Paleonet: UCD PhD opportunities in paleobiology

[Norman MacLeod]

UCD SCHOOL OF BIOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE PhD opportunities in
paleobiology (2007)

Two Marie Curie Early Stage Researcher PhD Studentships
Salary: $31,143 to $34,660 per anum

 Title of Project 1: Vegetation, climate and atmospheric dynamics across the
Triassic-Jurassic mass extinction boundary of Jameson Land, East Greenland

Supervisor: Dr Jennifer C. McElwain (University College Dublin)

Start date: September 2007

Contact: Dr Jennifer C.  McElwain (Jennifer.mcelwain at ucd.ie)

 
Title of Project 2: Reconstructing plant biodiversity and ecological
responses to global warming across the Triassic-Jurassic mass extinction
event using fossil pollen

Supervisor: Dr Jennifer C. McElwain (University College Dublin), Dr Wolfram
Kurschner (Utrecht University, Holland)

Start date: September 2007

Contact: Dr Jennifer C.  McElwain (Jennifer.mcelwain at ucd.ie)

 
Applications are invited for two Marie Curie funded PhD Studentships in the
School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College Dublin. The
successful students will work as part of a larger research team funded by an
EU Marie Curie Excellence Grant, MassExtinct (MEXT-CT-2006-042531). The main
objective of MassExtinct is to investigate the causes and consequences of
the fourth greatest mass extinction event in Earth history, which occurred
200 million years ago at the Triassic­Jurassic boundary (Tr­J), and to use
an understanding of past biodiversity responses to global climate change to
inform contemporary conservation policy.

 
Description PhD Project 1:

The specific objectives of PhD Project 1 will be to develop a
high-resolution record of atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration across
the Tr-J boundary from fossil leaf cuticle spanning Rhaetian-Hettangian Kap
Stewart Group strata from Astartekloft in East Greenland.  This record will
be used to investigate the role of a high carbon dioxide induced global
warming in contributing to extinction of terrestrial plants at the Tr-J
boundary. Full training on all aspects of the PhD research will be provided
as part of this studentship.


Description PhD Project 2:

The specific objective of PhD Project 2 is to undertake a paleoecological
study of the vegetation dynamics across the Triassic-Jurassic mass
extinction boundary using fossil pollen. This palynological study will be
based on bulk samples collected from Kap Stewart Group Strata in East
Greenland. The vegetation history of the region as reconstructed using
fossil pollen will be directly compared with palaeoecological studies based
on macrofossil leaves to build a more comprehensive picture of regional
versus local vegetation change across the Tr-J boundary and to investigate
the pace of ecological versus taxonomic change in the vegetation (i.e. rapid
gradual or no change). Full training in all aspects of the PhD research will
be provided by McElwain and Kurschner, however previous palynological
experience would be an advantage.

 Both successful students will gain experience in plant ecophysiology from
plant growth chamber experiments at UCD and in reconstructing paleowildfire
using fossil charcoal from collaboration with postdoctoral team members of
MassExtiinct. Both PhD research projects may involve paleobotanical
fieldwork in East Greenland.

 
Application procedures:

Applicants must have a BSc and/or MSc in Plant Science and/or Geology.
Candidates should not have more than 4 years research experience since award
of their BSc. Knowledge and experience of some or all of the following
subjects (plant anatomy, morphology, plant paleobiology, paleoecology,
paleoclimatology, paleontology, plant ecophysiology, ecology) through taught
courses, BSc or MSc dissertation research would be preferable, but not
essential, as full training will be provided. To apply, please send (1) a
curriculum vitae, (2) a general statement on why you are interested in
pursing PhD research, (3) a specific statement on why you are interested in
PhD Project 1 or 2 and (4) two sealed letters of reference, to Dr Jennifer
McElwain, School of Biology and Environmental Science, University College
Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland by 9st February 2007.  Applications will
be accepted by post or by e-mail.

Please note that UCD PhD tuition fees
(http://www.ucd.ie/fees/fees/postgraduate/life_sciences_fees.htm) must be
paid from the advertised salary. An additional mobility allowance per annum
will be provided for each of the three years of the grant to return to the
country from which the applicant originated at the time of application.
Applicants cannot have attended the host institution (UCD) for the year
prior to application according to EU Marie Curie mobility rules.