PhD Scholarship in Biological Sciences 2011 at University of Hull


Overview

  • Studentships will start in September 2011
  • Supervisor: Dr Chris Venditti
  • Email: C.Venditti@hull. ac.uk
  • Telephone: +44 (0)1482 46 2077
  • Department: Biological Sciences
  • Co-Supervisor( s): Dr Dave Lunt, Biological Sciences

This studentship will aim to understand the origin and evolution of wide-scale patterns of diversity in animals. It is currently not clear how environmental factors interact with speciation, extinction, and genetic and morphological rates of change to produce diversity. It is often assumed that these different measures of diversity are closely tied; for example, where there are more species we would expect greater morphological diversity.

There is a growing literature that suggests this is not the case: reproductive isolations can occur with little or no genetic change; genetically very closely related species can have wildly divergent morphologies; some large groups of species can be indistinguishable from gross morphology where as other, species-poor, groups are diverse. If this is the case how does diversity accumulate?

The student will address this question using cutting-edge statistical phylogenetic comparative methods applied to multiple datasets encompassing a wide range of animal groups. The studentship has the potential to contribute to a real quantitative science of macroevolution and has implications for life history, ecology, evolutionary biology, conservation and population biology. Informal enquiries are welcome and should be made to Dr Chris Venditti (C.Venditti@hull.ac.uk).

This full-time UK/EU PhD Scholarship will include fees at the “home/EU” student rate and maintenance (€ ¢Â£13,590 in 2011/12, subject to final confirmation) for three years, depending on satisfactory progress.

PhD students at the University of Hull follow modules for research and transferable skills development and gain a Masters level Certificate, or Diploma, in Research Training, in addition to their research degree. Successful applicants will be informed of the award by 11th July.

Closing date Tuesday 31st May 2011;

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