Funded PhD opportunity at the University of Sheffield: deadline 8 Jan 2025 https://www.findaphd.com/search/ProjectDetails.aspx?PJID6780 Understanding the link between population-level processes and broad-scale biodiversity patterns Project Overview: Rates of species formation vary dramatically across the tree of life and contribute to profound differences in species richness among clades, regions and through time. However, our understanding of the factors promoting or constraining speciation rates over evolutionary time is still poor, with many longstanding hypotheses yet to be conclusively tested. One prominent suggestion is that taxa predisposed to forming isolated, persistent populations more readily should also form new species more readily and thus have higher long-term speciation rates. The overarching aim of this PhD project is to test how processes of population isolation and persistence are connected to speciation rates and biodiversity patterns across the Tree of Life. Specific objectives are to (i) characterise rates of population isolation and persistence rates across a broad range of animal taxa, (ii) investigate the ecological, environmental and evolutionary factors driving variation among taxa in these rates, (iii) test if variation in population-level rates predicts differences in speciation and species richness patterns among taxa and regions. Supervisors: Dr Chris Cooney (Sheffield), Dr Nicola Nadeau (Sheffield), Dr Gavin Thomas (Sheffield), Prof Kanchon Dasmahapatra (York) Eligibility and Funding Information: Competition-funded via NERC ACCE+ DLA programme starting from October 2025. UK or International students eligible to apply. UKRI provide the following funding for 3.5 years: - Stipend (2024/25 UKRI rate �19,237) - Tuition Fees at UK fee rate (2024/25 rate �4,786) - Research support and training grant (RTSG) Note - Successful international candidates do not need to find any additional funding for fees. *Closing date for applications is Wednesday 8th January 2025* https://www.findaphd.com/search/ProjectDetails.aspx?PJID6780 NERC Research Fellow School of Biosciences University of Sheffield www.cooneylab.co.uk --- Funded PhD opportunity at the University of Sheffield: deadline 6 Jan 2025 https://www.findaphd.com/search/ProjectDetails.aspx?PJID7713 Using Artificial Intelligence to Reveal the Signature of Development in Organismal Colour Pattern Designs Project Overview: Animal colour patterns arise as a result of developmental processes governing the distribution, differentiation and interaction of colour producing mechanisms on the surface of an organism. Traditional approaches for studying the role of development in colouration typically make use of genetic and experimental approaches, but recent advances in image analysis and artificial intelligence (AI) present a novel opportunity test for the signature of development on colour patterns at larger, more comprehensive scales. This project will make use of these new approaches to explore the developmental pathways shaping colour pattern design in multiple animal groups (e.g. birds, butterflies, fish, mammals), thereby providing insight into the factors promoting and constraining colour pattern diversity across the animal tree of life. Supervisors: Dr Chris Cooney (Sheffield), Dr Nicola Nadeau (Sheffield), Dr Gavin Thomas (Sheffield), Dr Nina Dethlefs (Hull) Eligibility and Funding Information: Competition-funded via BBSRC Yorkshire Bioscience Doctoral Training Programme starting from October 2025. UK or International students eligible to apply. *Closing date for applications is Monday 6th January 2025* https://www.findaphd.com/search/ProjectDetails.aspx?PJID7713 NERC Research Fellow School of Biosciences University of Sheffield www.cooneylab.co.uk Chris Cooney (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca)