József Pálfy

Head of the Research Group

Street address: Dept. of Physical and Applied Geology, Eötvös University
1117 Budapest, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C
Postal address: Dept. of Physical and Applied Geology, Eötvös University
1117 Budapest, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/C
Phone: +36-1-372-2500/8728
Fax: +36-1-381-2130
E-mail: palfy(at)nhmus(dot)hu

 

Current Research Interests
Mesozoic mass extinction events and subsequent biotic recoveries (especially the end-Triassic and Early Jurassic events)
Calibration of the Triassic and Jurassic numerical time scale using integrated U-Pb geochronology and ammonoid biochronology
Early Jurassic ammonoid evolution, biostratigraphy, and paleobiogeography in the Northeast Pacific and the Tethys
Middle Triassic brachiopods of the western Tethys

Scientific Degrees
2013 corresponding member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences
2009 Habilitated doctor (Eötvös University, Budapest)
2004 Doctor of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences
1997 PhD (University of British Columbia, Vancouver)

Education
1991 MSc in Geology (University of British Columbia, Vancouver)
1986 Diploma in Geology (Eötvös University, Budapest)

Employment
2012 – Head, MTA-MTM-ELTE Research Group for Paleontology
2010 – Professor and Head, Dept. of Physical and Applied Geology, Eötvös University, Budapest
2008 – 2010 Head of the Dept. of Paleontology and Geology, Hungarian Natural History Museum
2007 – 2011 Scientific Advisor, MTA-MTM Research Group for Paleontology
2003 – 2006 Senior Research Scientist, MTA-MTM Research Group for Paleontology
1993 – 1996 Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant, University of British Columbia, Vancouver
1989 – 1991 Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant, University of British Columbia, Vancouver
1986 – 2002 Curator, Senior Curator, Hungarian Natural History Museum

Research grants and project leadership 
2008 – 2012 Hungarian Scientific Research Fund Grant T072633 (Revised calibration of the Mesozoic geological time scale and its implications to the history of biosphere) – Principal Investigator
2002 – 2007 Hungarian Scientific Research Fund Grant T042802 (Extinction and environmental change at the Triassic-Jurassic boundary) – Principal Investigator
2004 Hungarian-Chinese Intergovernmental Science and Technology Cooperation Programme Grant CH-23/03 (The end-Triassic mass extinction) – Hungarian Project Leader
2002 – 2003 Hungarian-British Intergovernmental Science and Technology Cooperation Programme Grant 19/MO/2002 (Calibration of the Mesozoic time scale) – Hungarian Project Leader
2001 – 2005 International Geological Correlation Project (IGCP) 458: Triassic-Jurassic boundary events – Project Co-leader
1999 – 2001 Hungarian-British Intergovernmental Science and Technology Cooperation Programme Grant GB-73/98 (Calibration of the Triassic time scale) – Hungarian Project Leader
1999 – 2002 Hungarian Scientific Research Fund Grant T29965 (Calibration of the Triassic time through dating tuff beds from the Balaton Highland) – Principal Investigator
1997 – 2000 Hungarian Scientific Research Fund Grant F23451 (Early Jurassic ammonoid biostratigraphy and evolution based on some Hungarian and Canadian faunas) – Principal Investigator
1995 Geological Society of America Graduate Student Research Grant („Integrated ammonite biostratigraphy and U-Pb geochronology of a Triassic-Jurassic boundary section in Alaska”) – Student Grantee

Service in scientific bodies and conference organization
2010 – Member of the Editorial Board, Volumina Jurassica
2009 – Member of the Editorial Board, Solid Earth
2009 – Board member of the Paleontology Division, Hungarian Geological Society
2008 – Chairperson-elect of the IUGS International Subcommission on Jurassic Stratigraphy
2008 – Chair of the Earth Science Panel, Hungarian Scientific Research Fund
2007 – 2009 Member of the Hungarian National Commettee, International Year of Planet Earth
2007 – Member of the Hungarian National Commission for UNESCO
2006 – Member of the Hungarian National Committee, IUGS (International Union of Geological Sciences)
2006 – Chair of the Hungarian National Committee, IGCP (International Geological Programme)
2006 – 2011 Member of the Curatorium, Hantken Foundation
2006 – 2010 Member of the User Selection Panel at Natural History Museum, London and Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin, SYNTHESYS Project (EU FP6)
2006 Member of the Scientific Committee, 7th International Symposium on the Jurassic System, Krakow
2005 – 2006 Member of the Earth Science Panel, Hungarian Scientific Research Fund
2005 – 2009 Member of the Editorial Board, Geobiology
2004 – Member of the Editorial Board, Central European Geology (Acta Geologica Hungarica)
2002 – 2005 Member of the Base Ladinian Task Group, IUGS International Subcommission on Triassic Stratigraphy
2002 Member of the Scientific Committee, 6th International Symposium on the Jurassic System, Palermo
2000 – 2009 Chair, Paleontology Division, Hungarian Geological Society
2000 – 2008 Voting member of the IUGS International Subcommission on Jurassic Stratigraphy
1999 – 2005 Secretary, Paleontological Scientific Committee, Hungarian Academy of Sciences
1999 – Member of the Paleontological Scientific Committee, Hungarian Academy of Sciences
1998 – Founding member of the Organizing Committee, Annual Hungarian Paleontology Conference
1998 Member of the Organizing Committee, 5th International Symposium on the Jurassic System, Vancouver

Teaching experience
2012 – Complex stratigraphy (Geosciences MSc, Geophysics MSc, Eötvös University)
2011 – English for Earth Sciences (Geosciences MSc, Eötvös University)
2011 – Regional geology of North America (Geosciences MSc, Eötvös University)
2011 – Major events in the history of life (Geosciences MSc, Eötvös University)
2011 – General and physical geology (Environmental Science BSc, Eötvös University)
2011 – Scientific research in the Hungarian museums (Science Communication MSc, Eötvös University)
2010 – Regional geology of the world (MSc in Geology, Eötvös University)
2010 – Earth History (Geosciences BSc, Environmental Science BSc, Eötvös University)
2010 – Introduction to Earth History (Geosciences BSc, Eötvös University)
2008 – Major events in the history of life, PhD course (Sessional lecturer, Eötvös University)
2006 – Methods and models in paleobiology, for 4th-5th yr geology majors (Sessional lecturer, Eötvös University)
2002 – 2005 Introduction to paleobiology, for 4th-5th yr geology majors (Sessional lecturer, Eötvös University)
2002 Quantitative methods in paleobiology, PhD course (Sessional lecturer, Eötvös University)
1996, 1997 GEOL235 Field School (TA, University of British Columbia)
1995 GEOL205 Geological Time (Sessional Lecturer, University of British Columbia)
1994 GEOL205 Geological Time (TA, University of British Columbia)
1993 GEOL226 Sedimentology (TA, University of British Columbia)
1991, 1995 GEOL101/105 Introduction to Geology (TA, University of British Columbia)
1990 GEOL335 Field School (TA, University of British Columbia)
1989, 1993, 1995 GEOL421 Paleontology 2 (TA, University of British Columbia)
1989, 1990, 1993 GEOL321 Paleontology 1 (TA, University of British Columbia)

Honors and Awards
2011 Arnold Ipolyi Prize, Hungarian Academy of Sciences
2008 ICS (International Commission on Stratigraphy) Prize, to be presented at the 33rd World Geological Congress
2005 Bolyai Plaque, Hungarian Academy of Sciences
2001 Elemér Szádeczky-Kardoss Prize, Hungarian Academy of Sciences
2000 Elemér Szádeczky-Kardoss Prize, Hungarian Academy of Sciences
1998 Elemér Szádeczky-Kardoss Prize, Hungarian Academy of Sciences
1995 Outstanding Student Research Award, Geological Society of America
1995 Best Student Presentation Prize, 5th Canadian Paleontology Conference, Drumheller
1988 Andor Semsey Young Scientist Award, Honorable mention, Hungarian Geological Society

Fellowships
2001 – 2004 Bolyai Research Fellowship, Hungarian Academy of Sciences
2000 – 2001 Humboldt Research Fellowship, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, (held at Museum für Naturkunde, Berlin)
1998 – 1999 Junior Fellowship, Collegium Budapest, Institute for Advanced Study (jointly funded through a Fellowship of the Alfried Krupp Foundation)
1996 – 1997 University Graduate Fellowship (University of British Columbia)
1995 – 1996 Izaac W. Killam Pre-doctoral Fellowship
1994 – 1995 Izaac W. Killam Pre-doctoral Fellowship
1993 – 1994 University Graduate Fellowship (University of British Columbia)
1992 Scholarship of the "For the Hungarian Science Foundation"
1990 University Graduate Fellowship (University of British Columbia)
1985 – 1986 “Top Student, Top Athlete” Scholarship, Eötvös University
1984 – 1985 “Top Student, Top Athlete” Scholarship, Eötvös University
1983 – 1984 “Top Student, Top Athlete” Scholarship, Eötvös University