Our Ambassadors

Associate Professor

Kiran Aftab

Dr Kiran Aftab is a Tenured Associate Professor in the Department of Zoology at the University of Gujrat, Gujrat, Pakistan. She holds a PhD in Zoology, specializing in Paleontology, with expertise in vertebrate paleontology and the fossil mammals of the Siwalik region. Her research focuses on the taxonomy, evolution, and paleoecology of fossil mammals, contributing to a better understanding of past biodiversity, environmental changes, and climatic dynamics in the Siwalik Hills of Pakistan. She is actively engaged in paleontological fieldwork, postgraduate and doctoral research supervision, and academic collaborations. Dr Aftab has supervised numerous postgraduate research projects and is committed to advancing scientific knowledge through research, teaching, and scholarly publications. Her academic contributions also include curriculum development, research evaluation, and departmental and university-level administrative responsibilities.

Senior Scientific Researcher

Bogdan-Stelian Haiduc

Bogdan-Stelian HAIDUC is a Senior Scientific Researcher at the Institute of Geology and Seismology, Moldova State University, Republic of Moldova. His research focuses on Mio-Pliocene vertebrate assemblages, vertebrate palaeontology, and palaeoecology, with particular interest in reconstructing past environments and understanding the relationships between faunal evolution and environmental change. His work investigates fossil vertebrate communities to explore biodiversity patterns, ecological dynamics, and the evolution of terrestrial ecosystems throughout the Neogene. He is interested in multidisciplinary approaches to palaeontological research, integrating palaeontological evidence with geological and palaeoenvironmental data to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of past ecosystems. Through his research, he aims to contribute to a better understanding of the region's palaeontological heritage and its significance within broader European and Eurasian contexts. He values international scientific collaboration, knowledge exchange, and the promotion of palaeontology to wider scientific audiences.

Associate Professor

Daniel Badea

My name is Daniel D. Badea, and I hold a PhD in Geology, specializing in Paleontology. I am an Associate Professor in the Department of Geology, Faculty of Geography and Geology, at Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași, Romania. My research focuses on vertebrate paleontology, particularly fossil microvertebrates from the Upper Miocene of northeastern Romania, Eastern Europe.

My work explores the diversity of fossil micromammals, including Rodentia, Lagomorpha, and Eulipotyphla, as well as fossil fish and reptiles. Through the identification and study of these fossil remains, I aim to improve our understanding of the Upper Miocene vertebrate fauna of the region and contribute to broader paleobiogeographic comparisons with neighboring areas. The interpretation of these fossil assemblages also provides valuable insights into past environments, helping to reconstruct the ecosystems and environmental conditions that characterized this period.

Paleontology Researcher, Zoologist, PhD Applicant

Rizwan Haider

I am a Palaeontology researcher and zoologist, affiliated with the University of the Punjab in Lahore, Pakistan. Holding a deep passion for prehistoric lite and evolutionary biology, my research focuses on bridging the gap between modern zoological principies and the fossil record. As an aspiring PhD applicant, I am dedicated to contributing to the scientific understanding of regional biodiversity and ancient ecosystems. I actively leverages digital platforms and professional networks to collaborate with international peer communities. By serving as an Ambassador for the 6th Palaeontological Virtual Congress, I aim to foster cross-border academic engagement, promote open-access paleontological research, and inspire students and fellow researchers across Pakistan to participate in global scientific dialogues.

Researcher

Fernando Marcanth Lopes

Fernando Marcanth Lopes is a researcher at the Technological lnstitute of Paleoceanography and Climate Change (itt OCEANEON}, University of the Rio dos Sinos Valley (UNISINOS), Brazil. He earned his Ph.D. in Geosciences from UNISINOS, with part of his doctoral training conducted at the Scripps lnstitution of Oceanography (S10), University of California San Diego (UCSD), USA. His research interests include paleoceanography, paleoclimatology, and micropaleontology, with emphasis on the use of benthic and planktonic foraminifera, stable isotopes, and geochemical proxies to reconstruct Maastrichtian and Cenozoic climate and oceanographic variability. Outside academia, he enjoys reading science communication and popular science literature, surfing, playing the drums, and learning about natural history and evolutionary processes.

Assistant Professor

Husain Shabbar

Dr. Husain Shabbar is an Assistant Professor of Geology at Parul University, India. His research focuses on palaeobotany, palynology, and invertebrate palaeontology, with particular emphasis on the Early Palaeozoic evolution of terrestrial and marine ecosystems. His work explores the early terrestrialisation of vascular plants, Ordovician–Silurian marine biodiversity, palaeoecology and high-resolution biostratigraphy of the Palaeozoic successions of the Tethyan Himalaya. He has published research on fossil macroalgae, marine invertebrates, trace fossils and Palaeozoic palynomorphs in peer-reviewed international journals. His broader research interests include applied palynology, wellsite biostratigraphy and the application of geospatial technologies in Earth sciences. Through his research and teaching, he seeks to advance understanding of Earth's early biosphere and promote interdisciplinary research in palaeontology and geosciences.

Postgraduate

Klara T. Gerken

My name is Klara Gerken and I am a German paleontology postgraduate from the university of Bonn. I have a bachelor degree in geography and geology with my bachelor thesis describing a new mammalian lower jaw from the late Cretaceous Lance Formation of Wyoming, USA.After working half a year as a student assistant in the preparation lab of the Senckenberg Museum in Frankfurt am Main, Germany and four weeks of internship with the Sociedade de História Natural in Torres Vedras, Portugal I gained experience in manual and mechanical preparation processes. I am mostly interested in Temnospondyli and as a hobby in Miocene echinoids and general preparation. Together with two colleagues we do occasional videos about topics and news in paleontology in German, as educational outreach and international connections in paleontology are highly important to me.

PhD candidate

Paulo Roberto da Silva

Paulo obtained a B.Sc. in Biological Sciences from the São Paulo State University (UNESP) in 2022, where he studied the adductor chamber of fossil longirostrine crocodyliforms using comparative anatomy. He subsequently completed an M.Sc. in Biodiversity at UNESP, focusing on the functional morphology of the crocodyliform craniomandibular apparatus using Finite Element Analysis (FEA). Currently a Ph.D. candidate in Biodiversity at UNESP and a member of the Laboratory of Paleontology and Evolution of Ilha Solteira (LAPEISA), Paulo combines systematics, comparative anatomy, and biomechanics to investigate the evolution of extant and extinct crocodyliforms, with a particular focus on Caimaninae.

Volunteer Researcher

Elena-Ionela Păun

I am a vertebrate palaeontologist specialising in Mio-Pleistocene vertebrate assemblages from Eastern Romania. I received my PhD in 2025 from the Faculty of Geography and Geology at Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iași, Romania. My research focuses on Upper Miocene-Upper Pleistocene vertebrate assemblages from the foreland platforms of the Eastern Carpathians, with particular interests in large vertebrates, taphonomy, biostratigraphy, and palaeoenvironmental reconstruction.
More broadly, I am interested in the palaeoecology and evolution of mammals in Eastern Europe, particularly in understanding how fossil evidence can contribute to reconstructing past environments and ecological changes through time, with a focus on Eastern Romania and Moldova.

Graduate

Md. Ibrahimul Bari

I am Md. Ibrahimul Bari, a recent M.Sc. graduate in Geology from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bhubaneswar and a prospective Ph.D. student with a strong passion for vertebrate paleontological research and science communication. My research combines vertebrate paleontology, micropaleontology, and paleoenvironmental studies to explore fossil biodiversity, evolutionary history, and past climate and ecosystem change. I have extensive field experience in paleontological exploration and multidisciplinary geological investigations across India and Bangladesh. Beyond research, I am deeply committed to science communication and public engagement, actively participating in educational outreach, international conferences, and initiatives that make paleontology accessible to wider audiences. I enjoy reading, exploring diverse cultures, hiking, teaching, and sharing the fascinating story of Earth's history through fossils. As a 6th PVC Ambassador, I would be honored to promote the congress by sharing its announcements, discoveries, and opportunities, inspiring greater participation, and fostering meaningful connections within the global paleontological community.