The analysis of the history of life over long time spans and on a dynamic geographic stage is the focus of my research. Unveiling impactful data is the focus of my fieldwork. From dinosaurs to birds to ancient humans, many of the questions remain the same. First, what happened? Then, why did it happen? And finally, what kinds of emergent contraints or underlying patterns exist? My recent theoretical work has generated comparative methods that may lead to a more synthetic approach to phylogentic analysis using morphology. My field work has turned up a menagerie of unusual dinosaurs, crocodiles, and ancient humans that continue to distinguish the Sahara Desert as one of the most intriguing places on the planet.