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The role

This is a full-time Postdoctoral Research Associate position based in the Mammal Morphology Lab in the School of Earth Sciences, working with PI Dr. Katrina Jones. The role is funded through a Royal Society University Research Fellowship. The aim of the project is to examine the developmental, evolutionary, and functional drivers of variation in the mammalian vertebral column.

The project objectives are to:

• Examine the morphological variation in the mammal vertebral column in the context of variability and constraint
• Elucidate the developmental underpinnings of mammalian vertebral variation using comparative genomics
• Link morphological and functional variation with computational functional modelling

The project is in collaboration with Prof. Mary O`Connell at the University of Nottingham. The successful candidate will act as the principal researcher responsible for achieving these objectives. The work is primarily computational and may involve international travel to the USA for data collection and to attend scientific conferences.

The PDRA will act as the principal researcher for this project. The work involves primarily office-based computational research, with some museum collections work. The successful candidate will be expected to prepare and deliver in-house and conference presentations and manuscripts as appropriate. There will be an opportunity for gaining some teaching and mentoring experience co-supervising master's projects and delivering some undergraduate and M-level teaching.

Essential

• Knowledge of mammalian vertebral morphology and evolution
• Experience with collection and analysis of datasets of mammalian vertebral morphology
• Experience with vertebral biomechanics and/or functional morphology
• Excellent computational skills demonstrating the ability to implement a range of methods in various software and/or coding languages
• Academic research publication track record compatible with career stage

Desirable

• Experience in comparative genomics
• Working knowledge of mammal evolution, anatomy, or ecology
• Experience working with tomographic datasets of fossils and/or extant taxa

Essential qualifications:

• PhD in a related field, e.g., Palaeontology, Comparative Anatomy, Functional Morphology, Biomechanics, or equivalent professional experience in the research area required

Contract type: Open-ended with fixed funding until 01/11/2026

Work pattern: Full-time

Grade: Grade J/Pathway two

Salary: £43,482 - £50,253 per annum

School/Unit: School of Earth Sciences

This advert will close at 23:59 UK time on 15/10/2025

For informal queries, please contact: Katrina Jones, Katrina.jones@bristol.ac.uk

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