Dinosaur Provincial Park. Photo by M. Rhodes (2019).
The lab conducts research that broadly examines dinosaur palaeobiology. Studies on the growth, variation, anatomy, and relationships of carnivorous dinosaurs, including the origin of birds, are key components of this research. A long-term goal of the lab is to improve the understanding of the rich Cretaceous ecosystem in Dinosaur Provincial Park (Currie and Koppelhus, 2005), along with contemporaneous faunas and habitats at other sites in western North America. Additional interests include dinosaur behaviour, such as annual and intercontinental migrations. For a list of papers and books, please see Publications.
Dr. Currie has been interested in dinosaurs since childhood and finds that the excitement of discovery—from fossils in the field and ideas in the lab—constantly renews his passion. Fieldwork connected with his research has been concentrated in Alberta, British Columbia, the Arctic, Argentina, and China. Work on the Centrosaurus bonebed, feathered dinosaurs, hadrosaur nesting sites, and the Canada-China Dinosaur Project have attracted the greatest international attention.
Prospective students are strongly encouraged to apply for external funding (e.g., NSERC for Canadian students) and peruse the University of Alberta Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research (FGSR) webpages on awards and funding. The following links have further details on admission requirements, potential supervisors, areas of study, and general information on palaeontology at the University of Alberta. This is not an exhaustive list but it provides a starting point for resources about graduate studies.
Students Interested in Paleontology (general info)
Programs by Areas of Interest: Paleontology (general info)
ASSOCIATED PUBLICATION
Currie, P.J., and Koppelhus, E.B. 2005. Dinosaur Provincial Park: A Spectacular Ancient Ecosystem Revealed. Indiana University Press, Bloomington, Indiana. 648 pp.
Find out how fieldwork, fossil preparation, and research are all related, and what it can reveal about the lives of dinosaurs. Posted by University of Alberta on February 5, 2014.