Biography

Katie Maloney (she/her) is a geobiologist interested in the co-evolution of the biosphere and geosphere. She is the Rebanks Fellow in Natural History at the Royal Ontario Museum and she will be joining the Earth and Environmental Sciences Department at Michigan State University in 2025. During graduate school at the University of Toronto, she became fascinated by ancient fossils and rocks that provide clues to how Earth's ecosystems have dramatically changed through time. As a NSERC Postdoctoral Scholar at McGill University, she documented the ecological expansion of Neoproterozoic seaweed. Her research uses field-based, paleoenvironmental analysis to target: (1) the diversification and evolution of early eukaryotes; (2) the paleobiology and paleoecology of the Ediacaran Biota, the first known, large complex life; and (3) ecosystem reconstruction of critical transitions in Earth’s history. She is invested in science communication and reducing barriers to geoscience education by promoting field safety leadership, mentoring students, leading outreach, and creating an inclusive environment with accessible experiential learning opportunities.

Macroalgae

Yukon

Taphonomy

Namibia

Teaching

Outreach