Post Doctoral Research Associate in Evolutionary Palaeobiology

We have an opportunity for an enterprising and motivated individual to work with Dr Marcello Ruta (Principal Investigator, School of Natural Sciences) on phylogenetic, macroevolutionary, and macroecological aspects of tetrapod origin and diversification. The post is funded by a Leverhulme Trust Research Project Grant entitled ‘Key Innovations as Evolutionary Drivers of the Fish-Tetrapod Transition’, in partnership with the Universities of Bath (Co-Investigator Professor Matthew Wills) and Uppsala (Co-Investigator Professor Per Ahlberg).

As part of an overarching investigation into evolutionary patterns and processes in early tetrapods and their fish-like forerunners, you will tackle the early divergence of amniotes and amniote-like groups (chiefly Palaeozoic and earliest Mesozoic), disentangling the impact of various categories of skeletal data in resolving phylogenetic patterns near the ancestral roots of amniotes.   The project involves meticulous vetting of existing and newly assembled osteological character databases, building new time-calibrated phylogenies using a variety of approaches (e.g., maximum parsimony; Bayesian inference), and utilizing these phylogenies to quantify evolutionary rates, directionality of trends, and patterns of morphological space occupation.

You will have (or approach completion of) a PhD in Zoology or Palaeontology with a strong phylogenetic/macroevolutionary component.  A good knowledge of vertebrate comparative anatomy and evolution and proficiency in quantitative methods in palaeobiology are desirable.

If you would like further information or an informal discussion about this exciting opportunity, please contact Dr Marcello Ruta, Associate Professor, at mruta@lincoln.ac.uk.

Closing Date: 30 Apr 2025

Department: Research

Salary: £38,249 per annum Please note, this post is fixed-term until 30 June 2028 and full-time at 1 FTE.