Email:

jmengSPAMFILTER@amnh.org

Phone:

212-496-3337

Fax:

212-769-5842

Curriculum Vitae (short version)

Education

• Columbia University , Ph.D., 1991
• Graduate School of Sciences & Technology, and the IVPP, Academia Sinica, Beijing, M.S., 1984
• Beijing University, B.S., 1982

Research Interests

Meng Jin studies the morphology, systematics, and evolution of mammals, particularly early mammals. Unlike some paleontologists who focus primarily upon teeth and dentition as their evidence, Dr. Meng examines the cranium, ear region, and enamel microstructure of teeth as sources of data to address evolutionary issues concerning mammals. He uses digital imaging, radiography, scanning electron microscopy, and computerized tomography to enhance observations and field work. Most of Dr. Meng's fieldwork takes place in Asia-primarily in Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang Province in northeast China, and southern China. Dr. Meng has done research on several mammal groups including didymoconids, multituberculates, and gliriforms. Rcently, Dr. Meng and his colleagues published research on a fossil of a 130-million-year-old opossum-sized mammal, Repenomamus robustus, found with the remains of a psittacosaur in its stomach area. This fossil is the first direct evidence that some primitive mammals were carnivores and fed on small vertebrates, including young dinosaurs.

• Publications

  2011. Wang, Y.-Q.,Meng, J., Jin, X., Beard, K. C., Bai, B., Li, P., Ni, X.-J., Li, Q, and Gebo, D. L. 2011. Early Eocene perissodactyls (Mammalia) from the upper Nomogen Formation of the Erlian Basin, Nei Mongol, China. Vertebrata PalAsiatica 49: 123-140.

  2011. Maridet, O, Wu W.-Y., Ye J., Bi S.-D., Ni X.-J., and J. Meng. Earliest occurrence of Democricetodon in China, in the early Miocene of the Junggar basin (Xinjiang) and comparison with the genus Spanocricetodon. Vertebrata PalAsiatica. Vertebrata PalAsiatic, 49（4）: 393-405.

  2011. Maridet O., Wu W.-Y, Ye. J., Ni X.-J. & J. Meng.- Early Miocene cricetids from the Junggar basin (Xinjiang, China) and their biochronological implications. Geobios 44: 445–459

  2011. Bin Bai, Yuanqing Wang, Jin Meng. Early Eocene ChalicothereLitolophuswith hoof-like unguals. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, 31:6, 1387-139.

  2011. Maridet O., Wu W.-Y, Ye. J., Ni X.-J. &Meng J.New discoveries of glirids and eomyids (Mammalia, Rodentia) in the Early Miocene of the Junggar basin (Northern Xinjiang province, China). Swiss J Palaeontol (2011) 130:315–323. DOI 10.1007/s13358-011-0022-7.

• Teaching Experience

  Faculty Appointments

  • Adjunct faculty, Biology Department, CUNY, 2000-present
  • Adjunct faculty, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, CUNY, 2000-present
  • Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 1996-1999
  • Visiting Lecturer, Vassar College, 1991

   

  Courses Taught

  • Mammalogy, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 1996-1999
  • Evolutionary Mechanisms, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 1996-1999
  • Systematics, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 1996-1999

  Introduction to Paleobiology, Vassar College, 1991

   

  Graduate Advisees

  • Matthew Mihlbacher, Geology, Columbia University
  • Bolorseteg Minjin, Earth and Environmental Sciences, CUNY
  • Hu Yaoming, Biology, CUNY

   

  Graduate Committees

  • Served on 14 committees.
  • Examples from the last 5 years include:
  • Shundung Bi, Howard University
  • Daniel Kspeka, Columbia University
  • Sunny Hwang, Columbia University