I am Sam Shuffleton, a senior Geology major with a minor in Museum Studies at the University of Mary Washington and pursuing paleontological research.
Off campus, I am a researcher at Virginia Museum of Natural History under Dr. Adam Pritchard where we have been working to determine if collections of the extinct snake Palaeophis virginianus within the VMNH and NMNH actually represent two species rather than one. Through this experience, I have been continuously building my curation, collections management, social, and teamworking skills, as well as my competence with tools within a Paleo-lab setting. Additionally, I run an Etsy shop where I sell the custom dinosaur models that I design and paint, allowing me to grow my skills in modeling, inventory management, and more.
I am always searching for new opportunities to expand my scientific research as well as my artistic talent, with the dream to someday combine them both.