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Jessie Atterholt, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific
Western University of Health Sciences
309 E. Second Street
Pomona, CA 91766-1854
USA
(click here to download CV)
Peer-Reviewed Publications
click paper title to download a PDF
J. Atterholt, J. K. O’Connor, H. You. 2025. Osteohistology of enantiornithine birds from the Lower Cretaceous Xiagou Formation. Geobios 90:5-16.
J. K. O'Connor, J. Atterholt, A. Bailleul, M. Wang, Z. Zhou. 2025. Description and osteohistology of two early immature enantiornithines (Avews: Ornithothoraces) from the Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota. Geobios 90:103-122.
J. K. O’Connor, J. Atterholt, A. D. Clark, L. Zhou, C. Peng, X. Zhang, H. You. 2025. Enantiornithine (Aves: Ornithothoraces) from the Lower Cretaceous Xiagou Formation with an unusually short pubis. Geobios 90:123-131.
A. D. Clark, J. Atterholt, J. B. Scannella, N. Carroll, J. K. O’Connor. 2024. Enantiornithine diversity in the Hell Creek Formation and the functional morphology of the avisaurid tarsometatarsus. PLoS ONE, 19.10 (2024): e0310686. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0310686
J. Atterholt, M. J. Wedel, R. Tykoski, A. R. Fiorillo, F. Holwerda, T. K. Nalley, T. Lepore, J. Yasmer. 2024. Neural canal ridges: A novel osteological correlate of postcranial neuroanatomy in dinosaurs. The Anatomical Record, 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1002/ar.25558.
E. R. Schachner, A. J. Moore, A. Martinez, R. E. Diaz Jr., M. S. Echols, J. Atterholt, R. Kissane, B. P. Hedrick, K. T. Bates. 2024. The respiratory system influences flight mechanics in soaring birds. Nature 630: 1-6. DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07485-y.
S. Sidhu & J. Atterholt. 2024. Survey of cadaveric variations of quadratus plantae, and implications for classifications, surgical procedures, and clinical outcomes. Extremitas 11:92-99.
M. Wedel & J. Atterholt. 2023. Expanded neurocentral joints in the vertebrae of sauropod dinosaurs. Proceedings of the Mesozoic Terrestrial Ecosystems Conference.
J. Atterholt & M. Wedel. 2022. A CT-based survey of paramedullary diverticula in extant Aves. The Anatomical Record :1-22. DOI: 10.1002/ar.24923
J. Atterholt & H. N. Woodward. 2021. A histological survey of avian post-natal skeletal ontogeny. PeerJ, 9:e12160. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12160
M. Wedel, J. Atterholt, A.C. Dooley Jr., S. Farooq, J. Macalino, T.K. Nalley, G. Wisser, J. Yasmer. 2021. Expanded neural canals in the caudal vertebrae of a specimen of Haplocanthosaurus. Academia Letters, Article 911. DOI: https://doi.org/10.20935/AL911
J. Atterholt, A.W. Poust, G.E. Erickson, J.K. O’Connor. 2021. Intraskeletal Osteohistovariability Reveals Complex Growth Strategies in a Late Cretaceous Enantiornithine. Frontiers in Earth Science 9:640220. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2021.640220
J. Atterholt, J. H. Hutchison, J. K. O'Connor. 2018. The most complete enantiornithine from North America and a phylogenetic analysis of the Avisauridae. PeerJ 6:e5910; DOI10.7717/peerj.5910
J.K. O'Connor, D. Li, M.C. Lamanna, M. Wang, J.D. Harris, J. Atterholt, H. You. 2016. A new Early Cretaceous enantiornithine (Aves, Ornithothoraces) from northwestern China with elaborate tail ornamentation. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 36(1), e1054035.
R.L. Nudds, J. Atterholt, X. Wang, H. You, G.J. Dyke. 2013. Locomotory abilities and habitat of the Cretaceous bird Gansus yumenensis inferred from limb length proportions. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 26 (1), 150-154.
CV: Education
S. Ji, J. Atterholt, J.K. O'Connor, M.C. Lamanna, J.D. Harris, D. Li, H. You, P. Dodson. 2011. A new, three-dimensionally preserved enantiornithine bird (Aves: Ornithothoraces) from Gansu Province, north-western China. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 162(1), 201-219.
H. You, J. Atterholt, J.K. O'Connor, J.D. Harris, M.C. Lamanna, D. Li. 2010. A second Cretaceous ornithuromorph bird from the Changma Basin, Gansu Province, northwestern China. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 55 (4), 617-625.
J. Atterholt, J. H. Hutchison, J. K. O'Connor. 2018. The most complete enantiornithine from North America and a phylogenetic analysis of the Avisauridae. PeerJ 6:e5910; DOI10.7717/peerj.5910
Select Abstracts & Presentations
Raber, K., Wedel, M., Atterholt, J., Foster, J., Gray, D., and Bennis, M.B. 2025. A musculoskeletal lesion in a femur of Apatosaurus. 5th Palaeontological Virtual Congress.
A. Clark, J. Atterholt, N.R. Carroll, T. Carr, J. Scannella, J.K. O’Connor. 2024. New enantiornithine diversity in the Hell Creek and the functional morphology of the avisaurid tarsometatarsus. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.
J. Atterholt, M. J. Wedel, J. Benito, D. J. Field. 2024. Evidence of paramedullary diverticula in extinct ornithodirans. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.
E.R. Schachner, A.D. Moore, A. Martinez, R.E. Diaz Jr., M.S. Echols, J. Atterholt, R. Kissane, B.P. Hedrick, K.T. Bates. 2024. The subpectoral diverfticulum in hawks and other soaring birds: not just another air sac. Society of Integrative & Comparative Biology Meeting.
M. Wedel & J. Atterholt. 2023. Expanded neurocentral joints in the vertebrae of sauropod dinosaurs. Proceedings of the Mesozoic Terrestrial Ecosystems Conference.
J. Atterholt, J.K. O’Connor, H. You. 2023. Osteohistology of enantiornithine birds from the Lower Cretaceous Xiagou Formation in Changma, northwestern China. 10th International Meeting of the Society of Avian Paleontology and Evolution.
A. Dooley, D. Radford, M. J. Wedel, J. Atterholt, T. Nalley. 2020. “Broader impacts”, An exhibit program focused on basic research. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 38:123A.
A. Dooley, D. Radford, M. J. Wedel, J. Atterholt, T. Nalley. 2020. “Broader impacts”, An exhibit program focused on basic research. Geological Society of America: Cordilleran Section. Pasadena, CA.
J. Atterholt & M. Wedel. 2019. Neural canal ridges: A novel osteological correlate of post-cranial neurology in dinosaurs. 67th Symposium on Vertebrate Paleontology and Comparative Anatomy, Programs and Abstracts:4 / PeerJ Preprints 7:e27967v1.
M.J. Wedel, J. Atterholt, J. Macalino, T. Nalley, G. Wisser, J. Yasmer. 2018. Reconstructing an unusual specimen of Haplocanthosaurus using a blend of physical and digital techniques. 1st Palaeontological Virtual Congress, Programs an Abstracts / PeerJ Preprints. 6:e27431v1.
J. Atterholt & M. Wedel. 2018. A CT-based survey of supramedullary diverticula in extant birds. 66th Symposium on Vertebrate Paleontology and Comparative Anatomy, Programs and Abstracts:30 / PeerJ Preprints 6:e27201v2.
J. Atterholt. 2015. A study of the influence of post-natal development on avian evolution. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 33(suppl.3):81A.
J. Atterholt. 2013. Dissecting Dinosaurs: the use of research specimens in high school biology classrooms to engage students as citizen scientists and promote scientific literacy. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 33(suppl.3):80A.
J. Atterholt. 2011. Evolution of the avialan altricial-precocial spectrum and implications for enantiornithine development. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 31(suppl.3):64—65A.
J. Atterholt, J. O’Connor, J. Harris, H. You, D. Li. 2010. Avian taxonomic diversity and anatomical disparity in the Lower Cretaceous Xiagou Formation of the Changma Basin, Gansu Province, People’s Republic of China. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30(suppl.3):55A.
M. Lamanna, D. Li, J. Harris, J. Atterholt, H. You. 2010. First non-avian dinosaur from the lower Cretaceous (Aptian) Xiagou Formation of the Changma Basin, northwestern China. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 30(suppl.3):119A.
Education
Ph.D. - University of California, Berkeley
August 2009 - May 2015
Department of Integrative Biology, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, Museum of Paleontology
Advised by: Dr. Marvalee Wake & Dr. David Lindberg
B.A. - University of Pennsylvania
August 2005 - May 2009
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Advised by: Dr. Peter Dodson & Dr. Herman Pfefferkorn
Academic Appointments
College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific
Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA, USA
Associate Professor
July 2025 - Present
College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific
Graduate College of Biomedical Sciences
Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA, USA
Assistant Professor
June 2018 - June 2025
The Webb Schools, Claremont, CA, USA
Faculty
June 2015 - June 2018
Joseph Maillard Graduate Fellowship
University of California Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, Berkeley, CA
Research Fellow
August 2014 - May 2015
Department of Integrative Biology
University of California, Berkeley
Graduate Student Instructor
August 2009 - May 2014
Science Education & Outreach Work
Teaching Fellow - Junior Scholar’s Paleontology Program; The Webb Schools, Claremont, CA.
July 2015, July 2016, July 2017
Volunteer Instructor - Bay Area Scientists in Schools.
March 2010 - May 2015
Head Facilitator - Anatomy Enrichment Program (IB198), Dept. of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley.
Spring 2014
Instructor - Girls Educational and Mentoring Services After-School Program.
October 2011; March 2012
Grants & Awards
University of California Museum of Vertebrate Zoology Joseph Maillard Graduate Fellowship - 2014
University of California Department of Integrative Biology Summer Research Fund - 2013
University of California Museum of Vertebrate Zoology Graduate Student Research Fund - 2013
Jurassic Foundation Research Grant - 2012
Professional Affiliations
Society of Vertebrate Paleontology
Society of Avian Paleontology and Evolution
American Association for Anatomy
The Dinosaur Institute of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
Professional Service
PeerJ Ambassador
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