ABOUT
I’m Héctor Palma, a Colombian geologist and paleobotanist. During my bachelor’s degree in geology, I developed a keen interest in paleontology and stratigraphy. I have worked at the Paleontological Museum of Villa de Leyva, where my fascination with fossil plants began to take root. My current research is centered around the Lower Cretaceous flora of Colombia, primarily focusing on studying conifers and other gymnosperms from the La Paja Formation. I aim to develop a comprehensive understanding of the diversity and changes in Lower Cretaceous floras at lower latitudes.
EDUCATION
2024 —
Ph.D. Biological Sciences
University of Illinois Chicago
2021 — 2023
M.Sc. Biology
Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá
2014 — 2020
B.Sc. Geology
Universidad Nacional de Colombia
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2024 — 2029
Teaching Assistant
Biological Department, University of Illinois Chicago
2024
Predoctoral Fellowship
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI)
2021 — 2023
Organizing committee
1st & 2nd Colombian Paleontology Congress
2020 — 2023
Staff
Un Viaje con la Ciencia y Tecnología, Science Faculty, Universidad Nacional de Colombia
2017 — 2023
Staff
Paleontological Museum of Villa de Leyva, Science Faculty, Universidad Nacional de Colombia
AWARDS & GRANDS
2026
Research Grant
International Association
for Plant Taxonomy (IAPT)
2026
Research Award
Biological Department, University of Illinois Chicago
2023
Science Visiting Scholarship
Field Museum of Natural History
AFFILIATIONS
2024 —
Scientific affiliate, resident student
Field Museum of Natural History
2024 —
Researcher
Paleontología Neotropical Tradicional y Molecular, Universidad del Rosario
2020 —
Researcher
Grupo de Investigación en Paleobiología e Historia Natural, Universidad Nacional de Colombia
