B.S. Communicative Disorders, Utah State University, 1977

Certificate, Secondary Education/ Broadfield Science, Montana State University, 1988

PhD, Biology, Montana State University, 1995

TEACHING AND RESEARCH AREAS

Molecular Paleontology: Preservation and detection of original molecular fragments in well preserved fossil specimens

Molecular diagenesis and taphonomy: The examination of exceptionally well preserved fossils-those with soft tissues, color patterns, or original hard-part mineralogy or molecular signals preserved. Why are they preserved that way, and what are the biogeochemical conditions that led to such preservation?

Evolution of physiological and reproductive strategies in dinosaurs and their bird descendants. Were dinosaurs warm-blooded, cold-blooded or something in-between?

Astrobiology: Can we use the tools of molecular paleontology to detect biomarkers not only in fossils but also in extraterrestrial samples? Did life never evolve on other planets? Did it evolve then go extinct? Or is it thriving now?

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:

Asara JM, Garavelli JS, Slatter DA, Schweitzer MH, Freimark LM, Phillips M, Cantley LC   2007.  Interpreting sequences from mastodon and T. rex.  Science 317:325.

Suo Z, Avci R, Schweitzer MH, Deliorman M.  2007.  Porphyrin as an ideal biomarker in the search for extraterrestrial life.  ASTROBIOLOGY J. 7(4):605-615.

Schweitzer MH, Suo Z, Avci R, Asara JM, Allen MA, Teran Arce F, Horner JR.  2007.  Analyses of soft tissue from Tyrannosaurus rex suggest the presence of protein.  Science 316: 277-280.

Asara JM, Schweitzer MH, Phillips MP, Freimark LM, Cantley LC. 2007.   Protein sequences from mastodon (Mammut americanum) and dinosaur (Tyrannosaurus rex) revealed by mass spectrometry.  SCIENCE 316:280-284.

Schweitzer MH, Elsey RM, Dacke CG, Horner JR, Lamm ET. 2007. Do Egglaying Crocodilian  (Alligator mississippiensis) Archosaurs Form Medullary Bone?  Bone, 40:1152-1158.

Schweitzer MH, Wittmeyer JL, Horner JR.  2007.  Soft tissue and cellular preservation in vertebrate skeletal elements from the Cretaceous to the present.  Proc. R. Soc. Lond. B. 274:183-187.