The students are the life-blood of the graduate student in residence program. While the program is still new and only a handful of students have entered the program, the student presence is already positively impacting the museum. The addition of energetic, young minds is stimulating research in the museum, while the same students are working to create a positive relationship between the museum and other USC students not involved in the program. For example, Gerald Grellet-Tinner, the first student to graduate from the program got the museum to offer free admission to all USC students. It is also the desire of the graduate students to get involved in other aspects of the museum such as education programs for the public. 

Vertebrate Paleontology:

Zhejie "Jack" Tseng 2005-

Gerald Grellet-Tinner 2000-2005

Dinosaur Institute:

Jingmai O'Connor 2004-