Montpellier, France: PhD on convergence and dental simplification in ant-eating placentals Tisk
ERC-funded PhD position
The ConvergeAnt project: morphological convergence and dental 
simplification in ant-eating placentals.
We invite applications for a PhD position funded by the European 
Research Council (ERC) for 36 months at the University of Montpellier 
(France). 

Co-supervisors.Dr. Lionel Hautier (
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Dr. Frédéric Delsuc (
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Research Unit. Institut des Sciences de l’Evolution de Montpellier, 
Université Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, EPHE.^
 
Host Laboratory. Form and Genome Departments
 
/Teams/“Paleontology” and “Phylogeny and Molecular Evolution”
 
Background. Despite its widespread occurrence across the tree of life, 
many questions still remain unanswered concerning the fascinating 
phenomenon of convergent evolution. Our objectives with this project are 
to provide new insights on a textbook example of adaptive evolutionary 
convergence represented by mammalian myrmecophagous species, in which 
similar phenotypes evolved independently in several lineages. The 
acquisition of a myrmecophagous diet almost exclusively composed of ants 
and/or termites has indeed evolved independently in five placental 
lineages with armadillos (Cingulata), anteaters (Pilosa), aardvarks 
(Tubulidentata), pangolins (Pholidota) and aardwolves (Carnivora). The 
skull of myrmecophages has attracted considerable attention because they 
show an extreme dental reduction, reaching its paroxysm in anteaters and 
pangolins that totally lack teeth. The selective constraints imposed by 
this highly specific diet have driven the convergent evolution of 
numerous morphological, anatomical, and physiological characters 
resulting in similar morphologies in these animals.We propose taking 
advantage of the unique set of convergently evolved characters 
associated with the ant-eating diet to investigate the developmental 
mechanisms underlying phenotypical adaptation.
 
Tasks. The main objectives of this PhD are to reveal the details of the 
morphological convergence towards skull elongation and dental reduction 
observed among independent myrmecophagous lineages. The successful 
candidate will address the following questions:(i) How is the skull 
variation shaped by convergent evolution towards myrmecophagy? (ii) Can 
we characterize the developmental origin of dental reduction? (iii) Can 
we identify a set of convergently evolved characters defining the 
myrmecophagous phenotype?
 
Candidate profile.Mandatory requirements include a master’s degree in 
evolutionary biology, experience in working with vertebrate collections, 
a high degree of initiative and motivation, capacity for teamwork, good 
English skills, and good knowledge of statistics applied to geometric 
morphometrics. Skills and experience with CT scanning and 3D 
reconstruction techniques will be useful. Desirable is a background in 
vertebrate comparative anatomy and evolution, especially in mammals. 
Skills in myology would also be useful. The successful candidate will 
have a genuine interest to interact with molecular biologists. S/he 
should also be keen to travel to visit international museum collections 
for data collection during the course of the Ph.D.
 
Applications.Candidates must send electronically their application before
June 20^th , 2016 in the form of a single PDF file including a cover
letter, a CV, eventually a copy of their Master thesis, and contact
information (not supporting letters) of two persons of reference to

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will review applications upon receipt. Short-listed candidates will be
interviewed the last week of June.
 
This PhD position forms part of the ConvergeAnt project funded by the 
European Research Council (ERC), which aims at investigating the complex 
interplay between the mammalian genome, phenome, and associated 
microbiome in a classical case of adaptive convergence driven by a 
highly specialized diet.
 
Starting date: 01/10/2016
 
Duration: 3 years
 
For further information, please contact Lionel Hautier
(
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 ) and/or Frédéric Delsuc
(
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