Dr. Veronica Diez-Diaz

Ongoing courses

• Instructor in the online course “Introduction to photogrammetry” (Transmitting Science)

Publications (selection)

1. [OA] Gorscak, E., Lamanna, M., Schwarz, D., Díez Díaz, V., Salem, B., Sallam, H., Wiechmann, M. 2023. A new titanosaurian (Dinosauria: Sauropoda) from the Upper Cretaceous (Campanian) Quseir Formation of the Kharga Oasis, Egypt. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 10.1080/02724634.2023.2199810.
2. [OA] Fiedler, D., Lösch, T., Heinz, G., Heck, T., Díez Díaz, V., Repke, L., Williams, H., Breuer, J., and Zoch, G. 2022. Who are Leibniz PostDocs and what is it like to work at a Leibniz institute? Report of the first Leibniz PostDoc Survey 2020. https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:0168-ssoar-83394-4
3. Navarro, B.A., Ghilardi, A.M., Aureliano, T., Díez Díaz, V., Bandeira, K.L.N., Cattaruzzi, A.G.S., Iori, F.V., Martine, A.M., Carvalho, A.B., Anelli, L.E., Fernandes, M.A., and Zaher, H. 2022. A new nanoid-titanosaur from the Upper Cretaceous of Brazil. Ameghiniana 59(5): 317-354. DOI: 10.5710/AMGH.25.08.2022.3477.
4. [OA] Díez Díaz, V., Cuesta, E., Vidal, D., and Belvedere, M. 2022. Editorial: Technological Frontiers in Dinosaur Science Mark a New Age of Opportunity for Early Career Researchers. Frontiers in Earth Science Paleontology. 10:973459. DOI: 10.3389/feart.2022.973459
5. Díez Díaz, V. 2022. Titanosaur Boom. Nature Ecology & Evolution. DOI: 10.1038/s41559-022-01677-3
6. Meso, J.G., Quin, Z., Pittman, M., Canale, J.I., Salgado, L., and Díez Díaz, V. 2021. Tail anatomy of the Alvarezsauria (Theropoda, Coelurosauria), and its functional and behavioural implications. Cretaceous Research 124, 104830
7. [OA] Díez Díaz, V., Mallison, H., Asbach, P., Schwarz, D., and Blanco, A. 2021. Comparing surface digitization techniques in palaeontology using visual perceptual metrics and distance computations between 3D meshes. Palaeontology. DOI: 10.1111/pala.12518
8. [OA] Díez Díaz, V., Garcia, G., Pereda Suberbiola, X., Jentgen-Ceschino, B., Stein, K., Godefroit, P. and Valentin, X. 2020. A new titanosaur (Dinosauria: Sauropoda) from the Late Cretaceous of Velaux-La-Bastide Neuve (southern France). Historical Biology. DOI: 10.1080/08912963.2020.1841184
9. [OA] Díez Díaz, V., Demuth, O.E., Schwarz, D., and Mallison, H. 2020. The tail of the sauropod Giraffatitan brancai: digital reconstruction of its epaxial and hypaxial musculature, and its implications for tail biomechanics. Frontiers in Earth Science – Paleontology 8: 160. DOI: 10.3389/feart.2020.00160
10. [OA] Knoll, F., Lautenschlager, S., Valentin, X., Díez Díaz, V., Pereda Suberbiola, X., and Garcia, G. 2019. First palaeoneurological study of a sauropod from France and its phylogenetic significance. PeerJ 7:e7991 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7991
11. [OA] Holwerda, F.M., Díez Díaz, V., Blanco, A., Montie, R., and Reumer, J.W.F. 2018. Late Cretaceous sauropod tooth morphotypes may provide supporting evidence for faunal connections between North Africa and Southern Europe. PeerJ 43 pp. DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5925
12. Díez Díaz, V., Garcia, G., Pereda Suberbiola, X., Jentgen, B., Stein, K., Godefroit, P. and Valentin, X. 2018. The titanosaurian dinosaur Atsinganosaurus velauciensis (Sauropoda) from the Upper Cretaceous of southern France: new material, phylogenetic affinities, and palaeobiogeographical implications. Cretaceous Research 91: 429-456.
13. Vidal, D., and Díez Díaz, V. 2017. Reconstructing hypothetical sauropod tails by means of 3D digitization: Lirainosaurus astibiae as case study. Journal of Iberian Geology 43(2): 293-305.
14. Díez Díaz, V., Mocho, P., Páramo, A., Escaso, F., Marcos-Fernández, F., Sanz, J.L. and Ortega, F. 2016. A new titanosaur (Dinosauria, Sauropoda) from the Upper Cretaceous of Lo Hueco (Cuenca, Spain). Cretaceous Research 68: 49-60.
15. Díez Díaz, V., Pereda Suberbiola, X. and Company, J. 2015. Puesta al día de la diversidad de titanosaurios (Sauropoda) del Cretácico Superior de España. Spanish Journal of Palaeontology 30(2): 293-306.
16. Díez Díaz, V., Ortega, F. and Sanz, J.L. 2014. Titanosaurian teeth from the Late Cretaceous of “Lo Hueco” (Cuenca, Spain). Cretaceous Research 51: 285-291.
17. [OA] Díez Díaz, V., Pereda Suberbiola, X. and Sanz, J.L. 2013. Appendicular skeleton and dermal armour of the titanosaur Lirainosaurus astibiae (Dinosauria: Sauropoda). Palaeontologia Electronica, 16 (2); 19A; 18p.
18. Díez Díaz, V., Pereda Suberbiola, X. and Sanz, J.L. 2013. The axial skeleton of the titanosaur Lirainosaurus astibiae (Dinosauria: Sauropoda) from the Latest Cretaceous of Spain. Cretaceous Research 43: 145-160.
19. Díez Díaz, V., Tortosa, T. and Le Loeuff, J. 2013. Sauropod diversity in the Latest Cretaceous of south-western Europe: the lessons of odontology. Annales de Paléontologie, 99 (2): 119-129.
20. Díez Díaz, V., Garcia, G., Knoll, F., Pereda Suberbiola, X. and Valentin, X. 2012. New cranial remains of titanosaurian sauropod dinosaurs from the Late Cretaceous of Fox-Amphoux-Métisson (Var, SE France). Proceedings of the Geologists' Association, 123 (4): 626-637.
21. Díez Díaz, V., Pereda Suberbiola, X. and Sanz, J.L. 2012. Juvenile and adult teeth of the titanosaurian dinosaur Lirainosaurus (Sauropoda) from the Late Cretaceous of Iberia. Geobios, 45 (3): 265-274.
22. [OA] Díez Díaz, V., Pereda Suberbiola, X. and Sanz, J.L. 2011. Braincase anatomy of the sauropod dinosaur Lirainosaurus astibiae (Titanosauria) from the Late Cretaceous of the Iberian Peninsula. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, 56 (3): 521-533.

Ongoing Projects

• Anatomy and biomechanics of the tail of Neosauropoda: reconstruction of the musculoskeletal anatomy of the tail by means of 3D modeling, and establishment of a biomechanical framework for tail variability in different sauropod groups.
• Late Cretaceous titanosaurian (Sauropoda, Dinosauria) systematics and diversity.
• Ethics and best practice in the creation, use and sharing of digital data in palaeontology.
• Assessment of the best way(s) to digitize fossil specimens by using different 3D surface digitization techniques at the Palaeontology Collection of the Museum für Naturkunde (Berlin, Germany).

Education

Ph.D. 2013 Geology, Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea Bilbao (Spain). 

B.A. 2007 Biology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain). 

Past positions

2018-2021 Postdoctoral position funded by the Berliner Chancengleichheitsprogramm-BCP and the DiGiTal Programm. Full-time dedication.

Humboldt Universität zu Berlin – Museum für Naturkunde Berlin (Germany).

Research Project (Principal Researcher): Assessment of different methods for digitising Vertebrate Palaeontology Collections.

2015-2017 Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship for Postdoctoral Researchers. Full-time dedication.

Museum für Naturkunde Berlin (Germany).

Supervisors: Dr. Daniela Schwarz and Dr. Heinrich Mallison.

Research Project (Principal Researcher): Biomechanics of the tail of Neosauropoda: photogrammetry and 3D modelling.

2013-2014 Contract for recent doctors until their incorporation in postdoctoral programmes (UPV/EHU). Half-time dedication.

Grants and awards

2018 Digital Female Leader Award in the category of Science.

2015 “Premio Extraordinario de Doctorado”, awarded by the UPV/EHU.

2010 SYNTHESYS Project. Visit to the Natural History Museum of London (UK). 

Outreach (selection)

1. “Speaker Series” organized by the Royal Tyrrell Museum (Drumheller, Canada) (24.03.2022): “Bringing Dinosaurs to Life: Using Innovative Techniques and Methods in Vertebrate Palaeontology”

2. Kaffeeklatsch mit Wissenschaft (Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, Germany) (05.12.2021): “Bringing dinosaurs back to life”

3. "Jornadas de Patrimonio Paleontológico, Biodiversidad y Educación en La Laguna” (Universidad de La Laguna, Spain) (19-20.07.2021): “Digitalizando nuestro pasado: importancia de los modelos y colecciones digitales en paleontología”

4. Episode 7 of the Cultural Heritage film series from the Leibniz research museums about the digitization of museum collections: “How did Giraffatitan shake its tail?”

Interviews

1. FemaleOneZero (2018): https://femaleonezero.com/community/veronica-diez-diaz/
2. Spanish Information and Scientific News Service (SINC) (2018): www.agenciasinc.es/Entrevistas/La-espanola-que-va-a-revolucionar-las-colecciones-de-fosiles-de-los-museos
3. Spanish radio program “La Linterna” (La Cope, 2018): www.cope.es/programas/la-linterna/el-tema-del-dia/noticias/investigadores-cientificos-haciendo-marca-espana-20181212_309294
4. Berlin University Alliance (2019):www.berlin-university-alliance.de/impressions/20191009-DiGiTal/index.html
5. Trampolín (2019): www.trampolin-mag.com/veronica-diez-diaz
6. Transmitting Science (06/2020): https://www.instagram.com/tv/CBlYJMdKFFZ
7. 50th special episode of the Spanish podcast Dinobusters (01/2021): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9lr3q4Ym7E&t=6174s
8. Universidad de la Laguna (Spain) within the series “Mujeres en Paleontología” (02/2021): https://www.instagram.com/tv/CLxGr1NJbZO/?igshid=42e1vyntfjn 
9. Interviewed by the Spanish radio program “Punto de Enlace” (Radio Exterior de España, 12/2021): https://www.rtve.es/play/audios/punto-de-enlace/punto-enlace-veronica-diez-experta-dinosaurios-investiga-berlin-14-12-21/6246654/
10.  Interviewed in the Spanish Science podcast “Noosfera” (01/2022): https://www.spreaker.com/user/12512368/noosfera-86?utm_campaign=episode-title&utm_medium=app&utm_source=widget
11. Interviewed in the Spanish Science podcast “Experimiento Demente” (02/2022): https://bit.ly/3LZu2jK
12. Interviewed in the Spanish Science podcast “Leche con Galletas” (04/2022): https://linktr.ee/lechecongalletas
13. Collaboration in the Spanish Science podcast “Serendipias” (Radio La Ser, 11/2022): https://play.cadenaser.com/audio/1668094900434/
14. Interviewed in the Spanish Science podcast “Tertulias en Pangea” (11/2022): https://www.ivoox.com/sauropodos-dinosaurios-cuello-largo-audios-mp3_rf_96629255_1.html
15. Interviewed for the project “Proyecto Vocación Científica” (01/2023): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMqiPwrE2x0

Current project at the MfN

• Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) project 470751746 (11.2021-10.2024): Moving monoliths: analysing the stance and locomotion of sauropod dinosaurs. MfN Project article.

Research Interests

• Titanosaurian (Sauropoda) systematics, phylogeny and palaeobiogeography.
• 3D musculoskeletal reconstruction and biomechanics of Sauropoda.
• 3D surface digitisation techniques and methods.

• Ethics Officer of the European Association of Vertebrate Palaeontologists (EAVP)
• Advocate of best practices regadregardingcreation, use and publication of digital data in palaeontology (3DigiPal group).