PaleoNet: PhD opportunity in biology/paleontology at the University of Alabama

[Adiël Klompmaker]

Hi everyone,

Here is some information about a *PhD opportunity in biology/paleontology
at the University of Alabama*:

The recently NSF-funded project “*Energetic Controls on Marine Benthic
Community Structure in Space and Time*”  aims to (1) evaluate how
productivity affects the energetic and trophic structure of marine benthic
communities on either side of the modern Isthmus of Panama, where there is
now a strong contrast between the high productivity, upwelling-dominated
regime of the eastern Pacific and the low-productivity, low-seasonality
regime of the Caribbean (2) use this knowledge to evaluate the fossil
record of Caribbean benthic ecosystems before, during, and after the uplift
of the isthmus during which planktonic productivity decreased in the
Caribbean and (3) relate ecosystem changes driven by productivity shifts to
the well documented Caribbean extinction event ~2 Ma. This is a project in
collaboration with colleagues and their students/postdoc at the Ohio State
University (Dr. Jill Leonard-Pingel), the University of California Berkeley
(Dr. Seth Finnegan), and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (Dr.
Aaron O’Dea).

One key component of this project is to assess biotic interactions such as
predator-prey interactions using fossil and modern molluscan assemblages
from both sides of the Isthmus of Panama. I am recruiting a PhD student for
the Fall 2025 semester with a background in biology, paleontology, and/or
geology who has an interest in biotic interactions and quantitative
methods. While the study will use pre-existing collections, there is a trip
to Panama included. For those interested, please get in touch with Dr.
Adiel Klompmaker (aaklompmaker at ua.edu), preferably sending along a CV.

The student will be supported for 5 semesters as a graduate research
assistant and as graduate teaching assistant for the remainder of the PhD
program. Conference support is provided. The student will be part of the
Department of Biological Sciences or the Department of Geological Sciences
at the University of Alabama depending on the background of the student.
Apply to one of these departments through
https://graduate.ua.edu/applicants/
*Applications are due on 10 December 2024*.

Best wishes,
Adiel


---------------------------------

*Dr. Adiel A. Klompmaker*

*Curator of Paleontology*

Department of Museum Research and Collections & Alabama Museum of Natural
History

University of Alabama Museums

University of Alabama

Phone: 205-348-7425

Email: aaklompmaker at ua.edu
UA Website <https://museums.ua.edu/people/adiel-klompmaker/> | Twitter
<https://twitter.com/paleoadiel?lang=en> | Google Scholar
<https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=CJITStwAAAAJ&hl=en> |
ResearchGate <https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Adiel-Klompmaker>
ALMNH Paleontology Collection
<https://collections.museums.ua.edu/paleontology-collection/>
----------------------

*Physical address:*

313 Mary Harmon Bryant Hall
Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487
-------------------

*Mailing address:*

427 Sixth Avenue

120 Smith Hall

Box 870340
Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487
---------------------------------------

Associate Editor, *Paleobiology*

Associate Guest Editor, *Journal of Paleontology*
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