Kevin Mulcahy

Doctoral Aspirant - Vertebrate Paleontology

Contact Info

k.mulcahy@ku.edu

Dyche Hall
Lawrence
1345 Jayhawk Blvd.
Lawrence, KS 66045

Biography —

Kevin Mulcahy is a PhD student in vertebrate paleontology who studies Paleogene mammalian evolution and biogeography.

Education —

B.S. in Biological Sciences, The University of Pittsburgh, 2022, Pittsburgh, PA
Summa cum laude

B.A. in Anthropology, The University of Pittsburgh, 2022, Pittsburgh, PA
Summa cum laude

Research —

I am broadly interested in the evolution of mammals during the early parts of the Cenozoic. Currently, I am working to quantify and contextualize patterns of morphological diversity in an extinct group of early mammalian herbivores (uintatheres) and to resolve the phylogenetic affinities of another enigmatic clade (Apheliscidae). I am also leading field efforts to collect fossils from a rare, high relief paleoenvironment in northern Montana. Moving forward, I am interested in studying trends in macroevolution and faunal turnover among North American Paleogene mammals, particularly in light of global climatic change. I am also interested and actively involved in student mentoring and scientific outreach.

Vertebrate Paleontology, Mammalian Evolution and Systematics Biogeography, Faunal Turnover

Selected Publications —

Mulcahy, K.D., Constenius, K.N., Beard, K.C. (2025). Northernmost Record of Dinocerata (Mammalia: Eutheria) in North America from the Middle Eocene Kishenehn Formation of Montana. Annals of Carnegie Museum, 90(3), 225-231.

Mulcahy, K.D. (2023). Relative Abundance of Vertebrate Fossil Taxa in the Upper Cretaceous Exposures of Monmouth County & a Test of Species Richness Metrics. The Mosasaur, the Journal of the Delaware Valley Paleontological Society, 13, 1-14.

Selected Presentations —

Mulcahy, K.D., Beard K.C., Constenius, K. “The northernmost record of Uintatheriidae (Mammalia: Dinocerata) in North America: phylogenetic and biogeographic implications.” 84th Annual Meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, Minneapolis, MN, November 2024. Poster Presentation.

Knoff, J., Mulcahy, K.D., Beard K.C., Georgalis, G. “The Herpetological Fauna of Eocene Balkanatolia”. 84th Annual Meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, Minneapolis, MN, November 2024. Poster Presentation.

Mulcahy, K.D. “Paleogene Mammals of Wyoming”. 62nd Kansas City Gem and Mineral Show, The Association of Earth Science Clubs of Greater Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, March 2024. Invited Oral Presentation.

Mulcahy, K.D. “Measuring Prehistoric Biodiversity in Late Cretaceous New Jersey”. February 2024 Meeting of the Kansas and Missouri Paleontological Society, The Kansas and Missouri Paleontological Society, Kansas City, MO, February 2024. Invited Oral Presentation.

Mulcahy, K.D. “Measuring Prehistoric Biodiversity in the Brooks of Monmouth County”. April 2023 Meeting of the Delaware Valley Paleontological Society, The Delaware Valley Paleontological Society, Plymouth Meeting, PA, April 2023. Invited Oral Presentation.

Mulcahy, K.D., Zallek, T. “Inter-and Intraspecific Variation Leads to Different Invasion Outcomes”. Undergraduate Research Symposium, University of Pittsburgh Department of Biological Sciences, Pittsburgh, PA, February 2022. Poster Presentation.

Grants & Other Funded Activity —

March 2024-Present: Madison and Lila Self Graduate Fellowship ($225,000)
April 2024: University of Kansas Biodiversity Institute Panorama Grant ($1,000)
March 2024: Association of Earth Science Clubs of Greater Kansas City Honorarium ($200)
February 2024: Association of Earth Science Clubs of Greater Kansas City
Research Grant ($500)
February 2024: Kansas and Missouri Paleontological Society Honorarium ($50)
April 2023: Delaware Valley Paleontological Society Honorarium ($150)
May 2018-May 2022: University of Pittsburgh Academic Scholarship ($40,000)

Memberships —

Geological Society of America (January 2025-Present)
Kansas Academy of Science (March 2024-Present)
Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (August 2023-Present)
Delaware Valley Paleontological Society (November 2022-Present)
The Paleontological Society (January 2022-Present)
Sigma Gamma Alpha Anthropology Honors Society (January 2022-Present)
Phi Eta Sigma National Honors Society (January 2019-Present)