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Academic Experience

Assistant Professor of Evolutionary Biology at the University of Warsaw, Poland (2023-Present).

Graduated from Durham University, UK with a 2.1 Integrated Masters in Geoscience with Honours (2011-2015), specialising in Palaeontology.

Completed an internship at Bristol University, UK (2017), involving sorting and cataloguing fossil collections, writing formal descriptions and systematic determinations, and operating SEM and photomicroscopy technology.

Graduated from Griffith University, Australia with a Palaeontology PhD with Excellence (2018-2021), specialising in taphonomy.

Research includes taphonomy of complex depositional sites, sensory evolution of primitive members of Euarchontoglires and reconstructing feeding mechanisms and diets of extinct organisms.

Work and volunteer experience in teaching, museum management, museum curation, exhibit design, event organisation, peer review and social media management.

Trained in packing, preparation, conservation, restoration and installation of fossil and cast specimens.

Extensive engagement in scientific outreach in pre-school, high school, university, social media, professional and general public settings.

Auction committee member for the Society of Vertebrate Palaeontology.

Recipient student, alumni and active advocate of Supported Progression schemes and outreach for underrepresented students and those from underprivileged backgrounds.

"I have not seen a better set of examiners’ reports for a PhD thesis in my more than 35 years as an academic"
- PhD Chairperson Report, 2021

"I do not recognise any weaknesses, be it with respect to methodology, execution or contents of Holly [Anderson]’s thesis"
- PhD Examiner Report, 2021

warsaw University staff weblink available here

Publications

Anderson, H.E., Lis, A., Lundeen, I., Silcox, M.T., Lopez-Torres, S. 2024. Sensory reconstruction of the fossil lorisid Mioeuoticus: Systematic and evolutionary implications. Animals.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15030345

Ara, C., Yasin, R., Ishaq, H.M., Naz, S., Sultana, T., Samiullah, K., Al‐Misned, F.A., Ullah, K., Anderson, H.E., López‐Torres, S. and Abbas, A., 2024. New Euungulate Fossils from the Middle Siwalik Subgroup of the Potwar Plateau of Northern Pakistan. Geological Journal.
https://doi.org/10.1002/gj.5081

Anderson, H.E., Morley, M.W., McAdams, C., Zaim, J., Rizal, Y., Aswan, Puspaningrum, M. R., Hascaryo, A.T., Price, G. J., & Louys, J., 2024. The microstratigraphy and depositional environments of Lida Ajer and Ngalau Gupin, two fossil-bearing tropical limestone caves of west Sumatra. Sci Rep 14, 259. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-50975-8

Louys, J., Zaim, Y., Rizal, Y., Price, G.J., Aswan, A., Puspaningrum, M.R., Smith, H.E. and Hascaryo, A.T., 2021. Palaeontological surveys in Central Sumatra and Bangka. Berita Sedimentologi, 47(3), 50-56. https://doi.org/10.51835/bsed.2021.47.3.358

Duval, M., Westaway, K., Zaim, J., Rizal, Y., Puspaningrum, M.R., Trihascaryo, A., Albers, P.C., Smith, H.E., Drawhorn, G.M., Price, G.J. and Louys, J., 2021. New Chronological Constraints for the Late Pleistocene Fossil Assemblage and Associated Breccia from Ngalau Sampit, Sumatra. Open Quaternary, 7(1). http://doi.org/10.5334/oq.96

Smith, E. H., Bevitt, J., Garbe, U., Zaim, J., Rizal, Y., Aswan, Puspaningrum, R, M., Trihascaryo, A., Price, J, G., Webb, G. and Louys, J. 2021. High-resolution rapid thermal neutron tomographic imaging of fossiliferous cave breccias from Southeast Asia. Nature: Scientific Reports, 11(19953).
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-99290-0

Smith, E. H., Price, J, G., Duval, M., Westaway, K., Zaim, J., Rizal, Y., Aswan, Puspaningrum, R, M., Trihascaryo, A., Stewart, M. and Louys, J. 2021. Taxonomy, taphonomy, and age of the Pleistocene faunal assemblage from Ngalau Gupin cave, Sumatra. Quaternary International.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2021.05.005

Smith, H.E., Morley, M.W. and Louys, J., 2020. Taphonomic Analyses of Cave Breccia in Southeast Asia: A Review and Future Directions. Open Quaternary, 6(1).
http://doi.org/10.5334/oq.75

Grant & Honours

2024 |
Inicjatywa Doskonalosci Uczelnia Badawcza Grant
Warsaw University, Poland

Inicjatywa Doskonalosci Uczelnia Badawcza Grant
Warsaw University, Poland

Research Triangle Nanotechnology Network Kickstarter Grant
Warsaw University, Poland

2021 |
Nominee for Chancellor’s Medal for Academic Excellence
Griffith University, Australia

Dean’s commendation for Academic Excellence
Griffith University, Australia

2019 |
Women in STEM Representative Award
Jane Goodall Institute

Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
Research Grant
ANSTO, Sydney, Australia

Winifred Violet Scott Grant
Griffith University, Australia

2018 |
International Postgraduate Scholarship
Griffith University, Australia

Palaeontology Research Scholarship
Griffith University, Australia

2015 |
John Simpson Greenwell Grant
Durham University, UK

2014 |
John Simpson Greenwell Grant
Durham University, UK

2011 |
St Hilds Women’s Scholarship
Durham University, UK

St Hilds Women's Scholar Award
Durham University, UK

2010 |
Supported Progression Grant
Durham University, UK

Scientific Articles

2023|
Palaeontological Association book review of ‘The Rise and Reign of the Mammals’ by Steve Brusatte
https://www.palass.org/sites/default/files/media/publications/newsletters/number_112/Newsletter%20-%20Number%20112.pdf

2021 |
‘No, you’re not an imposter’ - Beer’n’Bones Palaeontology Magazine of Flinders University, Australia
https://www.flinderspalaeosoc.org/beer-n-bones

‘Beyond the Bench: Scientists with Interesting Hobbies’ - Scientific Communication Magazine of Louisiana State University, USA
https://thelattinlab.com/beyond-the-bench

‘Remnants of ancient life in Sumatran caves’ - Global Scope Scientific online magazine of the Max Planck Institute, Germany
https://globalscopescientific.com/articles/exploring-history-in-sumatran-caves-behind-phd-candidate-holly-smiths-scientific-adventure