Dr. David Schmidt

Current Position

• Associate Professor of Biology and Environmental Science
• Staff Paleontologist

Education

• Ph. D. 2009, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas
• M.S. 2002, Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kansas
• B.S. 1999, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri

Professional Interests

Dr. Schmidt would consider himself a “soft-rock” geologist, as his professional interests lie in the disciplines of paleontology and sedimentology. He uses various aspects of those disciplines to learn about the relationship of fossil organisms and the environments they lived in. Most of his work focuses on vertebrate paleontology and includes taxonomic and taphonomic descriptions of various Mesozoic and Cenozoic fossil organisms. However, he has conducted a number of invertebrate projects that use the abundances and types of taxonomic groups to make inferences about the paleoenvironment and paleoclimatic conditions. Furthermore, he has used petrography, grainsize analyses, and stable isotope geochemistry to understand environmental conditions and processes that were responsible for sedimentological deposition.

More recently, he has had the privilege of leading a number of field experiences involving the excavation of a Triceratops. This work has focused on the life history and taphonomy of the Triceratops, as well as an interpretation of the ancient depositional conditions. Many students have been involved with this project and have encountered a number of experiences that lead to acquiring hands-on skills and conducting undergraduate research.

Other positions

• Faculty sponsor of student-led organization Search & Discovery, Advisor
• Committee appointments: Faculty Personnel (two appointments), Faculty Executive (two appointments), Ethics in Research, Honors Commission, Oath and Values Board, and Green Council

Background

Dr. Schmidt joined Westminster College in the fall of 2013. He teaches Physical Geology, Historical Geology, Earth Materials, Surficial Geology, Paleontology, and Geosciences: Perspectives and Creative Design. He also advises undergraduate research and incorporates experiential learning opportunities into all of his classes. Outside of class, he works with volunteer fossil preparators and curates the college’s amazing paleontological collections. When not working, he enjoys hiking, camping, fossil collecting, drawing, painting, playing guitar, and spending time with his family.

Selected research titles

• Schmidt, D., and Vanek, L., 2024, Experimental taphonomy: determining possible leaf degradation of fossil plant assemblage
• Schmidt, D., Stupiansky, J., and Steffen, B., 2018, Integrated sedimentological and paleontological analysis of a fossil-bearing stratum with the Blackwater Draw Formation, Plainview, Texas.
• Schmidt, D., Bolen, M., and Mooney, C., 2018, An Oligocene tortoise shell and the challenge of determining sex.
• Schmidt, D., Stupiansky, J., and Steffen, B., 2014, Comparison of modern and fossil mollusc shell compositions: implications for paleoecology interpretation.
• Schmidt, D. Lehman, T., and Karlsson, H, 2010, Stable isotope geochemistry of organic carbon from the upper Cretaceous and early Paleocene in Big Bend National Park, Texas.
• Schmidt, D. Lehman, T., and Karlsson, H, 2007, Stable isotopic composition of upper-Cretaceous carbonates from Big Bend National Park, Texas.

Examples of advised student research

• Rosales-Foster, D., Siebert, E., and Schmidt, 2024, Brachiopod abundances and diversity of the Middle Creek Member: an interpretation of environmental conditions
• Goforth, J., and Schmidt, 2024, Petrographic analysis of Paleozoic strata, Southeast Callaway County, Missouri
• Scott, M., and Schmidt, 2024, Morphological comparison of carnivorous teeth from the Hell Creek Formation
• Killday, J., and Schmidt, D., 2022, A newly discovered Triceratops and it’s use for taphonomic and allometric interpretations
• Graddy, N., Schmidt, D., and Pichelmeyer, J., 2022, Sufrace abnormalities and deformities in fossil Triceratops bone
• Faiella, C., and Schmidt, D., 2021, Preliminary taphonomic interpretations of a Triceratops from the Grand River National Grasslands, South Dakota
• Young, S., Roth, R., and Schmidt, D., 2017-18, Mapping project of fossil Eocene bone bed in Oglala National Grassland, Nebraska
• Wu, K., Ferreira, L., Halsey, C., and Schmidt, D., 2017-18, Stable isotopic analysis of fossil enamel: preliminary investigation of Eocene taxa