PhD: Developmental evolution of the jaw in stem and crown group gnathostomes

We seek a doctoral student for a four years’ project on the developmental evolution of the jaw in stem and crown group gnathostomes. The research project is on the investigation of the process of acquisition of the vertebrate jaw and evolution of modularity. The evolution of component modules forming a complex structure is studied, testing hypotheses on stepwise acquisition caused by disparate evolution of the components. The project will employ a general qualitative study of jaws in stem and crown group gnathostomes with an emphasis on basal taxa. Quantitative tests using a geometric morphometrics approach on lower jaws of osteichthyans will be used to test the suggested modularity and integration of components. A developmental study on selected fossil and recent taxa will complete the study. Major changes in the evolution of jaws will be timed in a macroevolutionary study combining the results of a larger study of the research team of Martin Rücklin.