Since I was a child I wanted to become a dinosaur scientist. In 2014 I did it! I actually currently don’t deal with dinosaurs, but with Eocene individuals and their exceptional soft-tissues preservation (“Geiseltal collection”, Germany). However, I still have a strong interest in dinosaur excavations, as well as sedimentology, stratigraphy, the reconstruction of ancient ecosystems and museology. I also work on Permian ecosystems and trace fossils.

Publications

• Falk, D., Wings, O., McNamara, M.E., 2022. The skeletal taphonomy of anurans from the Eocene Geiseltal Konservat-Lagerstätte, Germany: insights into the controls on fossil anuran preservation. Papers in Palaeontology, 8, e1453, p. 1-34. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/spp2.1453. Please see the media articles on this publication here!
• Falk, D., Grosse, W.-R., McNamara, M., Wings, O. Der mysteriöse Tod der Frösche des Geiseltales/Sachsen-Anhalt im Mitteleozän. Jahresschrift für Feldherpetologie und Ichthyofaunistik in Sachsen, in print.
• Falk, D., Stache, M., 2021. Die eozänen Froschlurche der Geiseltal-Sammlung. 39-47. In Seidl, E., Steinheimer, F. and Weber, C. (eds): Eine Frage der Perspektive. Objekte als Vermittler von Wissenschaft. Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Junges Forum für Sammlungs- und Objektforschung. Herausgegeben von der Gesellschaft für Universitätssammlungen e.V. Bd. V, 126 p. https://edoc.hu-berlin.de/handle/18452/24596.
• Marchetti, L., Klein, H., Falk, D., Wings, O., 2020. Synaptichnium tracks from the middle Muschelkalk (Middle Triassic, Anisian) Bernburg site (Saxony-Anhalt, Germany). Annales Societatis Geologorum Poloniae, 90, p. 321-331. http://www.asgp.pl/90_3_321_330_Marchetti_et_al.
• Buchwitz, M., Marchetti, L., Jansen, M., Falk, D., Trostheide, F., Schneider, J.W., 2020. Ichnotaxonomy and trackmaker assignment of tetrapod tracks and swimming traces from the Middle Permian Hornburg Formation of Saxony-Anhalt (Germany). Annales Societatis Geologorum Poloniae, 90, p. 291-320. http://www.asgp.pl/90_3_291_320_Buchwitz_et_al.
• Buchwitz, M., Falk, D., Klein, H., Mertmann, D., Perl, A., Wings, O. (eds.), 2019. 3rd International Conference of Continental Ichnology (ICCI 2019) – Abstract Volume & Field Trip Guide. Hallesches Jahrbuch für Geowissenschaften, Institut für Geowissenschaften und Geographie der Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), 150 p. https://sites.google.com/view/3rd-icci-2019/home/abstract-volume-field-trip-guide.
• Falk, D., Lechner, T., Fuhrmann, A., 2018. Sammeln für die Ewigkeit – Ideen zur nachhaltigen Inventarisierung von geowissenschaftlichen Objekten. Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Karlsruhe, Carolinea, 76, p. 5-19. ResearchGate link to article available here.
• Falk, D., Treptow, K., 2017. Biegsame Gesteine!? Itacolumite aus der petrographischen Sammlung des Staatlichen Museums für Naturkunde Karlsruhe. Carolinea, 75, p. 5-13. ResearchGate link to article available here.
• Legler, C., Barth, A., Mruma, A.H., Magigita, M., Boniface, N., Falk, D., Stanek, K.P., 2015. Minerogenic Map of Tanzania – Map and Explanatory Notes, Ministry of Energy and Mines/Geological Survey of Tanzania, Dar-es-Salaam/Dodoma, 2015, 376 p.
• Wings, O., Falk, D., Knötschke, N., Richter, A., 2012. Excursion Guide B1: The Early Cretaceous Dinosaur Trackways in Münchehagen (Lower Saxony, Germany) – The Natural Monument ‚Saurierfährten Münchehagen‘ and the adjacent Wesling Quarry, in Richter, A., Reich, M., eds., Dinosaur Tracks 2011 – An International Symposium, Obernkirchen, April 14-17, 2011; Abstract Volume and Field Guide to Excursions, Universitätsdrucke Göttingen, Landesmuseum Hannover, Obernkirchen, p. 113-142. ResearchGate link to article available here.

Biography

• Oct 2018 – present: Geology PhD student at the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University College Cork (Ireland). PhD Thesis: Taphonomy of the Eocene Geiseltal Konservat-Lagerstätte, Germany.
• Feb 2016 – Feb 2018: State Museum of Natural History Karlsruhe (Germany). Scientific trainee/volunteer (full-time): Collection work, research, museum education (guided tours, presentations, pedagogy), exhibition work.
• Nov 2014 – Nov 2015: BEAK Consultants GmbH Freiberg (Germany). Engineering work in Germany and abroad with focus on ore research and prospection.
• Dec 2011 – Sept 2014: MSc Geo Sciences at the Technical University Bergakademie Freiberg (Germany). Main subjects: applied palaeontology & stratigraphy. Thesis (partly published): Sedimentology, Palaeontology and Environmental Reconstruction of the Hornburg-Formation, Southern Permian basin (Late Guadalupian, Permian).
• Oct 2008 – Dec 2011: BSc Geology/Mineralogy at the Technical University Bergakademie Freiberg (Germany). Thesis (partly published): Sedimentology and 3D-Modelling of Dinosaur Trackways of the Lowermost Cretaceous (Berriasian, Bückeberg-Formation) from Münchehagen (Lower Saxony).