If you are a student at St. Mary's College of Maryland and are interested in collaborating or just want to learn more about my work, please reach out to me at vjperez@smcm.edu! The topics outlined below are my main focus, but I am always open to new project ideas.
Primary Research Topics:
Evolution & Ecology of Sharks and Rays
Integration of Artificial Intelligence & Paleontology
Active Geologic Processes along Calvert Cliffs
Evolution & Ecology of Sharks and Rays
Shark and ray teeth are the most abundant vertebrate fossils on the planet. These fossils tell tales of the ancient communities that led to our modern marine ecosystems. My primary research aims to document these ancient communities and interpret the mechanisms that drove their evolution and extinction. I employ methods from biology, geology, chemistry, mathematics, and computer science to answer a wide range of research questions (see my past publications). I am actively involved in projects all over the world, but I am predominantly focused on the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains of the eastern United States.
Integration of Artificial Intelligence & Paleontology
Artificial Intelligence is rapidly evolving and being leveraged in every industry to accomplish new tasks and answer new questions. As this technology advances, it is becoming increasingly accessible for anyone to use. I explore free tools for developing machine learning models (e.g., Google's Teachable Machine and Roboflow) to assess their viability for use in classroom education. As part of an ongoing NSF ITEST grant, I am collaborating with faculty at the University of Florida to develop a curriculum for middle school teachers that integrates paleontology and AI. Through this curriculum, teachers and students create machine learning models capable of identifying fossil shark teeth. In addition to the education-focused research, I am also exploring how to optimize paleontological datasets for more advanced machine learning applications.
*Watermarked photos are by Jeff Gage, Florida Museum.
Active Geologic Processes along Calvert Cliffs
The geology and hydrology along the Calvert Cliffs drives active oxide mineralization. As water passes through the upper orange, sandy layers, transitional metals such as iron and manganese are leached out. Mineral-saturated fluids accumulate upon contact with the lower silt and clay beds, allowing for the formation of oxide minerals and ironstone. This active geologic process impacts fossil preservation, cliff erosion, and modern coastal habitats. My research aims to document these processes and their varied consequences. Preliminary chemical analyses have revealed a wide variety of iron and manganese oxide minerals. A major question that remains is the potential role of microbial mediation during oxide mineralization. These geologic processes may even serve as an analog for understanding geologic processes on Mars.
