FULLY FUNDED PHD - Arrival of the fittest: examining the underlying mechanisms of morphological plasticity in an adaptive radiation

TO APPLY , SEE APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS BELOW.

Phenotypic plasticity is a topic of much empirical research with growing relevance to environmental change. However, we still lack a general understanding of the underlying mechanisms of plasticity in evolutionary systems.

This project will attempt to fill this gap by focusing on how bones interact with an interpret the stimuli that instruct their growth and produce adaptive variation.

African cichlids are an exemplary system for evolutionary biologists in that they are derived from a recent common ancestor but exhibit vast amounts of adaptive skeletal variation. This variation appears to be controlled by a few mutations on a common genetic background. We have identified a number of candidate ‘plasticity genes’ in the craniofacial skeleton include members of signalling pathways previously implicated in bone development (Wnts, BMPs, FGFs). These findings provide a strong basis for understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in plasticity and their contribution to evolution.

The PhD candidate will work with us to address three key questions:

1) What mechanisms underly differences in the magnitude of plasticity?

2) Does the amount of bone plasticity rely on evolved differences among species?

3) Do parents induce plastic responses in bone through the environments they choose?

We seek applicants with an enthusiasm for evolutionary biology and a willingness to work across disciplines.

Applications Instructions - Two step process

Apply via two portals:

• UofG portal - CLICK 'INSTITUTION WEBSITE' - Complete the full application with CV, references, transcript and applicant statement [explain your motivation for applying for this specific PhD project, describing any challenges you have encountered and how you have overcome them on your journey towards applying for this PhD studentship. (Maximum 300 words)].
• IAPETUS2 portal - www.iapetus2.ac.uk - Provide a statement explaining your motivation for applying for this PhD project (Max 300 words). Also provide a short statement, no longer than 200 words, as to your fit to this project. No need to repeat information given elsewhere in your application.