PhD: Palaeoecology and Taphonomy of the Inner Meadow Ediacaran Fossil Site in Conception Bay, Newfoundland

The new Inner Meadow Ediacaran locality in Conception Bay, only an hour drive from St. John’s, contains a dense diverse assemblage of the rangeomorphs Primocandelabrum, Charnia gracilis, Charnia sp. and related taxa; several of which are new/undescribed taxa. The site was discovered in 2022 at the edge of a small coastal community and partly exposed in 2023. We will conduct the remaining excavations in 2024 to expose the surface from beneath a layer of soil- who know what we will find! The research will include aspects of site conservation (molding and replica making) as well as conventional photography, morphometrics, and 3D scanning. The successful candidate will focus on evidence for inter-species interactions and taphonomy of the site. Study of comparative material from Mistaken Point UNESCO World Heritage Site and the Discovery UNESCO Global Geopark will be necessary.
The site is situated on private property, so exclusive access to work on this unique fossil assemblage is guaranteed. Working on a local site has numerous advantages to students including longer field seasons, opportunities to revisit the sites and knowing you are contributing in a meaningful way to the people of Newfoundland. Students from @munpaleobiology are also well supported in publishing their work, with most students leaving with 4 papers from their PhD.
Memorial University and the MUN Palaeobiology @MUNpaleobiology group are committed to employment equity and diversity and encourages applications from all qualified candidates, including women, people of any sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression; Indigenous peoples; visible minorities and racialized people; and people with disabilities.