Dr Pimiento is a researcher at Swansea University investigating the ecology and evolution of marine megafauna in deep time using the fossil record. She is particularly interested in shark’s long-term diversity dynamics, extinction and conservation. Catalina is a recipient of a PRIMA fellowship from the Swiss National Science Foundation and she spends part of her time in the Paleontology Institute and Museum at the University of Zurich.
Catalina is trained in Science Education and in Curriculum and Instruction and has published papers on the design and implementation of cutting-edge learning tools. She feels strongly about delivering transformative and authentic teaching experiences and about engaging women in science.
Catalina’s research applies different approaches (mainly meta-analyses using Bayesian inference; and field- and collection-based studies applying phyloegenetic, phenotypic and niche modelling) to both fossil and modern species. Her main research objective is to provide a bridge between what is known on past extinctions and the conservation of modern species.
• PRIMA fellowship from the Swiss National Science Foundation.
• MSCA COFUND (H2020) from the Welsh European Funding Office (WEFO) under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
• Marie Curie Independent Fellowship (MSCA-IF-EF-ST) from the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Horizon 2020 Framework Programme).
• Humboldt Research Fellowship for Postdoctoral Researchers from the Humboldt Foundation in Germany.
• Forschungskredit Postdoctoral Fellowship from the University of Zurich.
• Prof. Michael Benton, Professor of Vertebrate Paleontology, University of Bristol.
• Prof. Carlos Jaramillo, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute.
• Prof. Alexandre Antonelli, Director of Science, Kew Gardens.
• Dr. John Griffin, Associate Professor, Swansea University
• Dr. Daniele Silvestro, Researcher, University of Gothenburg.
This module follows on from the introduction to vertebrates in the Level 4 Animal Diversity and Behaviour module, providing detail on form and function in vertebrates that spend all or part of their life cycle on land. Aspects of tetrapod behaviour, morphology and physiology will be considered in terms of adaptation and evolutionary constraint. Practicals will provide an introduction to the anatomy of birds and mammals by means of dissection, inference of the phylogenetic relationships between avian species, and an exploration of how beak morphology affects ecological niche in birds. Overall, students will gain an appreciation of the diversity of tetrapod types and an insight into the fundamental importance of metabolic rate in animals.
This intensive lecture and practical based module covers science skills for students wishing to pursue postgraduate studies, including MSc, MRes, MPhil and PhD degrees. It will teach students how to make good use of library and internet resources (including Web of Science, Canvas and Dryad), to design and analyse their experiments, and to make presentations of their data during conferences and symposia. It will provide PG students in the Department of Biosciences (and other Departments in the Faculty of Science and Engineering) with the research and analytical skills necessary to carry out their research projects. It will teach them how to formulate and test scientific hypotheses, and how to generate and analyse scientific results using a variety of research methods. Lecture topics include Reporting and Presentation skills, Numerical skills and Data Analysis and Scientific Writing. The lectures are taught during the first part of the Semester. The module is examined through a combination of Continuous Assessment (90%) and an online examination in the form of a MCQ test (10%). Basic reading: Whitlock, M. and Schluter, D. (2014) The Analysis of Biological Data (Roberts & Co.). Crawley, M.J. (2005) Statistics: An Introduction Using R (Wiley). Original research papers given in reading list and found through self-directed learning.
, with Dr John Griffin, 112,401 GBP
, 1’417.655 CHF
2015 - Present
2017 - Present
• Book Chapter: Pimiento C. 2017. The giant shark In: Jaramillo, C. y Oviedo, L.H. (Eds.). 2018. Hace tiempo (Long ago). Instituto Alexander von Humboldt e Instituto Smithsonian de Investigaciones Tropicales. Bogotá, D.C., Colombia. 124 p.
• Blog: Nature (Behind the paper)
• Video: Cornwall museum
• Blog: The Guardian (For Ada Lovelace Day)
• Blog: The Guardian
• Guest blog post: Caribbean Paleobiology
• Guest blog post: The contemplative Mammoth
• Video: Collaborations in 1-year
• Video: All about Megalodon nurseries
• Collectors Guide: Fossil sharks from the Gatun Formation, Panama.
• Website for kids: Fossil sharks from Panama.
• Museum Guide: ¿Cómo son los dientes de los tiburones?
