iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Evan Johnson-Ransom @ejrpaleo.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

The skulls of #Spinosaurus, #Tyrannosaurus (FMNH PR 2081) and #Giganotosaurus. Three large theropods which have been integral to my thesis. Big thank you to Vitamin Imagination and Eric Duan for help with the Giga and T.rex models. #FossilFriday #Dinosaurs #Paleontology

03011

Reposted by Evan Johnson-Ransom

Andy Farke @andyfarke.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

I'm seeing a lot of statements that universities are inherently risky as parent organizations for museums, or that universities are inherently bad as parent organizations. Please don't forget that stand-alone and government-funded museums have a HUGE share of problems and risks, too!

13511

Evan Johnson-Ransom @ejrpaleo.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Just got the confirmation date of my SVP poster presentation. Come see me on Wednesday (11/11) as I talk about spinosaurids in comparison to other theropods and extant archosaurs. #FossilFriday #Spinosaurus #Dinosaurs #Paleontology

0164

Evan Johnson-Ransom @ejrpaleo.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Working on an upcoming presentation and I thought I’d highlight my two favorite theropods #Tyrannosaurus and #Spinosaurus for #FossilFriday, along with fantastic artwork by @rextooth.bsky.social. #Dinosaurs #Paleontology

0134

Evan Johnson-Ransom @ejrpaleo.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Been working on a range of motion study with Alexandre Fonseca for #FossilFriday. Really enjoying the sense of scale with the head and neck of #Suchomimus, #Tyrannosaurus, and #Spinosaurus. #Dinosaurs #Paleontology

1168

Evan Johnson-Ransom @ejrpaleo.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

SVP poster accepted. Looking forward to talking about how bizarre and unique spinosaurids are compared to other theropods and other extant animals. 😉 #Spinosaurus #Dinosaurs #Paleontology #SVP2026 #2026SVP

0184

Reposted by Evan Johnson-Ransom

Prosanta Chakrabarty @prosanta.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Y'all - the Smithsonian is hiring three new curators - herpetology, ichthyology, and ornithology! Notably, this is a 2nd fish curator position - i.e., not the same as the one advertised last month. So if you applied for that one apply again. www.usajobs.gov/job/873849000

Curator of Vertebrates

Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History currently has openings for three early-career Research Curators in Vertebrate Zoology, one each from the disciplines of ornithology, herpetology and ichthyology. The Department of Vertebrate Zoology seeks candidates with demonstrated expertise in, and a commitment to, collections-based research centered on systematics and evolution of birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes. This includes the ability to pursue an original approach to systematics and comparative analyses using, for example, morphology, development, and/or molecular data, and showing evidence of broader impacts or applications in evolutionary biology and/or collections-based ecology, as demonstrated by a record of peer-reviewed publications.

Candidates must have demonstrated the ability to establish an externally funded research program and to contribute to the growth and curation of the collections. Research in the Department is supported by the Museum’s shared laboratories, including the Laboratory of Analytic Biology and the Scientific Imaging facility, among others. The Department’s scientific collections are the largest in the world for fishes, amphibians, and reptiles, and the third largest for birds.

These federal positions will be filled at the GS-12 level, with a starting salary of $102,415, and excellent benefits. The positions are permanent and require a one-year probationary period.

The official announcement is posted on USAJOBS, where applications must be submitted.
https://www.usajobs.gov/job/873849000

Please be sure to read the announcement and instructions carefully, as the process of applying via USAJOBS is stringent and differs from applying for an academic position. This website offers helpful advice: https://serc.si.edu/careers/tips-applying-federal-jobs

Please contact the Search Committee Chair, Michael McGowen (mcgowenm@si.edu) or the Department Chair, Helen James (jamesh@si.edu) with any questions.

4164149

Evan Johnson-Ransom @ejrpaleo.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

In 2022, I was a summer fellow at the @NMNH. I was interested in scanning some of the theropods on display and in collections. For #FossilFriday, here are the skulls of Allosaurus (USNM 4734) & Tyrannosaurus (USNM 555000). #Dinosaurs #Paleontology

1284

Evan Johnson-Ransom @ejrpaleo.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Tyrannosaurus (Scotty) and Carcharodontosaurus models were made by Ulises Jose Sosa. Postosuchus skull was downloaded from the supplementary data of @johnrhutchinson.bsky.social et al. (2026). Spinosaurus mirabilis skull from the Sereno Fossil Lab.

170

Evan Johnson-Ransom @ejrpaleo.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

For #FossilFriday, I thought I’d show off the skulls of #Postosuchus along with #Tyrannosaurus, #Spinosaurus mirabilis, and #Carcharodontosaurus. Unlike living crocodylians, Postosuchcus’ skull is relatively tall like that of a theropod 🤔. #Dinosaurs #Paleontology

16519

Evan Johnson-Ransom @ejrpaleo.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

Big thank you to Alexandre Fonseca and Ulises Jose Sosa for digitally processing & helping with articulating the cervicals of #Spinosaurus, #Suchomimus, and #Tyrannosaurus for a range of motion study. #Theropods #Dinosaurs #Paleontology #FossilFriday

1226

Reposted by Evan Johnson-Ransom

Thomas R. Holtz, Jr. @arctomet.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

Paleontology and Pokemon - with Dr. Thomas Holtz youtu.be/SxtMg-l2Jis?...

youtu.be

Paleontology and Pokemon - with Dr. Thomas Holtz

YouTube video by Sombraptor

02210

Evan Johnson-Ransom @ejrpaleo.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

It’s a mix between the holotype and new material that was recovered. The new skull was featured in the Spinosaurus mirabilis paper.

140

Evan Johnson-Ransom @ejrpaleo.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

Articulated #Suchomimus skull and neck. Suchomimus was a massive spinosaurid from West Africa. The elongated jaws and hypertrophied neck suggest it would have engaged in rapid movements of the head and neck. Perfect for capturing fish. #FossilFriday #Dinosaurs #Paleontology

111733

Evan Johnson-Ransom @ejrpaleo.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

Oh wow. SVP will be in Chicago next year.

1175

Evan Johnson-Ransom @ejrpaleo.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

We did a series of measurments on Spinosaurids (head, neck, and leg) and we found them closer in morphology to shorebirds. This suggests they would have frequented in terrestrial or aquatic environments and likely waded near bodies of water, as opposed to being quadrupedal.

041

Evan Johnson-Ransom @ejrpaleo.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

Something big is happening at the Sereno Fossil Lab. Stay tuned for tomorrow. #Dinosaurs #Paleontology

3154

Evan Johnson-Ransom @ejrpaleo.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

I would like to thank my coauthors @eric-snively.bsky.social, Danny Barta, Paul Gignac, Ryan Felice for their collective effort in this research project, the advice and feedback of @histo-holly.bsky.social and paleo students/staff of OSUMedicine, the reviewers and @anatrecord.bsky.social.

094

Evan Johnson-Ransom @ejrpaleo.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

The phylogenetic results show that the groups Tyrannosauroidea, Abelisauridae, and Allosauroidea have relatively lower cranial stress magnitudes than megalosauroids and maniraptoriformes.

151

Evan Johnson-Ransom @ejrpaleo.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

Upon examining the compressive and tensile stress of the theropod crania, we consistently see tyrannosaurs display low compressive stress when biting and low tensile stress when opening their jaws.

121

Evan Johnson-Ransom @ejrpaleo.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

Deep-snouted tyrannosauroids show lower cranial stress than the slender-snouted alioramins and small early tyrannosaurs which have high cranial stress.

141

Evan Johnson-Ransom @ejrpaleo.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

Non-tyrannosauroid coelurosaurian theropods like dromaeosaurids, compsognathids, and megaraptorans show varying cranial stress magnitudes.

141

Evan Johnson-Ransom @ejrpaleo.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

Non-tyrannosauroid theropods show varying levels of cranial stress such as short-snouted abelisaurs, allosauroids, and early theropods having low stress magnitudes and spinosaurids showing high stress magnitudes.

152

Evan Johnson-Ransom @ejrpaleo.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

When scaled at equalized cranial lengths and forces, small tyrannosauroids and medium-sized tyrannosauroids show relatively high stress that’s either comparable or lower than other similarly-sized theropods. Large deep-snouted tyrannosauroids show relatively lower stress than other large theropods.

141

Evan Johnson-Ransom @ejrpaleo.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

For the FEA analyses, we sampled areas of the crania as phylogenetic character data. We also compared the stress magnitudes in both the 2D and 3D models of #tyrannosaurs and found the results to be comparable, supporting 2D FEA’s significance.

141

Evan Johnson-Ransom @ejrpaleo.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

For this study we generated 2D models of 50+ theropods and used FEA and phylogenetic analyses to evaluate their feeding function and the evolution of feeding behavior in Theropoda.

152

Evan Johnson-Ransom @ejrpaleo.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

There have been numerous analyses investigating the feeding function of an adult #Tyrannosaurus, but there have been few analyses that broadly examined other tyrannosauroids, in addition to other non-tyrannosauroid theropods.

162

Evan Johnson-Ransom @ejrpaleo.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

For #FossilFriday I’m pleased to announce our new paper on investigating the cranial performance and evolution of feeding behavior in tyrannosauroids and other theropods. Here’s a thread on some of our major findings. #Dinosaurs #Paleontology #Tyrannosaurus #Theropods

13016

Evan Johnson-Ransom @ejrpaleo.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

I just got word that my #tyrannosaur manuscript got accepted for publication. A huge thank you to my coauthors @eric-snively.bsky.social, Danny Barta, Paul Gignac, and Ryan Felice. #FossilFriday #Dinosaurs #Paleontology #Theropods

2366

Evan Johnson-Ransom @ejrpaleo.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

Had the pleasure of seeing a variety of spinosaurs at the Fukui Dinosaur Museum. #FossilFriday #Dinosaurs #Paleontology

03411

Evan Johnson-Ransom @ejrpaleo.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

In lieu of the recent #Nanotyrannus paper, here’s a couple of photos of me at the Burpee Museum of Natural History with Jane (Nanotyrannus lethaeus) and CMNH 7541 (Nanotyrannus lancensis), along with a flesh model of Jane by @tylerkeillor.bsky.social. #FossilFriday #Dinosaurs #Paleontology

16416

Evan Johnson-Ransom @ejrpaleo.bsky.social · 23/10/2025

Just in time for Halloween. Paul Sereno and colleagues have shown off two exceptionally well-preserved #Edmontosaurus mummies from the “Mummy Zone”. #dinosaurs #paleontology

Photos by Paul Sereno & Tyler Keillor.
Photogrammetry and 3D reconstruction by Dan Vidal and Maria Ciudad Real. Artwork by Dani Navarro

1257

Evan Johnson-Ransom @ejrpaleo.bsky.social · 23/10/2025

Tune in tomorrow (1pm CT, 13:00 CDT), for an important paleo announcement from Dr. Paul Sereno (@paulserenoofficial) on Instagram. #Dinosaurs #Paleontology

050

Reposted by Evan Johnson-Ransom

Lucas Nunes @lucasjn.bsky.social · 15/10/2025

Here's a T. Rex bored to death trying to bite their own tail. My partner asked me to animate it in stop motion, after she watched a video about the very important topic of "could T. Rex chew its own tail like a dog". The puppet is still a work in progress 🦖

8455031653

Evan Johnson-Ransom @ejrpaleo.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

Three #Tyrannosaurus skulls of @SUEtheTrex of @FieldMuseum, USNM 555000 of @NMNH, and Tufts Love rex of @burkemuseum. The skull differences in these three T.rex specimens is amazing! #dinosaurs #paleontology #FossilFriday

0318

Evan Johnson-Ransom @ejrpaleo.bsky.social · 15/08/2025

Decided to do a test run on @FEBioSoftware with the adult #Tyrannosaurus of @NMNH and #Raptorex (a juvenile tyrannosaur). Baby tyrannosaurs show high skull stress and low jaw muscle forces, compared to the adult condition. #FossilFriday #Dinosaurs #Paleontology

0117

Evan Johnson-Ransom @ejrpaleo.bsky.social · 08/08/2025

I decided to get my own copy of National Geographic’s Dinosaurs with spectacular #Spinosaurus artwork by Dani Navarro. #FossilFriday #Dinosaurs #Paleontology

2268

Reposted by Evan Johnson-Ransom

Thomas R. Holtz, Jr. @arctomet.bsky.social · 04/08/2025

Andre J. Rowe & Emily J. Rayfield (2025) Carnivorous dinosaur lineages adopt different skull performances at gigantic size Current Biology 35(15): p3664-3673.e3 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

0163

Evan Johnson-Ransom @ejrpaleo.bsky.social · 26/07/2025

Got a chance to see “Teen rex”, a new #Tyrannosaurus specimen, at the @denvermuseumns.bsky.social. It is a breathtaking specimen, I might add. #FossilFriday #Dinosaurs #Paleontology

56321

Evan Johnson-Ransom @ejrpaleo.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

Special thanks to Drs. Pat O’Connor & Dave Krause for hosting me at the @denvermuseumns.bsky.social collections. I had the pleasure of measuring various #Majungasaurus specimens and it is such an amazing theropod! Skeletal mount from Stony Brook University #FossilFriday #Dinosaurs #Paleontology

1187

Evan Johnson-Ransom @ejrpaleo.bsky.social · 12/04/2025

Since this year has proven to be the year of #Spinosaurus. Here’s a fantastic reconstruction by EdenBuster. I greatly adore the colors. #theropods #paleontology #dinosaurs

1122

Evan Johnson-Ransom @ejrpaleo.bsky.social · 22/02/2025

For #SpinosaurSaturday here’s #Spinosaurus and #Tyrannosaurus with neck muscle reconstructions. For my research, I’m looking at how much force the two theropods generated with moving their heads and necks. Big thanks to Eden Buster for helping with the reconstructions. #dinosaurs #paleontology

0488

Evan Johnson-Ransom @ejrpaleo.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

Art by Dani Navarro. Figure from a 2024 paper I was on with Domenic D’Amore of @daemenuniv, @Dave_Hone, and Eric Snively of @OSUVertPaleo/@OSUMedicine. (2/2)

060

Evan Johnson-Ransom @ejrpaleo.bsky.social · 31/01/2025

For #FossilFriday I’m pleased to announce that I’ll be presenting on #spinosaur feeding at @AnatomyOrg in Portland, OR on March 29. Come learn about spinosaur head and neck movements and feeding behavior. #AnatomyConnected #Anatomy25 #dinosaurs #paleontology (1/2)

1349