vert. paleo paths

["Robert J. Schenck" <nygdan@yahoo.com>]

I am in a biology master's program.  I'm
wondering, how did some of the DML members get to
where they are, today? I am hoping to continue on
with vertebrate paleontology, to eventually teach
at a university level (in a biology or a geology
department), and be able to, minimally, spend
some of my time researching vert. paleo.  But,
how exactly does one get to that point? I know
that some of the poeple here aren't "rofessional"
paleontologists who spend their time in the field
and lab, but lots of people here seem to be able
to keep up some level of 'official' interest in
the subject.  


How long does the average PhD program for this
sort of thing take?  3 years? 5 Years?  7 years?

Do you need to be in a really excellent program
with 'brand name' recognition to get to a point
where you can be hired and have at least some
spare research time for paleontological research?

I'm in what is probably a mid-level graduate
school, what are my basic chances for getting
into such a well recognized PhD program?

Or am I deluding myself in even thinking that its
a workable option anymore? Does a person have to
be part of another field now in order to be in a
position where they can get enough funding to
even be able to consider doing some
paleontological research on the side?  What have
some of the DML members done, those that feel
that they are active or 'semi-active' in vert. paleo?

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