Dinosaur Paleontology: Dr. Kristi Curry-Rogers

Professor, Macalester College | Research Associate, Science Museum of Minnesota

Dr. Kristi Curry-Rogers is a world-renowned paleontologist famous for naming Rapetosaurus krausei, a titanosaur from Madagascar. Her work goes beyond just finding bones; she is a leader in paleohistology, using the microscopic structure of dinosaur bones to determine how fast these giants grew and how long they lived.

The Full Interview: The Lives of Long-Dead Organisms

When did you first become interested in your field? I became interested in paleontology when I was only 6 or 7 years old. I can’t remember the exact trigger… it may have been that “paleontologist” was the first really cool word that I learned. By the age of 8, I was “researching” my neighbor’s rock garden and reading all I could. I grew up in Southeast Missouri, where invertebrate fossils predominate. My interest only grew, and when I was 17, I went to Montana on my first dinosaur dig, and the rest is history.

What exactly does a dinosaur paleontologist do? I like to think of paleontology as the study of the lives of long-dead organisms. As a dinosaur specialist, my work has focused on studying the evolution and biology of sauropod dinosaurs (the long-necked giants of the Jurassic and Cretaceous).

My time is divided into three main portions:

  • The Field: I spend summers collecting new specimens.
  • The Museum: As a curator at the Science Museum of Minnesota, I research and curate those specimens, write papers, and assist other researchers.
  • The Classroom: At Macalester College, I teach Vertebrate Paleontology and Comparative Anatomy and advise students.

Can you give a couple of examples of what you are researching? At the moment, my research is focused on two specific projects:

  1. Titanosaur Evolution: Deciphering the history of an enigmatic group of long-necked dinosaurs. I’ve been involved in the Mahajanga Basin Project in Madagascar. We recovered the most complete titanosaur ever discovered there—a new genus and species I named Rapetosaurus krausei.
  2. Bone Histology: Studying the relationship of bone tissue to overall body growth rates. I utilize preserved bone tissue and its organizational patterns to infer life history attributes like longevity and growth speed. Understanding this in living vertebrates provides more insight into the lives of dinosaurs.

What has been the most challenging part of your job? Securing funding for the variety of research projects I’d like to do. Competition for research grants is tough. Writing grants and going through peer review is challenging, but productive—it helps you delimit the strengths and weaknesses of your work to make it better!

Where do you see the future of this field? I think paleontology will only continue to grow. Every year researchers are contributing new methods and asking different, novel questions. Some of the greatest mysteries of dinosaur biology have yet to be solved, and public interest assures we’ll continue to hunt for answers.

What is the best way to prepare for a career in dinosaur paleontology? Select a college with a solid program in geology or biology—preferably both. If you major in geology, take as much biology as possible, and vice versa. Math, foreign languages, and writing skills are also invaluable. You will need at least a Master’s degree, and if you want to be a professional paleontologist, a Ph.D. is a must. I ended up entering a human anatomy program at Stony Brook, taught anatomy to medical students, and did dinosaurs for my dissertation!

2026 Perspective: Rapid Growth and 70-Ton Giants

Since this interview, Dr. Curry-Rogers’ work has fundamentally changed how we view sauropods.

  • The Growth Spurt: Her histology research proved that titanosaurs didn’t take a century to get big—they grew incredibly fast, reaching massive sizes in just a few decades.
  • Climate Change & Extinction: In 2026, her ongoing work in Madagascar is helping scientists understand how these massive animals responded to environmental stress and climate shifts at the end of the Cretaceous.

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