Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

Waisum (Fion) Ma

Deep Time Peter Buck Postdoctoral Fellow

Fion Ma is a vertebrate paleontologist who studies how vertebrate animals function and evolve through deep time. Her most recent projects have focused on fossil reptiles including dinosaurs and pterosaurs, as well as living reptiles and birds. She is particularly interested in the evolution of feeding. She uses CT scanning, 3D modelling, and biomechanical simulation to investigate the feeding mechanics and diets of vertebrates.

Department / Division
Education
  • PhD, Earth Sciences (Palaeobiology), University of Birmingham, 2022
  • MScR, Palaeontology and Geobiology, The University of Edinburgh, 2018
  • BSc, Geology and Ecology & Biodiversity, The University of Hong Kong, 2017
Additional Resources
Research Interests
  • Vertebrate Paleontology
  • Functional Morphology