary areas of interest are small mammal biogeography and evolution, with emphasis on North American woodrats (Neotoma).
Graduate Curatorial Assistants
Erin Keller
Erin is a M.S. student in Biological Sciences. She works with Bret Tobalske in the Flight Lab, studying the mechanics of bird flight. An experienced small bird specimen preparator, Erin is working regularly in the prep lab to expand her skills to mammals and larger birds.
Graslie Curiosity Interns
Oren Jaffe, Spring 2022
Oren is a Natural History major in his junior year. With interests spanning science and art, Oren has taken inspiration from the idea of investigating different methods for sizing up tiny skulls (like shrews and bats) to a size that you can hold in your hand, investigate, and more easily compare to other skulls to understand the details of evolution and taxonomic identification. Oren is working in both sculpture and 3D imaging to bring his work to life.
Kyle Wonders, Spring 2022
Kyle is a Wildlife Biology major in his sophomore year, and is enthusiastic about bringing science education to kids and the public. Kyle is inspired by the task of creating an outreach module centered around understanding the evolution of key skull features, centered on the idea of taking size out of the equation—shrinking big skulls like bear and elk, and blowing up tiny skulls like shrew and bat, all to the same hand-held size through scanning and 3D printing.
Volunteers
Larry DePute
Larry has been a dedicated volunteer in the UMZM since 2015. As a retired medical professional, his specialty of articulating bird skeletons for display developed from a lifelong love of birding and wildlife biology. His handiwork can be seen throughout Missoula, including on the UM campus and at the Montana Natural History Center. If the prep lab is open and you see someone scrutinizing a pile of bird bones, pop in and say hello to Larry!
Faculty Director
Jeff Good, Ph.D.
Jeff is an Associate Professor in Biological Sciences and the Wildlife Biology program. His research focuses on speciation, population genetics, comparative evolutionary genomics, and the evolution of mammalian reproduction, with frequent collection and use of museum specimens.