Curriculum Vitae
Benjamin John Burger
Curriculum Vita
Education
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - 2009
Geological Science
University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
Advisor: Dr. Jaelyn Eberle
Dissertation title: Mammalian faunal change across the Paleocene-Eocene boundary in
the Piceance Creek Basin, Western Colorado
Masters of Science (MS) - 1999
Anatomical Science
State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY
Advisors: Dr. David Krause and Dr. Catherine Forster
Thesis title: The systematics and phylogeny of the fossil Hyopsodontidae (Mammalia,
"Condylarthra").
Bachelor of Arts (Magna Cum Laude) (BA) - 1997
Geological Science
University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
Professional Experience
2011 – Present: Utah State University, Uintah Basin, Vernal Utah
Assistant Professor of Geology
I teach courses in paleontology, stratigraphy, and geology, as well as mentor graduate
students at the Uintah Basin campus of Utah State University. I oversee the geology research
laboratory at the Vernal campus.
2009-2011: SWCA Environmental Consultants Vernal, Utah
Paleontology Specialist
Conducted paleontology surveys and fossil salvage operations during the construction of
industry infrastructure for oil and gas development on public lands within northeastern Utah and
western Colorado.
2004-2008: Department of Geological Sciences University of Colorado at Boulder
Lead Graduate Teacher and Graduate Instructor
1999-2004: Division of Paleontology American Museum of Natural History, NYC.
Director of Databases and Network Systems
Inventoried and imaged one of the largest collections of fossils in North America.
965 N. 2250 W. Vernal, Utah 84078 C: 303-818-1408 H: 435-789-2228
benjamin.burger@usu.edu http://www.benjamin-burger.org
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Benjamin John Burger
Curriculum Vita
Courses Taught
Vertebrate Paleontology (Utah State University)
-An advanced graduate level course on the fossil record of fossil vertebrates (Spring 2013)
Invertebrate Paleontology (Utah State University)
-An advanced graduate level course on marine invertebrate paleontology and terrestrial paleobotany,
taught using interactive broadcast across Utah. (Fall 2012, Fall 2013)
Natural History of Dinosaurs (Utah State University)
-A depth physical science course on dinosaur paleontology (Spring, 2014)
Sedimentary Petrology (Utah State University)
-An advanced graduate level course on sedimentary rocks under thin section (Fall 2012)
Earth Through Time (Utah State University)
-An in depth class that explores the history of planet Earth, including its geological and paleontological
history, taught using interactive broadcast to Price Utah. (Spring 2012)
Integrative Physical Science (Utah State University)
-An introductory science course that fulfills undergraduate breadth credit for non-major undergraduate
students, taught using interactive broadcast across Utah (Fall 2011, Spring 2012, Fall 2012, Spring 2013)
Integrative Physical Science—Online Course (Utah State University)
-An introductory fully online science course that fulfills undergraduate breadth credit for non-major
undergraduate students. (Fall 2013; Spring, 2014)
Advanced Stratigraphy (Utah State University)
-Advanced graduate level stratigraphic geology course that covers concepts of sequence stratigraphic
models, and application of facies analysis in petroleum exploration (Fall 2011, Fall 2013)
Geology Field Camp (Utah State University)
-Taught 1 week in a 6 week field course on geology, as part of Utah State’s capstone field geology class
for undergraduate majors. (Summer 2013)
The Dynamic Earth (Utah State University)
-An introductory physical geology course taught as an adjunct instructor at the Vernal campus. (Fall
2010)
Global Change (University of Colorado at Boulder)
- A course utilizing an earth systems approach, with an emphasis on global climate change throughout
time. (Spring 2008)
Introduction to Geology Laboratory (University of Colorado)
- A field based geology course that introduced students to the geologic history of the Front Range of
Colorado. (Fall 2004, Spring/Fall 2005, Fall 2008)
Human Anatomy (State University of New York at Stony Brook)
- Laboratory portion of a course on human anatomy directed toward pre-med and pre-dentistry students.
(Fall 1998)
965 N. 2250 W. Vernal, Utah 84078 C: 303-818-1408 H: 435-789-2228
benjamin.burger@usu.edu http://www.benjamin-burger.org
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Benjamin John Burger
Curriculum Vita
Paleontology Field Experience
Washakie Formation, Wyoming (2013)
Collection of fossil Eocene mammals from the Abode Town Member, Southwestern Wyoming.
Repository: Utah Field House Museum of Natural History
Browns Park Formation, Colorado (2013)
Collection of fossil mammals from the Miocene strata in Northwestern Colorado.
Repository: Utah Field House Museum of Natural History
Morrison Formation, Utah (2012-2013)
Screen washing for Jurassic mammals along the Split Mountain Anticline, Northeastern Utah
Repository: Utah Field House Museum of Natural History
Rock Springs Uplift, Wyoming (2009-2010)
Collection of fossils in the Paleogene rocks exposed along the margins of the Washakie Basin.
Repository: University of Colorado Museum.
Piceance Creek Basin, Colorado (2005-2011)
Collection of fossil mammals across the Paleocene-Eocene boundary in western Colorado.
Collaborators: Jaelyn Eberle and James Honey (UCM)
Repository: University of Colorado Museum.
Uinta Basin, Utah (2007-2013)
Collection of vertebrate fossils primarily in the Uinta and Duchesne River Formations.
Collaborators: Beth K.E. Townsend (Midwestern), Paul Murphey (SDNHM) and Alex Dutchak (UC)
Repository: San Diego Museum of Natural History and Utah Field House Museum of Natural History
San Juan Basin, Colorado (2003)
Collection of vertebrate fossils in the Animas and San Jose Formations in southwestern Colorado.
Collaborators: Matthew Tornow (St. Cloud) and Jin Meng (AMNH)
Repository: American Museum of Natural History.
Fayum Depression, Egypt (2001 & 2002)
Collection of fossils in the Birket Qarun and Qasr el-Sagha Formations.
Led by: Elwyn Simons, Prithijit Chatrath (Duke) and Erik Seiffert (SUNY)
Repository: Duke University Lemur Center and Cairo Geological Museum
Bridger Basin, Wyoming (1995-1999)
Collection of fossil vertebrates in the Eocene Bridger Formation, southwestern Wyoming.
Led by: Paul Murphey (UCM) and John Alexander (AMNH)
Repository: University of Colorado and American Museum of Natural History.
Piñon Canyon, Southeastern Colorado (1997)
Recording Mesozoic fossils, including dinosaur sites in the Morrison Formation.
Led by: Emmett Evanoff (UNC)
965 N. 2250 W. Vernal, Utah 84078 C: 303-818-1408 H: 435-789-2228
benjamin.burger@usu.edu http://www.benjamin-burger.org
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Benjamin John Burger
Curriculum Vita
Grants and Awards
GAANN fellowship recipient - $93,992 (2005-2007) (U.S. Department of
Education, Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need)
Jeff Deen Memorial Fund, University of Colorado -$1,000 (2007)
Visiting Scientist Fellowship, Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago -$1,200 (2007)
Shell Research Grant - $1,200 (2007)
Ogden Tweto Award, Colorado Scientific Society - $800 (2006)
Geological Society of America - $1,500 (2006)
William Burt Grant, University of Colorado - $2,500 (1996 & 2005)
Estwing Award, University of Colorado (1997)
Professional Society Memberships
Society of Vertebrate Paleontology
Paleontology Society
Geological Society of America
Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections
Utah Friends of Paleontology
Publications (copies can be downloaded from my website http://www.benjamin-burger.org)
Peer-reviewed Articles
Burger, B.J. and Tackett, L. In review: The Stratigraphic Importance of the Brontothere (cf.
Diplacodon elatus) in the Brennan Basin Member of the Duchesne River Formation of
Utah. PalArch’s Journal of Vertebrate Palaeontology
Burger, B.J. 2013. A new species of the archaic primate Zanycteris from the late Paleocene of
western Colorado and the phylogenetic position of the family Picrodontidae. PeerJ
1:e191;DOI 10.7717/peerj.19
Burger, B.J. 2012: Northward range extension of a diminutive-sized mammal (Ectocion parvus)
and the implication of body size change during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal
Maximum. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 363-364:144-150.
Burger, B.J. 2010: The skull of the Eocene Primate Omomys carteri from western North
America. Paleontological Contributions, vol. 2 p. 1-19.
Burger, B.J. and Honey, J. 2008: Plesiadapidae (Mammalia, Primates) from the Late Paleocene
Fort Union Formation of the Piceance Creek Basin, Colorado. Journal of Vertebrate
Paleontology 28(3):816-825.
Burger, B.J. 2007: A new late Paleocene vertebrate fauna from the Ohio Creek Formation of
western Colorado. The Mountain Geologist, vol 44, No. 3 pp. 41-51.
Alexander, J.P. and Burger, B.J. 2001: Stratigraphy and Taphonomy of Grizzly Buttes, Bridger
Formation, Middle Eocene of Wyoming in G. F. Gunnell (ed.) Eocene Biodiversity.
Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishing, New York. pp. 165-196.
965 N. 2250 W. Vernal, Utah 84078 C: 303-818-1408 H: 435-789-2228
benjamin.burger@usu.edu http://www.benjamin-burger.org
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Benjamin John Burger
Curriculum Vita
Dissertation and Thesis
Burger, B.J. 2009. Mammalian faunal change across the Paleocene-Eocene boundary in the
Piceance Creek Basin, western Colorado. Unpublished PhD dissertation, University of
Colorado, Boulder. pp. 834.
Burger, B.J. 1999: The systematics and phylogeny of the fossil Hyopsodontidae (Mammalia,
"Condylarthra"). Unpublished masters thesis, State University of New York, Stony
Brook, New York. pp. 66.
Book Reviews
Burger, B.J. 2012. A review of Prothero, D.R. 2009. Greenhouse of the Dinosaurs: Evolution,
Extinction and the Future of our Planet. Columbia University Press, New York, NY. 288
pp. Priscum Summer edition, p. 31.
Meeting Abstracts
Burger, B.J. 2013: Mammal species durations in the fossil record: answering the question,
which species has the longest duration in the fossil record? 125th annual meeting,
Geological Society of America Abstracts Paper No. 30-12
Burger, B.J. 2011: Diversity, Extinction, and Gaps: An overview of the mammalian record
during the late Paleocene and Eocene in the Rocky Mountain Region of North America.
Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology November meeting abstracts.
Burger, B.J. 2011: Fossil mammals from the late Eocene Brennan Basin Member of the
Duchesne River Formation in Utah. Rocky Mountain 63rd Annual and Cordilleran 107th
joint meeting, Geological Society of America Abstracts 43:78
Burger, B.J. and Murphey, P.C. 2010: Is there a mammalian faunal turnover associated with the
MECO global warming event in the Duchesne River Formation in northeastern Utah?
Evaluation of new fossil discoveries from the Brennan Basin Member. Journal of
Vertebrate Paleontology October meeting abstracts 67A.
Burger, B.J. 2010: Fossil primates of the early Cenozoic in North America: A piece of our
family tree preserved in the badlands of our backyards. Presented at the Utah Friends of
Paleontology annual meeting in Vernal, Utah.
Burger, B.J. 2008: Extinction, migration, and the effects of global warming on fossil mammals
across the Paleocene-Eocene boundary in western Colorado, U.S.A. Journal of
Vertebrate Paleontology 28(3) supplement 58A.
Burger, B.J. 2008: Evolution’s tempo and mode during the Eocene Epoch: comparison of two
long contemporaneous records of the fossil mammal Hyopsodus in the American West;
pp. 41-58, in M. Connely (ed.) The Eocene Epic- Life, Death and Conquest in the Early
Tertiary the 14th Annual Symposium on Paleontology and Geology at the Tate Museum,
Casper College, Casper Wyoming p. 101.
Burger, B.J. 2007: Discovery of the carbon isotope excursion (CIE) at the Paleocene-Eocene
boundary in the Piceance Creek Basin, western Colorado. Geological Society of America.
Paper No. 70-2
965 N. 2250 W. Vernal, Utah 84078 C: 303-818-1408 H: 435-789-2228
benjamin.burger@usu.edu http://www.benjamin-burger.org
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Benjamin John Burger
Curriculum Vita
Burger, B.J. 2006: A new late Paleocene vertebrate fauna from the Ohio Creek Conglomerate of
western Colorado. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 26(3) supplement.
Burger, B.J., Eberle, J., and Honey, J. 2005: Mammalian faunal change in the Paleocene-Eocene
boundary spanning DeBeque Formation, Northern Piceance Creek Basin, western
Colorado: Preliminary study of fossil ungulates. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology
25(3) supplement: 41A.
Burger, B.J. 2004: New fossil vertebrates from the Tiffany Member of the Late Paleocene
Animas Formation of Southwestern Colorado, and the P/E boundary on the margin of the
San Juan Basin. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 24(3) supplement: 42A.
Burger, B.J. 2003: Stacking cladograms: a new method to model temporal and sister-group
relationships of fossils. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 23(3) supplement.
Burger, B.J. 2001: The humeral morphology of the "Condylarthra" and its implications for the
evolution of cursorial mammals . Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 21(3) supplement:
37A.
Burger, B.J. 2000: The next generation collection database at the American Museum of Natural
History. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 20(3) supplement.
Burger, B.J. 1999: The skeletal anatomy of Hyopsodus and its bearing on the origin of modern
ungulate mammals. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 19(3) supplement 34A.
Burger, B.J. and Alexander, J.P. 1997: A new skeleton of Hyopsodus from the Eocene of
Wyoming Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 18(3) supplement: 30A.
Burger, B.J. 1997: Detailed Stratigraphy of the Bridger B fossil beds of East Grizzly Buttes.
Geological Society of America 29(2) p.5.
Paleontology Technical Reports (abbreviated list)
Burger, B.J., Murphey, P.C., Strauss, J.J., and Temme, T. 2010: Paleontology resources
mitigration monitoring report for Berry Petroleum Oil and Gas infrastructure construction
on Ashley National Forest. Prepared for the Ashley National Forest United States
Department of Agriculture. SWCA #UT10-14635-31 p. 1-31.
Burger, B.J. and Murphey, P.C. 2010: Paleontological assessment for State Bridge Lodge Eagle
County, Colorado. Prepared for the Bureau of Land Management Kremmling Field
Office. SWCA #CO10-16841-03.
Burger, B.J., Strauss, J.J. and Murphey, P.C. 2010: Paleontological Assessment for the Questar
Main Line 103 Pipeline Upgrade, Uinta County. Prepared for Uintah County, Bureau of
Land Management, and State of Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands
Administration. SWCA #UT09-16018-97 p. 1-39.
Murphey, P.C., Strauss, J., Burger, B.J., Imhof, M. and Knauss, G. 2009: Final Report:
Paleontological Block Surveys of Ute Tribal lands for Newfield Production Company.
Prepared for the Ute and Ouray Indian Tribe. SWCA #UT09-14273-85 p. 1-29, Appendix
A, B, & C.
Burger, B.J., and Murphey, P.C. 2009: Paleontological Assessment for The Alternate Truck
Route Study, Uintah County, Utah. Prepared for Uintah County, Bureau of Land
Management, and State of Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration.
SWCA #UT09-14870-84 p. 1-52.
965 N. 2250 W. Vernal, Utah 84078 C: 303-818-1408 H: 435-789-2228
benjamin.burger@usu.edu http://www.benjamin-burger.org
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Benjamin John Burger
Curriculum Vita
Burger, B.J., Murphey, P.C., Strauss, J., and Imhof, M. 2009: Paleontological Resources
Monitoring and Mitigation Report for Utah Department of Transportation US-6, MP200
Bridge Replacement. Prepared for the Utah Department of Transportation. SWCA
#UT09-14501-83 p. 1-71.
Burger, B.J., and Murphey, P.C. 2009: Paleontological Assessment for Questar Gas/Pipeline
Company Clay Basin Water Storage Tank. Prepared for Bureau of Land Management,
Vernal Field Office. SWCA # UT09-15881-81 p. 1-9.
Burger, B.J., and Murphey, P.C. 2009: Paleontological Assessment for Summit Gas Gathering,
LLC. Riverbend Dehydration facility at RBU 6-15E. Prepared for Bureau of Land
Management, Vernal Field Office. SWCA #UT09-15814-79 p. 1-12.
Burger, B.J., and Murphey, P.C. 2009: Paleontological Assessment for XTO Energy's Tap #5
Booster Site. Prepared for Bureau of Land Management, Vernal Field Office. SWCA
#UT09-15669-78 p. 1-13.
Burger, B.J., and Murphey, P.C. 2009: Paleontological Assessment for Newfield Production
Company Sand Wash Water Injection Pipeline. Prepared for Bureau of Land
Management, Vernal Field Office. SWCA # UT09-14273-73 p. 1-10.
Burger, B.J., and Murphey, P.C. 2009: Paleontological Assessment for Newfield Production
Company Boundary Pipeline. Prepared for Bureau of Land Management, Vernal Field
Office. SWCA # UT09-14273-70 p. 1-36.
Burger, B.J., and Murphey, P.C. 2009: Paleontological Monitoring Report for Construction of
Newfield Pipeline in the Gilsonite and Blackjack Units. Prepared for Bureau of Land
Management, Vernal Field Office. SWCA # UT09- 14273-69 p. 1-11.
Burger, B.J., Strauss, J. and Murphey, P.C. 2009: Paleontological Assessment for PacifiCorp /
Rocky Mountain Power Line UTU 84810/ Myton Oil. Prepared for Bureau of Land
Management, Vernal Field Office. SWCA # UT09-15481-68 p.1-21.
Burger, B.J. 2008: Paleontological Technical Report: Interstate 76 improvements between the
towns of Fort Morgan and Brush, Morgan County, Colorado. Prepared for Smith
Environmental and Engineering. p. 1-11.
Service and Outreach (last 3 years)
January 2014 – Uintah County Middle School tours of Geology Lab
June-July 2013- Uintah Undergraduate Research Institute mentoring program
April 2013- Uintah County Gifted and Talented Program at Dinosaur National Park
April 2013- Uintah Basin Research Conference presenter
February 2013 – AGI geology fieldstrip workshop
January 2013 – Uintah County Middle School tours of Geology Lab
November 2012—Access Friday Utah, Utah Public Radio program on my research in the Uinta Basin
October 2012 – Uintah County Middle School tours of Geology Lab
August 2012- NSF Messenger Science Communication Workshop in Salt Lake City
May 2012 – Uintah County Summer Science Camp
September 2011— KVEL 920 AM Radio Talk Show Interview
965 N. 2250 W. Vernal, Utah 84078 C: 303-818-1408 H: 435-789-2228
benjamin.burger@usu.edu http://www.benjamin-burger.org
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