Applicants are invited for new Ph.D. position in Integrated Bioscience at the University of Akron. We seek a student interested in combining paleontology with evolutionary reproductive biology to assess the long-term evolution of breeding systems in “conchostracan” crustaceans (“clam shrimp”). We have a unique set of conchostracan specimens that allow us to associate environment with breeding system within conchostraca over evolutionary time. We have a set of globally-distributed specimens of clam shrimp in the family Limndadiidae that have a well-supported phylogeny that can be used to compare carapace shape at various taxonimic levels and compare these patterns to fossil specimens of these shrimp. Additionally, differences in carapace shape can be used to detect breeding system and thus we can associate breeding systems with paleoecological features to test theories on the evolution of such breeding systems, which would be unique within breeding system evolutionary studies.
The ideal applicant would have some background in both paleontology and evolutionary biology or a background in only one area but be eager to learn the alternate area of study. The PhD position comes with full tuition remission plus a stipend of $20,000 per year for a total of 5 years. Applications are being sought for positions beginning in August 2008. For more information, please contact Dr. Steve Weeks (scw@uakron.edu; 330-972-7156) or Dr. Lisa Park (mlepark@uakron.edu; 330-972-7633), or visit our IB PhD website at http://www.uakron.edu/id/ib/cmp3.