#  Paleobiology Faculty 

 



We focus on understanding the nature and interplay of the evolutionary, ecological, and physical environmental forces that have shaped the history of life on geological timescales.  
  
Within OEB, we address many aspects of paleobiology, covering all major groups of life, from the deep Precambrian to our own geologically recent past. We employ a wide range of tools, including primary field-work, functional morphology, phylogenetics, isotopic analysis, and theoretical approaches.



 

  [### Javier Ortega-Hernández

 ](/people/javier-ortega-hernandez) <jortegahernandez@fas.harvard.edu>Associate Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology

Curator of Invertebrate Paleontology in the Museum of Comparative Zoology

Affiliate of the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences

 

 

 

      ![Javier Ortega-Hernandez wearing colorful glasses, a pink check shirt, and with a short dark beard, in front of grey background](/sites/g/files/omnuum6811/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/oeb/files/javier_ortega-hernandez_crop.jpeg?itok=RFA7tedh) 

 

 

 

   [### Stephanie E. Pierce

 ](/people/stephanie-e-pierce) <spierce@oeb.harvard.edu>Sabbatical Spring 2026

Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology

Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology and Interim Curator of Mammalogy in the Museum of Comparative Zoology

Alexander Agassiz Professor of Zoology in the Museum of Comparative Zoology

Director of Graduate Studies

 

 

 

      ![Stephanie Pierce with long, blonde hair wearing a green sweater, patterned shirt, in front of grey background ](/sites/g/files/omnuum6811/files/styles/hwp_4_5__690x865/public/oeb/files/stephanie_pierce_crop.jpeg?itok=Nx5G7I5S)