Fossil Preparators
James Holstein
Fossil Preparator
The Field Museum
James Holstein is a Preparator of Fossil Vertebrates in The Field Museum's Geology Department. He also acts as Dr. Grande's crew chief on the Green River digs and supervises the "Stones and Bones" students as well. Jim has conducted fieldwork in Nevada and Wyoming with Field Museum paleontologists Dr. Olivier Rieppel and Dr. Peter Makovicky respectively. He has also worked in and around Kenya's Tsavo National Park with archaeologist Chap Kusimba. The 2008 expedition is Jim's eighth field season at Lance's Lewis Ranch site.
Akiko Shinya
Chief Fossil Preparator
The Field Museum
Akiko Shinya is Chief Preparator in The Field Museum's Geology Department. She has prepared fossils of all kinds of creatures—amphibians, dinosaurs, marine reptiles, and synapsids, and of course, fishes from the Green River Formation—and has participated in many fossil digs both for The Field and the University of Toronto. On this trip, she brought her long experience in fossil excavation and also served as the team's videographer and photographer.
Mike Eklund
Geology Volunteer
The Field Museum
Mike Eklund has been a volunteer fossil preparator in the Department of Geology at The Field Museum, and part of the Green River team, for five years. He and his family have long been interested in geology and collecting fossils. Mike is the team's "gadget guy," bringing along nifty new tools to help in the excavation, as well as toys for the crew to play with in their off time, such as foil kites and telescopes.
Brian Morrill
Geology Volunteer
The Field Museum
Brian Morrill has been a Field Museum volunteer in paleontology for seven years, and a regular member of Dr. Grande's team for more than five seasons. Brian can wield a rock hammer with the best of them, and is a great mentor to the students.
Debbie Wagner
Fossil Preparator
The Field Museum
Debbie Wagner has been a staff preparator in The Field Museum's paleo labs for five years, following several years as a volunteer. She has a degree in biochemistry, and a strong interest in fossil vertebrates. On the 2008 expedition, her fourth trip as part of Dr. Grande's team, Debbie excavated fossils and mentored the "Stones and Bones" students.
