Tim Cleland Master's student North Carolina State University Department of Marine, Earth, Atmospheric Sciences Chair:  Dr. Mary Schweitzer CoChair: Dr. Julia Clarke

I received my B.S. in Geology from Colorado State University in 2007. My undergraduate research centered on stable isotopes of a Middle Jurassic sedimentary sequence. I continue studies in analytical chemistry and methods development to apply to my thesis research project, which is to  chemically characterize the iron-bearing concretion purported to be the ‘heart’ of the hypsilophodontid dinosaur known as “Willo”.  While CT data detailed in the original publications showed an internal morphology generally similar to vertebrate hearts, more data is needed to either support or reject this hypothesis.  If my studies show chemical and histological features consistent with this structure deriving from the original heart of the dinosaur, I am interested in why this specimen, along with others, shows such exquisite preservation.