In a nutshell: I like fossils. But even more than than that, I like arguments about fossils. Which is why my current occupation as a PhD researcher in paleontology suits me well.

My research is nominally on the Eramosa formation of Ontario, Canada, but at present is more concerned with the problems of reconstructing fossil animals based on their remains. Along with my colleagues at the University of Leicester, UK, I look at bits of dead fish in various states of decay to see if our preconceptions of what fossil animals look like is really true. Interesting, but decidedly smelly.