15 May 2024
Job Information
- Organisation/Company
palevoprim- Research Field
Biological sciences » Biodiversity
Environmental science » Ecology
Geosciences » Geology- Researcher Profile
First Stage Researcher (R1)- Country
France- Application Deadline
2 Jun 2024 - 23:59 (Europe/Paris)- Type of Contract
Temporary- Job Status
Full-time- Hours Per Week
35- Offer Starting Date
1 Oct 2024- Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?
Not funded by an EU programme- Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?
No
Offer Description
The study of the drivers of human evolution in Africa over the last three million years frequently focuses on correlations between global climate dynamics and the fossil record. This PhD topic proposes a different approach based on the biogeographical history of African biotas. Preliminary comparisons between a number of sites in eastern Africa suggest contrasting evolutionary histories for various groups, including the human lineage, between different watersheds. Comparing these histories on several geographic scales will allow to test the relative importance of global climate and local factors.
The setting for this PhD will be the northern part of the eastern African rift system from the early evidence for Late Pliocene Northern Hemisphere glaciations (ca. 3.3 Ma) until the Mid-Pleistocene Transition, another phase of climate change dated to ca. 1 Ma. The Lower Omo Valley (Shungura and Usno formations, Ethiopia), the Turkana depression (Kenya, Ethiopia, including the Omo) and the northern rift (from Afar in Ethiopia to Ngorongoro in Tanzania) will be the three spatial scales of study for which abundant, high-quality data are available.
The work will focus on a diversity of vertebrate groups and ecological guilds, providing more comprehensive data at the ecosystem level and relatively well-documented evolutionary histories. Several indicators of responses to environmental dynamics will be taken into account: taxonomic diversity, ecomorphological markers (hypsodonty, substrate adaptations), and independent paleoecological proxies (stable isotopes, dental wear).
In conjunction with paleoenvironmental data (sedimentology, pollen, etc.), the aim will be to build comparisons between ecological gradients and taxon distributions, between combined dispersal and endemism phenomena and local environmental conditions.
This international thesis is based on a partnership between the laboratory PALEVOPRIM (CNRS & University of Poitiers, paleoecology and GIS analytical skills, also hosting the PhD student) and the Centre français des études éthiopiennes (CNRS & Ministry of Europe and Foreing Affairs, paleontology and fossil record). The student will be integrated into the Omo Group Research Expedition program, which conducts interdisciplinary and international research on the evolution of the ecosystem of the lower Omo valley (Turkana Depression, southwestern Ethiopia).
Alongside this main structure, this PhD work will be rooted by a network of international collaborations involving the Ethiopian Heritage Authority (paleontology), the French CNRS labs PACEA, CEREGE and ITES (paleontology, paleoenvironments, geology), as well as Harvard University (paleoecology) and University at Albany (faunal dynamics) in the USA. It will potentially lead to extensive interaction with other international teams working in the Afar Depression and the main Ethiopian rift. Finally, it matches the interdisciplinary and federative approach of the CNRS Great African Rift Research Group (GDR Grand Rift Africain).
Part of the raw data will be acquired from collections, involving several missions to Ethiopia (collections stored at Ethiopian Heritage Authority). Most data, however, is available in the literature and via the partnership structure framing this work, notably involving the Omo Group Research Expedition program. Several missions will also be planned in France in conjunction with the partnership structure. At least one field campaign is planned in Ethiopia, as part of the Omo Group Research Expedition (lower Omo valley).
Requirements
- Research Field
- Other
- Education Level
- Master Degree or equivalent
Specific Requirements
Holding a Master's degree in paleosciences, the selected candidate will preferably have a solid grounding in paleontology and paleoecology, a good knowledge of the context of Plio-Quaternary research in eastern Africa, and experience in field research and fossil record building. As this PhD work will have an impact on the work of several research teams, it is characterized by a high level of professional expectations. Although a beginner receiving support and advice from the advisors, the PhD candidate will be considered a colleague in his or her own right. High motivation, personal commitment to the research being carried out, and an aptitude for teamwork are expected. At the same time, the PhD student will need to be autonomous, to have writing skills, to accept the deontology in science and, finally, to make a commitment to see the PhD contract, the research project and the thesis through to completion in the time frame of 36 months as requested by French doctoral schools.
- Languages
- ENGLISH
- Level
- Good
Additional Information
Selection process
Candidates
Work Location(s)
- Number of offers available
- 1
- Company/Institute
- Laboratoire PALEVOPRIM
- Country
- France
- City
- Poitiers
- Postal Code
- 86000
- Geofield
Where to apply
[email protected]- Website
https://emploi.cnrs.fr/Candidat/Login.aspx?ReturnUrl=/Candidat/Profil/Default.a…
Contact
- City
Poitiers- Website
http://palevoprim.labo.univ-poitiers.fr/- Street
Bat. B35 - TSA-51106- Postal Code
86073
[email protected]
STATUS: EXPIRED