the elevation Science institute Staff
Every member of our exceptional, experienced staff is dedicated to, and personally invested in, fulfilling the Elevation Science’s mission. We have worked together as both a team and as a family for several years, building the organization into what it is today.
We believe that science is an adventure!
Jason P. Schein
Executive Director
Jason Schein is a paleontologist who founded Elevation Science Institute (formerly known as the Bighorn Basin Paleontological Institute) in 2017 and the organization has thrived under his leadership ever since. In his extensive professional experience, including ten years as Assistant Curator of Natural History at the New Jersey State Museum, he has developed a diverse slate of engaging educational programming in the fields of natural history, geology, and paleontology for audiences of all ages, specializing in creating unique, hands-on experiences to help people experience the power of science.
His scientific research projects have led him across the globe, from Alabama to Montana and even to Argentinian Patagonia, to study an array of fascinating creatures, including modern echinoderms, ancient foraminifera, fish and turtles, mosasaurs, and of course dinosaurs! Jason’s love of our planet’s history continually leads him to explore a vast range of subjects, including Mesozoic (primarily Jurassic and Cretaceous) vertebrate marine and terrestrial faunas, paleoecology, paleobiogeography, faunistics, taphonomy, biostratigraphy, functional morphology, sedimentology, and general natural history.
Jason is also a writer, Master Naturalist (Montana), and outdoorsman. When he isn’t working, you can find Jason exploring his current city, Philadelphia, or hiking, hunting, fishing, and generally sharing his love of the natural world with his family.
Read more about Jason Schein’s background, research, and professional experience.
JSchein(at)ElevationScience.org
Devon Francis
Director of Development
(she/her)
Devon Francis is the Director of Development at Elevation Science Institute, where she leverages her extensive background in marketing, program development and fundraising to advance paleontology and geosciences education and community engagement. With a passion for connecting people to the wonders of science, Devon spearheads initiatives that bring hands-on scientific experiences to the public. Her expertise in building strategic partnerships and securing funding is pivotal in supporting Elevation Science’s mission to inspire curiosity and a love for natural history in people of all ages.
Please contact Devon today to discover how you can support Elevation Science in making amazing experiences in paleontology and natural history accessible and exciting for everyone.
DFrancis(at)ElevationScience.org
Katie Hunt
Manager, Paleo Prep Lab
(she/her)
Katie Hunt came to Elevation Science Institute from The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, where she worked as a fossil preparator puzzling together fossils from the Jurassic Morrison and Cretaceous Hell Creek formations. Prior to her experience in the paleo lab, Katie was a museum educator who wore many hats. She managed a museum-based Out-of-School Time program for K-12th grade students, designing and leading hands-on STEAM activities and project-based learning experiences. Museum education is her passion, and she thrives on meeting with the public and sharing her love of science!
Before making her way to paleontology, Katie focused her research on archaeology and studied the Paleoindian time period and human interactions with Ice Age megafauna. She honed her excavation skills at Big Bone Lick State Park with the University of Cincinnati, then went on to Northern Arizona University where she worked in a zooarchaeology lab contributing to research on fauna of all sizes from across the Southwest.
Katie lives in Cincinnati with her husband, Evan, and her cats, Shrimp and Crabcake. She is digging in on tons of fossils excavated in prior years by Elevation Science Institute’s crew; you can observe Katie and volunteers preparing fossils at the Paleo Prep Lab in the Dinosaur Hall of the Cincinnati Museum Center, so be sure to follow her at @katewhoexcavates on Instagram for sneak peeks of lab projects and cat photos!
Check out Katie’s curriculum vitae here.
KHunt(at)ElevationScience.org
Image by A. Armagno
Skye Walker
Field Technician, Science Communication Manager
(she/her)
Skye Walker is a field paleontologist and science communicator, where she combines her love for paleontology with public outreach. She joined the team in 2022, fulfilling her childhood dream of digging up dinosaurs. Skye holds a B.S. in Geology from Auburn University and has extensive experience in fossil preparation and museum collections. Throughout her career, she has worked with a variety of prehistoric creatures, including marine reptiles, sharks, ammonites, and dinosaurs, gaining hands-on expertise in both lab work and field expeditions.
In addition to fieldwork, Skye is passionate about sharing the excitement of scientific discovery through public engagement. She conducts various outreach programs across the globe and is active in leading initiatives that make science accessible to all. During the field season, Skye documents the excavation process and engages with the community through social media, where she shares updates and behind-the-scenes looks at new discoveries (and the occasional shenanigans).
When she’s not out in the field or keeping up with the latest research, you can usually find her at home with a fantasy novel, tending to her plants, or spending time with family. Read more about Skye’s background and professional experience here.
Follow her @thedinomancer on most socials for extra dinosaur content, outreach programs, and field season fun!
SWalker(at)ElevationScience.org
Image by S. Walker
Jason C. Poole
Field Expedition Crew Chief, Paleontological Anatomy Specialist, Educator
(he/him)
Jason Poole is the Elevation Science Institute’s Fossil Preparation Consultant, Field Crew Chief, and resident Paleo-artist, and has helped lead our annual Field Expeditions since Elevation Science Institute’s founding. Jason was the Manager of Dinosaur Hall and head Fossil Preparator at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia for 27 years. It is here that he honed his teaching skills, developing and leading countless natural history and live animal classes, and eventually became an Adjunct Professor for Drexel University, teaching Dinosaurs and Their World.
Jason provides expertise in many diverse fields to the Elevation Science Institute. He was educated at the Antonelli Institute of Commercial Art and Photography. His art has been featured in numerous publications, including National Geographic, as well as several documentaries and scientific publications. His teaching, art, and scientific interests have led him around the globe, from Patagonia to Egypt and Mongolia, and gave him the opportunity to work on three dinosaurs that were new to science: Paralititan, Dreadnoughtus, and Suuwassea.
Jason was born and raised in Philadelphia but has relocated to Montana, where he primarily teaches art throughout the off season. If you’re in the Missoula, MT area, visit Jason at the Montana Natural History Center as he prepares Allosaurus fossils! You can read more about Jason Poole’s background, research, and professional experience.
JPoole(at)ElevationScience.org
Dr. Richard Schmidt
Director of Educational Programming
(he/him)
Dr. Rick Schmidt studied education and geoscience from Penn State University, and eventually earned an Ed.D. from Drexel University. He has excelled in his career, becoming a nationally renowned innovator and leader in the field of geoscience education. He has taught in the Upper Dublin School District in suburban Philadelphia for more than 20 years, and has been a leader within the Elevation Science Institute's field teams since 2013. Dr. Schmidt is also the primary professor for our GEOL 491 Field Paleontology course.
Read more about Rick here.
RSchmidt(at)ElevationScience.org
Image by J. Bugos
Daniel R. Dunfee
Field Technician
(he/him)
Daniel Dunfee is a returning member of Elevation Science’s field crew, starting out as a 2022 intern and rejoining the team in 2023 as a field technician. He graduated in 2022 from the Honors Tutorial College of Ohio University with a degree in Geological Sciences, a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, and a minor in paleontology. He worked on his undergraduate honors thesis in WitmerLab under the mentorship of Dr. Lawrence Witmer, and used complex 3D visualization software to study the change with growth in the skulls of a small herbivorous dinosaur from the Late Jurassic Morrison Formation of Utah called Dryosaurus elderae. He is currently completing a master’s program in Geological Sciences at Ohio University, expanding on his undergraduate work on Dryosaurus elderae in WitmerLab.
When not in the lab, Daniel enjoys spending time with his wife and cats, reading fantasy, playing video games, hiking, fishing, fossil hunting, and all things outdoors.
Read more about Daniel’s experience here.
Photo by S. Walker
Peter Rhynard
2024 Field Intern
(he/him)
Peter Rhynard grew up searching for critters in the woods and hunting for fossils in the Ordovician rocks of Dayton, Ohio. His love for natural history led him to Ohio University, where he is pursuing a B.S. in Biological Sciences with minors in Paleontology, Geology, and Museum Studies. Under the guidance of Dr. Lawrence Witmer, his undergraduate research is focused on using computed tomography (CT) data to reconstruct the skull of the notorious Allosaurus jimmadseni specimen Big Al (MOR 693). Outside of paleontology, he has worked with wild reptiles of the Chesapeake Bay at the Poplar Island Environmental Restoration Project (PIERP) and contributed to exhibit design with Ohio University’s Department of Geological Sciences and the Kennedy Museum of Art.
When he’s not working on one of his many projects, you can find Peter performing with his band Sunday Creek, backpacking somewhere in the wilderness, or making art with his friends.
For updates on Peter’s ecological escapades, follow him on Instagram at @goopaleo.
Shion Newsom
2024 Field Intern
(she/her)
Shion Newsom, an undergraduate student at the University of Florida, is currently pursuing a B.S. in Geology and a B.A. in Biology with a minor in Japanese Language. Her fascination with paleontology was sparked by her discovery of marine fossils in her elementary school’s playground and exploration of the Peace River in Florida. She also frequently travels to Japan, where she visits museums and fossil-rich quarries. At the University of Florida, Shion volunteers for the Department of Vertebrate Paleontology prepping fossils in the lab and excavating fossils at the Montbrook dig site. In the past, under the guidance of Dr. Richard Hulbert, she has worked on turtles, specifically the genus Trachemys, which are well known at the Montbrook site. Currently, she is researching samples of crocodyliform teeth from Bogotá, Colombia, under the guidance of Dr. Jonathan I. Bloch.
Beyond her academic pursuits, Shion enjoys crocheting and drawing, as well as outdoor activities like hiking through the wilderness, kayaking, and rock climbing.
Image by S. Walker