Dr. Laura Vietti

UW Geological Museum and Collections Manager

Assistant Research Scientist

Contact Information

(307) 766-3774lvietti@uwyo.edu

ESB 1034

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About Me

I am the University of Wyoming Geological Museum and Collections Manager, where I have overseen collections care, research support, the UW Geological Museum, and public engagement since 2014. My primary research expertise is in taphonomy, the study of processes that influence the preservation and composition of fossil assemblages. I am particularly interested in the forensic aspects of fossilization and the insights they provide into paleoecology and the fossil record. My research goals focus on better interpreting the taphonomic processing of Wyoming fossils.

 

In addition to my research, I am committed to advancing the accessibility and preservation of Wyoming’s rich paleontological resources through the digitization of the University of Wyoming’s fossil collections. I encourage UW students interested in working with the UW Geological Museum and Collections to reach out to me regarding positions, research projects, or internships.

 

If you are a researcher interested in visiting our fossil research collections, please contact me for additional information about our specimens and the application process for collection visits.

Education

Geology, PhD, University of Minnesota, 2014
Geology & Geophysics, BS, Univ. of Wyoming, 2006

Recent publications

Published

  1. L.A. Vietti, Preliminary designation of marine tetrapod taphofacies, in Tate 2010: Beneath Wyoming Waves, Marine Paleontology, Tate Museum, Casper College, Casper, WY (2010) 75-88

Accepted

  1. L.A. Vietti, J.A. Bailey, R.R. Rogers, D.L. Fox, Early framboidal sulfides from a simulated whale-fall: new insights into marine vertebrate taphonomy, Palaios ,(accepted)

In Preparation

  1. L.A. Vietti, Quantifying bone weathering stages using RA, a surface roughness parameter measured from profiles of 3D data, Journal of Taphonomy,(in prep)
  2. S.S. Greer*, L.A. Vietti, Identification of bone dismemberment tools using 3D surface analyses on cut marks, Journal of Forensic Research, (in prep)

L.A. Vietti, J.A. Bailey, E. Ricci*, Microbial exploitation of bone deposited in marine environments, Paleobiology, (in prep)
Recent Abstracts

  1. L.A. Vietti, J.A. Bailey, E.M. Ricci, Insights into the microbial degradation of bone in marine environments from rRNA gene sequencing of biofilms on lab simulated carcass-falls; 10th North American Paleontological Convention, Gainsville, FL (Feb. 5th-18th, 2014)
  2. L.A. Vietti, Insights into the microbial degradation of bone in marine environments: genetic sequencing of biofilms from lab-simulated whale-falls; Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 33,(3) (Oct. 31st, 2013)
  3. L.A. Vietti, J.A. Bailey, Lab simulated whale-falls produce framboids resembling those from euxinic basins, Geological Society of America, Annual Meeting. Abstracts with Programs- Geological Society of America, 44 (7) November, 2012
  4. L.A. Vietti, Quantifying bone weathering stages using RA, a surface roughness parameter measured from 3d data; Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 32,(3) (Oct. 17th, 2012)
  5. L.A. Vietti, Quantifying bone weathering stages using RA, a surface roughness parameter measured from 3d data; Second Annual Conference of Surface Metrology of the Americas (Oct. 14th, 2012)
  6. L.A Vietti, J.A. Bailey, B. Flood, Early framboidal pyrite from a simulated whale fall: new insights into marine tetrapod bone diagenesis. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 31, (3), (Nov. 5th, 2011)
  7. R. Littlewood, L.A. Vietti, Constraints on the formation of marine bone concentrations., Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 31, (3), (Nov. 5th, 2011)
  8. L.A. Vietti, S. Greer, J. Soderberg, Error rates of surface roughness using optical microscopy and leica stereoexplorer software and application to taphonomy and potter research. First Annual Conference of Surface Metrology of the Americas, WPI, MA (Oct. 23rd, 2011)
  9. L.A. Vietti, B. Flood, J. Bailey. The role of whale-fall microbial communities on bone corrosion explored with metagenomics. Geological Society of America 43, (5): 425 (November, 2011)
  10. L.A. Vietti, S. Greer, J. Soderberg, Error rates of surface roughness using optical microscopy and leica stereoexplorer software and application to taphonomy and potter research. Geological Society of America 43, (5): 425 (November, 2011)
  11. L.A. Vietti, D.L. Fox, R. Rogers. Preliminary designation of marine tetrapod taphofacies, Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30, (2), (Sept. 28th, 2010).
  12. L.A. Vietti, D.L. Fox, R. Rogers, Taphonomic patterns in the marine vertebrate record over the Phanerozoic: a database approach. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 29, (3), (Sept. 25th, 2009).