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Zoology Department

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Courtney Scheskie, Business Support Specialist

303-370-6334

[email protected]

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Studying the planet’s biodiversity

The Zoology Department is focused on providing a better understanding of the planet’s biodiversity through an active program of scientific research, collections growth, curation, and outreach. Research activities and the scope of the zoology collections span the globe, but the primary focus is on Western North America. Research spans a multitude of disciplines, including evolutionary biology, basic natural history, ecology, morphology, phylogenetics, taxonomy, systematics, biogeography, physiology, parasitology, genomics, and even paleontology.  Major taxonomic groups studied include arachnids, insects, birds, marine invertebrates, and mammals. Staff are also charged with building and enhancing the research collections they oversee to support the broader scientific community and contribute to the public good.

Zoology Collections

Vertebrate Prep Lab

The Genetics Lab

Featured Projects

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Staff

John R. Demboski, PhD

Senior Curator of Mammals and Director of Zoology and Health Sciences

Paula E. Cushing, PhD

Senior Curator of Invertebrate Zoology

Frank-Thorsten Krell, PhD

Senior Curator of Entomology

Garth M. Spellman, PhD

Associate Curator of Ornithology

Jeffrey T. Stephenson

Zoology Collections Manager

Andrew Doll, MS

Zoology Assistant Collections Manager

Andrea (Andie) Carrillo

Zoology Preparator

Erika Garcia, MS

Research Assistant

(Richard) Ryan Jones

Research Assistant

Tiffany Nuessle, MA

Research Manager in the Genetics Lab

Courtney J. Scheskie, MA

Business Support Specialist

History of Zoology

The Zoology Department has its roots in the 1859 gold rush. Edwin Carter came to Colorado to find his fortune, but instead followed his true passion and collected the birds and mammals of the Rocky Mountain region. In his log cabin in Breckinridge, he amassed one of the most complete assemblages of Colorado fauna from that time. This collection of bird eggs, study skins, and bird and mammal taxidermy mounts was not only the original foundation of the Museum’s zoological collections but was the catalyst for the formation of the Museum itself in 1900. From 1911 onward, successive curators continued to expand the Museum's collections and exhibits through local and far-flung expeditions. In the last 20 years, Zoology’s staffing level has increased and collections now stand at well over 1.27 million. You can read more about the history of the department here (Stephenson, et al. 2013).

Outreach

The Zoology Departments engages with the public by presenting scientific findings in an exciting and accessible format, including exhibit content support, Museum programming, lectures, workshops, media opportunities, mentoring students and interns, and opening up the zoology collections to the public. They also maintain important collaborations and partnerships with regional institutions, such as the Denver Zoo, The Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, Butterfly Pavilion, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, USFWS, and colleagues at museums and universities.

Service

Zoology Department staff are members of various professional scientific organizations, including the International Commission of Zoological Nomenclature, American Society of Mammalogy, American Arachnological Society, American Ornithological Society, Natural Science Collections Alliance, Entomological Society of America, Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections, Society for the Study of Evolution, and many others. Many Zoology staff serve or have served in leadership or board member roles in these organizations, and also advise and serve on committees of graduate students from various universities and serve as editors or reviewers for scientific journals.

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