Alum Presents Research at Royal Tyrrell Museum
Mar 4 2025 - 10:09am
By: Southwestern Adventist University
Southwestern Adventist University (SWAU) alum, Alessandro Franchini, recently had the unique opportunity to present his research at the renowned Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology in Drumheller, Alberta. A graduate in Integrative Biology, Franchini was invited to share his work on microfossils, with a focus on fossil frogs, a relatively understudied subject in the Lance Formation located in Wyoming.
The invitation came as a pleasant surprise for Franchini, who had been in contact with a researcher at the museum regarding his collection of fossil amphibians. What began as a brief mention of the frog fossils turned into a full research paper as Franchini realized that his collection had grown to nearly 60 fossils. This expanded collection caught the attention of the Royal Tyrrell Museum, which invited him to participate in their speaker series, a prestigious platform to present his findings. By inviting him, it would also allow for in-person collaboration to be done on the new publication.
During his time at the museum, Franchini had the chance to explore some of the world’s most valuable fossil specimens, including holotype specimens of various dinosaurs including Borealopelta, a real treat for any paleontology enthusiast. Beyond presenting his research, the experience provided invaluable lessons in fossil curation and the intricate processes involved in studying ancient species.
Franchini's presentation, titled "Microfossils of the Lance Formation, including the rare troodontid Pectinodon" is now available on the museum’s YouTube channel, offering viewers a detailed look at his research. He is also finalizing a full academic paper based on his findings, which he hopes to have published later this year.
“I’ve received incredible support from Dr. Chadwick at SWAU, who has guided me throughout the project,” Franchini shares. “President Patterson has also been a big support for me. I’m grateful for the encouragement and guidance from SWAU that helped me get to this point.”
Looking forward, Franchini plans to apply for a master’s program this fall, with the goal of eventually pursuing a Ph.D. His achievements at the Royal Tyrrell Museum are just the beginning of what promises to be an exciting academic career in paleontology.
To learn more about Franchini's research, watch his presentation on the Royal Tyrrell Museum's YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/FYnhIoppdtg?si=jYNi5ixz5KgYyQv3