PhD student (m/f/d) “Phylogenetic systematics of polyplacophoran molluscs”

Job posting ref. #01-21056

For over 200 years the Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung represents one of the most relevant institutions investigating nature and its diversity. Currently, scientists from more than 40 countries conduct research in the fields of biodiversity, earth system analysis and climate change in seven Senckenberg Institutes across Germany.

Following its mission to analyse and document biodiversity in earth system dynamics – to serve science and society, Senckenberg fosters curiosity-driven and application-oriented research. In Senckenberg at Frankfurt we seek to fill the position with a

“Phylogenetic systematics of polyplacophoran molluscs”

(part time 65%)

The Senckenberg Ocean Species Alliance (SOSA) project combines marine biodiversity research, species conservation, and science communication within one project. This interdisciplinary project is composed of three pillars, the Discovery Unit, Red Listing Unit and the Engagement Unit, whose tasks are tightly interlinked. The Discovery Unit will apply a new model for biodiversity work by providing taxonomic services to users inside and outside of Senckenberg. http://sosa.senckenberg.de .

Chitons represent an important group for understanding molluscan evolution, and more broadly animal evolution. While many species have diverged recently, the group retains a constrained morphology with strong similarities to stem group molluscs that go back to the Cambrian. Understanding speciation within this morphological constraint is informative for the deep mechanisms controlling the evolution of animal body plans. A highly motivated student taking on this project will have the opportunity to demonstrate how taxonomy is foundational to the most challenging and exciting questions in contemporary science.

Your tasks:

• Study morphological and genomic differentiation in chiton species with a focus on one selected family
• Apply integrative taxonomic approaches, describe species and evaluation molecular and morphological phylogenetic evidence
• Participate in project meetings and contribute to project reporting as well as present project results during international scientific conferences (posters/talks)
• Publish results in international journals in cooperation with the project team
• Participate in outreach activities