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Dr. Sarah Z. Gibson, PhD

@gombessagirl.bsky.social
212 followers 198 following 68 posts

Fish Paleontologist. Lover of the Triassic. Assistant professor of Geology at St. Cloud State University. Utah native. Minnesota citizen. Mom of two!

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Reposted by Dr. Sarah Z. Gibson, PhD
Celeste Labedz @celestelabedz.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
I feel like xkcd has been getting more into geoscience the last couple of years, and I absolutely love it. Bonus text reads "the administration thinks it's weird, but the geologists say it looks normal." xkcd.com/3284/
xkcd comic #3284, which shows a building labeled "department of geology," but all of the features of the building are slightly offset along a fault running diagonally through the middle. Caption is "The administration regretted giving the geology department free reign to design their new building."
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Dr. Sarah Z. Gibson, PhD @gombessagirl.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
I am genuinely looking forward to the coming academic year. Lots of changes, lots of opportunity! However, I have enjoyed my summer break, spending hours watching my kids swim and enjoying a book poolside. A thoroughly-needed mental break!
A person reading a book poolside while kids and families swim in a pool under a sunny sky in the summer.
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Dr. Sarah Z. Gibson, PhD @gombessagirl.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
Howdy #JMIH2026 folks! Love fossils? Be sure to see my talk Saturday (July 10) at 3:30 in Grand Chernier room to hear about all sorts of cool fossils (not just fish!) from the Cretaceous of Minnesota.
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Reposted by Dr. Sarah Z. Gibson, PhD
Colorado Scientific Society @coloradoscientific.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
Join us this Thursday, May 21st at 7pm, for our 2026 Samuel F. Emmons Lecture featuring Dr. Cary Woodruff! Cary will be discussing his work on “Spicomellus: extreme armor in the world’s oldest ankylosaur" Join in-person or on Zoom
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Dr. Sarah Z. Gibson, PhD @gombessagirl.bsky.social · 09/05/2026
I am SO proud of Earth Science graduates. I cannot wait to see how they change the world! @scsualumni.bsky.social
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Dr. Sarah Z. Gibson, PhD @gombessagirl.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
Please share! We are hiring an Assistant/Associate Professor of Land Surveying and Geospatial Science at @stcloudstate.bsky.social minnstate.wd115.myworkdayjobs.com/Minnesota_St...
minnstate.wd115.myworkdayjobs.com
Assistant/Associate Professor of Land Surveying and Geospatial Science - State University Faculty
All Job Postings will close at 12:01 a.m. CT on the specified Closing Date (if designated). Working Title: Assistant/Associate Professor of Land Surveying and Geospatial Science - State University Fac...
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Reposted by Dr. Sarah Z. Gibson, PhD
Space @redditspaceviewes.bsky.social · 26/04/2026
NASA just released a breathtaking view of Antarctica
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Reposted by Dr. Sarah Z. Gibson, PhD
St. Cloud State University Alumni @scsualumni.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
Research lead author and @stcloudstate.bsky.social alum Alex Maile ’20, ’23 has collaborated with co-author Matthew Davis, a professor of biology at #SCSU, to trace the evolutionary history of anglerfishes’ lures. #OurSCSU news.ku.edu/news/article...
news.ku.edu
Research traces evolution of anglerfishes’ famed fishing-rod lures
Variously horrific- or alien-looking, many female anglerfishes sport long, protruding lures used for enticing prey or signaling during mating. Now, research from the University of Kansas is giving new...
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Dr. Sarah Z. Gibson, PhD @gombessagirl.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
Good day for research at St. Cloud State University! Today is the Student Research Colloquium. Here are highlights from the Fossil Lab and Earth Science program:
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Reposted by Dr. Sarah Z. Gibson, PhD
Clara Jeffery @clarajeffery.bsky.social · 11/04/2026
Science is good. We should fund it.
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Dr. Sarah Z. Gibson, PhD @gombessagirl.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
More exciting press for @scsualumni.bsky.social Alex Maile @anoplogaster.bsky.social and @stcloudstate.bsky.social professor Matt Davis’ work on deep-sea fishes! #teamfish
science.org
Why do anglerfish have glowing lures? It might be sex
Species proliferated after evolving bioluminescence, possibly because mates could find each other more easily
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Reposted by Dr. Sarah Z. Gibson, PhD
Alex Maile @anoplogaster.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
‼️NEW ANGLERFISH PAPER! 🐟🎣 So excited to share the final part of my Master’s research! We explore the bizarre tacklebox of anglerfish lures and show how these fishes evolved different ways to attract prey and maybe even mates in the deep sea. 🧪🦑🌊🦇🦀 Open access paper link: doi.org/10.1643/i202...
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Dr. Sarah Z. Gibson, PhD @gombessagirl.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
“Fintastic” finds from the Davis Fishes Lab at @stcloudstate.bsky.social and led by @scsualumni.bsky.social Alex Maile, currently a PhD candidate at the University of Kansas @kueebgso.bsky.social
news.ku.edu
Research traces evolution of anglerfishes’ famed fishing-rod lures
Variously horrific- or alien-looking, many female anglerfishes sport long, protruding lures used for enticing prey or signaling during mating. Now, research from the University of Kansas is giving new...
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Dr. Sarah Z. Gibson, PhD @gombessagirl.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
Congrats to @stcloudstate.bsky.social Hydrology graduate Ella Burfeind on her new position as a Water Resource Specialist! @scsualumni.bsky.social
wjon.com
Waite Park Welcomes First Full-time Water Resource Specialist Ella Burfeind
Waite Park welcomes Ella Burfeind as its first full-time Water Resource Specialist, tackling water management issues and focusing on PFAS while promoting sustainability in the community.
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Reposted by Dr. Sarah Z. Gibson, PhD
The Geological Society of America (GSA) @geosociety.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
How did smaller warming events affect marine life after the Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum? A new microfossil record from the early Eocene Equatorial Atlantic shows tropical phytoplankton remained resilient during post-PETM hyperthermals. Learn more: geosociety.co/ecosystems Image: Figure 2
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Reposted by Dr. Sarah Z. Gibson, PhD
St. Cloud State University Alumni @scsualumni.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
Congratulations to @stcloudstate.bsky.social alumna Jess Lourey ’96, ’98, ’06, who has released a new book, "The Verdant Cage." #OurSCSU #SCSUGrad #BHuskiesPROUD www.sctimes.com/story/news/2...
sctimes.com
'There's creepy stuff happening in central Minnesota,' author says
Minnesota author Jess Lourey discusses how growing up amid abductions and secrets inspires her mystery novels.
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Dr. Sarah Z. Gibson, PhD @gombessagirl.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
Hey! We did a thing!
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Reposted by Dr. Sarah Z. Gibson, PhD
Journal of Systematic Palaeontology @journalsystpal.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
For #FossilFriday have a look at the holotype of †𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙤𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙪𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙞 sp. nov., from the Eocene of Monte Bolca, Italy. Read the full study by Reichenbacher 𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘭. (2025): buff.ly/3iDP5Vl #PaleoSky #FossilFish
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Reposted by Dr. Sarah Z. Gibson, PhD
Darren Naish @tetzoo.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
Plans for the Lyme Regis Fossil Festival 2026 are now online, and it's going to be an outstanding event. I'm one of many speakers (I'm also doing a book signing and other stuff too). This year's event is June 13-14, go to.... fossilfestival.com
Brochure page showing Darren Naish talk 'Sea Monsters Past and Present' with image of the WWI 1915 U-28 sea monster and Dr Naish standing in a forest.
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Dr. Sarah Z. Gibson, PhD @gombessagirl.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
Anything that promotes more rocks in your landscaping is fine by me!
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Dr. Sarah Z. Gibson, PhD @gombessagirl.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
St. Cloud State Today did a nice write-up about my student Eryn's research of flood preparedness in Upper Midwest state parks and recreation areas. @stcloudstate.bsky.social
today.stcloudstate.edu
SCSU student honored with outstanding research poster award
Eryn Bloom has been honored for her undergraduate research on assessing flood risk in Midwest state parks and recreation areas.
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Reposted by Dr. Sarah Z. Gibson, PhD
Journal of Systematic Palaeontology @journalsystpal.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
New paper out in JSP! Cooper & Maxwell present a redescription of 𝙎𝙖𝙪𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙖 Agassiz, 1843 from the Upper Jurassic Solnhofen Archipelago (Tithonian, Germany) and the taxonomic diversity of 𝙎𝙖𝙪𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨 Agassiz, 1832 (Actinopterygii: Pachycormidae). Read here: buff.ly/uGXjDLA #PaleoSky
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Reposted by Dr. Sarah Z. Gibson, PhD
Erin E. Saupe @eesaupe.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
‼️🚨 Job Alert ‼️ 🚨 Two Post Doc Opportunities: PDRA in Macroecology / Paleobiology my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecru... PDRA in Extinction & Conservation / Paleobiology my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecru... Any questions, please get in touch! Closing date May 1st.
my.corehr.com
Job Details
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Dr. Sarah Z. Gibson, PhD @gombessagirl.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
A zombie cardinal in my yard this evening. His right eye looked completely normal. Poor fella just has some unfortunate molting issues I hope.
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Reposted by Dr. Sarah Z. Gibson, PhD
Randall Munroe @xkcd.com · 19/03/2026
Landscape Features xkcd.com/3221/
Comic. [Small panel overlaying large panel.] PERSON 1: What’s up with this weird landscape? PERSON 2 with ponytail: Oh, it was caused by… [Large panel is map of the United States with with red overlays denoting landscape phenomena. Mega-floods in the northwest, a plate tectonics speedrun on the west coast, volcanoes next to the west coast, water and time in the southwest, geology in the west, a supervolcano within the west, glaciers in the north, farming in the middle, rivers in the mideast, geology in between rivers and farming, ??? toward the northeast, farming on the east coast, continents colliding next to the east coast, ongoing disputes between limestone and water in the south of Florida, volcanoes in Hawaii, geology in Alaska with volcanoes and glaciers below.]
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Dr. Sarah Z. Gibson, PhD @gombessagirl.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
Ichnology appreciation continues in my children. This time it’s my daughter’s turn to examine deer tracks in fresh snow.
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Dr. Sarah Z. Gibson, PhD @gombessagirl.bsky.social · 17/03/2026
Very proud of my student Eryn Bloom, who presented her research at the Posters at St. Paul (P@SP) event in the Capitol Rotunda. She won a Distinguished Poster Award for presenting her work on Flood Risk Preparedness in campgrounds of the Upper Midwest. @stcloudstate.bsky.social
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Reposted by Dr. Sarah Z. Gibson, PhD
PaleoJim @paleojim.bsky.social · 17/03/2026
Nothing like Scapanorhynchus! Goblin sharks were coastal sharks in the Cretaceous in the Western Interior US and survive as deep water sharks today. @jeremybroberts.bsky.social @utahpaleo-ufop.bsky.social @paleontologizing.bsky.social @sharkscience.bsky.social Save Lebanon & Palestinians.
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Dr. Davey F. Wright ⛏️🦕🧬 @daveyfwright.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
"Fossils are another major theme in Pokémon"
nature.com
Pokémon turns 30 — how the fictional pocket monsters shaped science
The Japanese media sensation has inspired generations of researchers in fields as diverse as evolution, biodiversity and research integrity.
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Dr. Sarah Z. Gibson, PhD @gombessagirl.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
An evening stroll for our neighborhood dinosaur flock.
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Reposted by Dr. Sarah Z. Gibson, PhD
Gary McFarlane @garym6942.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
Scientists Discover Unusual Long-Legged Ancient Crocodile From 200 Million Years Ago - A new Triassic crocodylomorph from Gloucester sheds light on early crocodile evolution and pre-extinction ecosystems. scitechdaily.com/scientists-d... #Palaeontology #evolution #science #SciChat
scitechdaily.com
Scientists Discover Unusual Long-Legged Ancient Crocodile From 200 Million Years Ago
A new Triassic crocodylomorph from Gloucester sheds light on early crocodile evolution and pre-extinction ecosystems.
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Thomas R. Holtz, Jr. @arctomet.bsky.social · 25/02/2026
Makovicky, P.J., Mitchell, J.S., Meso, J.G. et al. Argentine fossil rewrites evolutionary history of a baffling dinosaur clade. Nature (2026). doi.org/10.1038/s415...
doi.org
Argentine fossil rewrites evolutionary history of a baffling dinosaur clade - Nature
A skeleton of the alvarezsauroid Alnashetri cerropoliciensis—representing a highly complete alvarezsauroid skeleton from South America—provides evidence on the evolution of the peculiar anatomy and mi...
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Daniel Dockery @dandock.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
Velociraptors are funny because people are like "They weren't actually that scary because in real life, they were about the size of a goose" and my friend, have you ever been AROUND a goose? That just makes it worse!
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Dr. Sarah Z. Gibson, PhD @gombessagirl.bsky.social · 23/02/2026
Hans Sues was a phenomenal paleontologist, and a kind person. It is nice to have known someone like him in the field. For those of you who didn't know him, enjoy listening to him talk dinosaur facts. He was a good one and will be genuinely missed.
youtu.be
Paleontologist Answers Dinosaur Questions From Twitter | Tech Support | WIRED
YouTube video by WIRED
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Reposted by Dr. Sarah Z. Gibson, PhD
Marie Enger @ LBX26 Table 409 @soengery.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
Creatures from the deepest sea
A bunch of deep sea fishes including a gulper eel and some angler fish.
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Paleontological Society @paleosoc.bsky.social · 21/02/2026
The Paleontological Society statement on recent events.
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Dr. Sarah Z. Gibson, PhD @gombessagirl.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
Thank you to @csdfacility.bsky.social for their support and assistance today as we processed four lake sediment cores for Drew O.’s senior research! Excited to see what we can learn about sedimentation in Ann Lake!
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Dr. Sarah Z. Gibson, PhD @gombessagirl.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
Spent the day at the CSD lab at the University of Minnesota processing lake cores from near Sand Dunes State Forest. Was a great opportunity to learn some new techniques!
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Dr. Sarah Z. Gibson, PhD @gombessagirl.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
My 5-year-old is a budding ichnologist. He was very proud of finding and examining this fresh squirrel trackway on the way to the bus stop this morning.
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Reposted by Dr. Sarah Z. Gibson, PhD
Thomas R. Holtz, Jr. @arctomet.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
dx.plos.org/10.1371/jour...
dx.plos.org
Retraction: A 12,800-year-old layer with cometary dust, microspherules, and platinum anomaly recorded in multiple cores from Baffin Bay
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Dr. Sarah Z. Gibson, PhD @gombessagirl.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
It’s an honor to be featured among so many great female paleoichthyologists! www.researchgate.net/publication/...
researchgate.net
(PDF) Women from the Americas and Their Contribution to Fish Paleontology
PDF | Paleontological studies have traditionally been conducted by male researchers, and the study of fossil fishes, as well as extant ones, has been no... | Find, read and cite all the research you n...
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Dr. Sarah Z. Gibson, PhD @gombessagirl.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
This was actually a great listen about the now viral Coalie and his less-nefarious origins.
podcasts.apple.com
Making Coal Cute Again
Podcast Episode · Decoder Ring · 02/11/2026 · 45m
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Dr. Sarah Z. Gibson, PhD @gombessagirl.bsky.social · 10/02/2026
This is a #mom appreciation thread: I have fond memories of watching the #Olympics with my mom, who was the biggest fan I knew. She was an amazing role model, dedicating much of her life to service and volunteering. She celebrated diversity and cultures, and I love that she gave that to me....
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Dr. Sarah Z. Gibson, PhD @gombessagirl.bsky.social · 20/11/2025
My Field Geology class’s field season is over, so here they are mapping out major geologic events and their respective field sites on a 100-foot geologic time scale. Putting things into context!
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Jack Stack @jackstack.bsky.social · 02/04/2025
Tree space and a new ray-finned fish out today! We delve into how methods to visualize the forest of phylogenetic tree space can be used to address the rogue taxon problem. Shout out to my co-authors and advisors Michelle Stocker and Michael Gottfried. ssbbulletin.org/index.php/bs...
ssbbulletin.org
View of A New Lower Permian Ray-Finned Fish (Actinopterygii) From South Dakota and the Use of Tree Space to Find Rogue Taxa in Phylogenetic Analysis of Morphological Data
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St. Cloud State University Alumni @scsualumni.bsky.social · 13/11/2025
Support @stcloudstate.bsky.social, support your community. We’ve created the #Husky Community Engagement Fund to strengthen #SCSU’s connection with St. Cloud and the surrounding region. Learn more about #OurSCSU effort and make your impact today at scsu.mn/hcefund
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Dr. Sarah Z. Gibson, PhD @gombessagirl.bsky.social · 13/11/2025
A great day of talks on the second day of the MN Association of Floodplain Managers conference. Excited to bring some new ideas to the classroom. @stcloudstate.bsky.social
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Dr. Sarah Z. Gibson, PhD @gombessagirl.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
A great first day at the Minnesota Association of Floodplain Managers conference. Some of our @stcloudstate.bsky.social students were able to visit important sites along the Mississippi River as part of the conference field trip. #mnafpm
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Asher HELLbein @asherelbein.bsky.social · 30/10/2025
My latest for @nytimes.com! For 40 years, paleontologists have grappled over whether a small tyrannosaur — named Nanotyrannus — was its own animal, or simply a teenage T.rex. The debate has been ... contentious. Which is why it's so fun to finally be able to say this: Folks? Nanotyrannus is real.
nytimes.com
The Case of the Tiny Tyrannosaurus Might Have Been Cracked
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Society of Vertebrate Paleontology @societyofvertpaleo.bsky.social · 10/10/2025
SVP President @stuartsumida.bsky.social speaks to Open Access Government about the importance of vertebrate paleontology and science in the United States. www.openaccessgovernment.org/the-importan...
openaccessgovernment.org
The importance of palaeontology, Earth history, and science
The Society of Vertebrate Paleontology discusses the significance of paleontology, Earth history and science in this insightful opinion piece
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