Judith River Dinosaur Institute Mission Statement.

The Judith River Dinosaur Institute was established by Nate Murphy, in 1993.

The Institute provides the exploration, collection, preparation, and curation and represents the paleontological arm of the Little Snowy Mountain Dinosaur Project. The Little Snowy Mountains Dinosaur Project is the educational arm and research arm for specimens collected through the work of the Judith River Dinosaur Institute.

The Judith River Dinosaur Institute is dedicated to the responsible preservation and curation of our paleontological resources. The Institute is working in association with Museums, Universities, private and public land management agencies to identify, research and protect those sites.

The Institute's educational field programs offer people from all walks of life a handson experience with the methods, techniques, and theories of modern paleontology. By sharing the science of paleontology the Institute subscribes to the ideals of education creating awareness and funding for research.

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No use is permitted without the express, written consent of the Judith River Institute. None of the content may be "framed" by or otherwise used by others without the express, written permission of the publishers.

Inquiries regarding linking to or from this site may be directed to jrdi@bresnan.net.

These pages represent the official Internet site for the Judith River Dinosaur Institute. Questions and comments regarding paleontology, Judith River Dinosaur Institute 2008, and similar issues should be directed to jrdi@bresnan.net.

The JRDI Staff
Join Nate Murphy, Director of Vertebrate Paleontology, Judith River Dinosaur Institute, and his staff for "The Little Snowy Mountain Dinosaur Project 2010"

Occupation: Director of Vertebrate Paleontology: Judith River Dinosaur Institute
Residence: Billings, MT, USA

Nate Murphy has over 30 years working in the field of dinosaur paleontology. He has held the position of Curator of Paleontology since 1992 at the Phillips County Museum in Malta, Montana. In 2003 with local businessmen and women of Malta he helped to form the non-profit Judith River foundation. The JR foundation was the official repository and research center for all fossils collected by the institute until 2006.

In 1993 he formed the Judith River Dinosaur Institute, an educational and funding vehicle for the exploration, collection and research of the areas paleontological resources. Nate's real love lies in hands-on field work. In 1993 the JRDI started excavating one of the largest bonebeds ever found in northeastern Montana's Judith River Formation. In 2007 Nate moved the operations of the JRDI to Billings Montana where a larger field laboratory is being developed . Billings currently has no dinosaur programs or museums and is supporting Nate in this move and development. This is an exciting opportunity to develop an even bigger field preparation lab and museum at the major tourist crossroads of Montana. A new building has been secured and under development by the time you read this information on the JRDI website.

Nate has had the pleasure to excavate many dinosaur remains all over the western United States, Canada, Mexico, and South America. Nate has been a consultant for the U.S. Government, public museums, and documentary film groups such as PBS, BBC, The Discovery Channel, and The Learning Channel.

1994 - Discovered a complete Brachylophosaurus that would be called the finest preserved articulated dinosaur skeleton ever found in Montana.

1996 - Nate was part of an international team sent to Patagonia, Argentina to excavate the world's largest meat-eating dinosaur, Giganotosaurus.

2001 - Nate and his JRDI team excavated Leonardo a mummy dinosaur. Now considered by many as the world's best preserved dinosaur.

2002 - JRDI team excavated and collected another beautifully articulated adult Brachylophosaurus called Roberta and a juvenile known as Peanut.

2003 - JRDI team excavated and collected Montana's first Stegosaurus known as Giffen.

2004 - He was asked to take part in his second international team expedition to southern Patagonia to look for some of the world's largest sauropods. The JRDI team excavated and collected a third Brachylophosaurus skeleton, a juvenile affectionately known as Peanut.

2005 - JRDI team excavated the remains of a new species of sauropod and discovered Montana's second Stegosaurus.

2006-2008 - JRDI team excavated the remains of stegosaurs in a significant stegosaur only bone bed with 4 individuals recognized to date (2008 season).

Occupation: JRDI Staff Member, Field Leader, Paleontologist.
Residence: Billings, MT, USA

Matt Murphy has acquired an extensive knowledge of paleontology from working with his father since he was seven years old. Younger Expedition members, in particular, are able to easily relate to Matt and benefit from his ten years experience. He has excellent skills as a fossil preparator for the JRDI, recently exhibiting those skills in the preparation work of Leonardo. In 2004 he traveled to southern Patagonia to work with an interational team of scientist. During that expedition Matt found and helped recover some of the fossil remains of one of the world's largest dinosaurs. His other interests include restoring muscle cars, racing them at the local drag strip.

Ronda Suggs came to us as a volunteer in 2003 at the field station in Malta. Ronda soon found her passion in fossil preparation and has become an accomplished preparator. In 2005 Ronda officially became a JRDI staff member. She has worked hard in both the field and in the lab on the Mystery sauropod known as Ralph and other important JRDI specimens. Ronda's talents as a chef for the Little Snowy Mountains Dinosaur Project digs have been awesome! We are very fortunate to have Ronda and her family as friends and supporters.

Ronda also enjoys scrapbooking, quilting, horseback riding and Jeeping with her family. She resides on their farm in northeastern Montana with her husband Alex and sons Bryce, Chase, Reese and a multitude other critters running around.

Occupation: JRDI Staff, Student Research Associate
Residence: Minneapolis, MN, USA

Alison Smyth has been with the JRDI since she was 11, she has been working at the Little Snowy Moutain Dinosaur Site since its start and with many of our other field programs. Her first dig was an exploration project at Malta in 2001. She is a real trooper and we welcome her aboard the JRDI staff (2008). She has gained many skills and her patient, high quality work has been an inspiration to all staff and dig crew members. Alison is now begining her college work and has decided (surprise) to pursue a geoscience career. As part of her research work she now joins our staff as our first student research associate.