Draft:Rachel Warnock

Professor Dr. Rachel Warnock (Rachel C.M. Warnock) is a paleobiologist and a professor at GeoZentrum Nordbayern, specializing in systems of paleobiology. Her focus lies in the field of tree-building tools for phylogenetics, where she extracts information from the fossil record. Her research encompasses molecular, morphological, stratigraphic, and environmental data, involving both the development of methods and practical case studies spanning geological time periods. More precisely, her work involves integrating biological data with information from the fossil record where she develops and applies phylogenetic tools that model the relationship between the ancestor and descendant species.

Life
Rachel Warnock studied Genetics in her bachelor’s and master’s. She started to develop an interest in the evolutionary development and diversification of organisms (phylogenetics) at a young age. This early passion led her to delve deeply into phylogenetics. In 2014, she completed her Ph.D. in palaeobiology at the University of Bristol, concentrating on estimating species divergence times.

After her education, Warnock engaged in academic work as a postdoctoral researcher at Smithsonian NMNH. During this period, her focus centered on the evolutionary history of Corries (marine snails). Subsequently, she continued her doctoral research at ETH Zurich, focusing on estimating diversification rates.

Currently, she embarked on a new career as a professor at GeoZentrum Nordbayern in the paleobiology institute of Friedrich Alexander University. Simultaneously, she took on the responsibility of serving as the dean of studies at GeoZentrum Nordbayern.

Awards
In 2023, Warnock won a Hodson Award from The Paleontological Association for her notable contributions to paleontology.