Rok Gašparič. Institute for Palaeobiology and Evolution, Novi trg 59, 1241 Kamnik, Slovenia and Oertijdmuseum, Bosscheweg 80, 5283 WB Boxtel, the Netherlands. rok.gasparic@gmail.com
Rok Gašparič is a trained paleontologist with a PhD (Cum Laude) from the University of Ljubljana. With over 30 years of expertise, he specializes in the study of fossil decapod crustaceans. His doctoral thesis delved into the taxonomy, palaeoecology, and palaeobiogeography of fossil decapods in Slovenia and neighboring regions. Currently, Rok is dedicated to establishing a research institute for Palaeobiology and Evolution, that will address the scarcity of taxonomists studying invertebrate fossil material in Southeast Europe. Rok's extensive taxonomic work spans from Triassic anoxic lagoons in the Alpine Tethys to the Miocene sandy shores of the Paratethys. Additionally, he is passionate about advancing imaging and visualization techniques in paleontology, enhancing our understanding of fossil decapod morphology, and making paleontological discoveries more accessible to the public.
Matúš Hyžný. Comenius University, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Geology and Palaeontology, Bratislava, Slovakia. matus.hyzny@uniba.sk
Matúš Hyžný received his Ph.D. from Comenius University in Bratislava (Slovakia) in 2012; his doctoral thesis was titled "Malacostracan associations of the Central Paratethys – systematics, taphonomy, palaeoecology and palaeobiogeography". In 2013–2015 he was a research associate at the Natural History Museum in Vienna (Austria) where he studied the Cenozoic biogeography of Western Tethys decapod crustaceans. His interests cover the systematics, fossil record and biogeography of decapods with a special reference to axiidean ghost shrimps. However, he feels at home with any group of malacostracan crustaceans including mantis shrimps and isopods.
Tomaž Hitij. Institute for Palaeobiology and Evolution, Novi trg 59, 1241 Kamnik, Slovenia and University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine, Vrazov trg 2, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia. tomazhitij@gmail.com
Tomaž Hitij is an assistant professor in dental school and endodontist by day and paleontologist by night and on weekends. He has discovered many of the most important Slovenian paleontological sites and described many of his fossil finds. He has collected a large vertebrate and arthropod fossils collection ranging in age from Triassic to Pleistocene from across Slovenia. He is also a passionate fossil preparator. His research interests revolve around Triassic, vertebrates and arthropods.
Aleš Šoster. University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering, Aškerčeva c. 12, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia. ales.soster@ntf.uni-lj.si
Aleš Šoster, an economic geologist and paleontologist, holds a PhD from the University of Ljubljana. He is currently affiliated with the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering, where his commitment extends to a diverse range of courses and practicals for both graduate and undergraduate students. Among the subjects he imparts are Mineral Resources, Petrology of Magmatic Rocks, Ore Microscopy, and Paleontology. While his primary focus lies in the research of low-temperature carbonate-hosted Pb-Zn deposits, Aleš's fervor for fossil sharks and fishes is equally pronounced. In the past decade, he has been a co-author on numerous papers delving into the taxonomy of Oligocene-Miocene vertebrate and invertebrate fossils, showcasing his expertise in the geological and paleontological realms.
