Stella Ludwig

I am a PhD student interested in flying and semi-aquatic archosaurs. My research is centered around pterosaurs and theropod dinosaurs, specifically focusing on the ontogeny, paleobiology, and paleoecology of Spinosaurus. Currently, I am also part of the Portsmouth-based ‘Team T. rex’, which is leading the scientific research on the extraordinary multimillion-dollar Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton ‘Trinity’.

I received my undergraduate degree (BSc Hons in Geosciences) at the University of Bonn, Germany (2017-2021). For my thesis, I collaborated with the Portlandzementwerk Wotan H. Schneider KG to conduct a detailed facies analysis of a Middle Devonian sequence from the Meerbüsch Quarry in the Eifel Limestone Synclinorium (Rhenish Massif).

I completed my master's degree (MRes Science and Health in Palaeontology) at the University of Portsmouth, UK (2022-2023). My research project was focused on reviewing the terrestrial locomotion and ecology of pterosaurs using a novel methodological approach based on ungual and claw sheath morphometrics.

As part of my degrees, I have conducted palaeontological and sedimentological museum-, lab- and fieldwork in south-eastern Morocco (Tafilalt), southern France, south-eastern Spain (Cádiz, Málaga, Almería), the Spanish Pyrenees, Switzerland, Germany and throughout the UK.

I am passionate about science communication and sharing my research through digital art, including scientific illustrations such as diagrams, skeletals and life reconstructions. My work has been featured on the social media channels of institutions like the Royal Tyrrell Museum.

I'm also engaged in community management for a video game-based science communication project, which includes moderating in a Discord server, organising engagement activities for players such as science question trivia and in-game events, as well as website design and maintenance.

My teaching and practical experience includes:

• 02/2024 - present
  Substitute lecturer and volunteer demonstrator for palaeontology courses at the University of Portsmouth (SEGG)
  
  
• 29/09/2023 - 20/01/2024
  Demonstrator position at the University of Portsmouth (SEGG), includes helping undergraduate students with practical assignments and coursework in sedimentology and palaeontology
  
  
• 15/06/2021 - 15/08/2022 
  Research Assistant (SHK and WHF) position at the University of Bonn (department of sedimentology), includes proofreading/translating and creating illustrations for publications, extensive fieldwork in southern Spain (Tarifa - Ronda) and work experience in a geochemistry lab (operation of RETSCH vibratory disc mills, CNS, LOI 450°C/1100°C, XRF and XRD analyses)
  
  
• 05/2020 - present
  Private (online-)tutor for High School students in subjects English and Biology at Frank Olschewski sole proprietorship – Nachhilfe-Team.net
  
  
• 09/03/2020 - 30/09/2020
  Internship at the Geological Survey of North Rhine-Westphalia (department of mapping and palaeontology)

Palaeontology · Palaeoecology · Morphometric Analysis · Functional Morphology · Sedimentology · Facies Analysis · Sedimentary Geochemistry · Fossils · Dinosaurs · Pterosaurs