Research Project – Early Miocene Atlantic–Mediterranean marine ecosystem change investigated through fossil fish remains and ecological modeling
PhD Supervisors: Konstantina Agiadi (ICM-CSIC), Elizabeth Sibert (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute; WHOI)
Centre: Institut de Ciències del Mar (ICM-CSIC)
Project description
The Early Miocene (23–17 Ma) was a period of global marine biotic change. However, many of its aspects remain unknown and understudied. The objectives of this thesis will be to:
a) reconstruct the Atlantic and Mediterranean fish communities; b) place the detected fish biodiversity and fish paleoecological changes within the dynamic Early Miocene paleoclimatic, paleoceanographic and paleogeographic context; and c) investigate potential impacts on marine ecosystem structure.
The PhD student will be trained in paleontological, geochemical and ecological modelling methods. They will be incorporated in the iMARES research group of ICM-CSIC, and will collaborate closely with the Science Team of the IODP3 Expedition 505S ENIGMA.
Hosting research team
The successful candidate will join the iMARES research group, a dynamic team of senior scientists, postdoctoral researchers, and PhD students based at the ICM-CSIC, a leading marine research centre awarded the prestigious Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence distinction. The group provides an excellent training environment through participation in specialized courses, conferences, research stays, seminars, and collaborative activities, while fostering an inclusive and supportive research culture.
This PhD project will be embedded within ongoing research initiatives led by Konstantina Agiadi and Elizabeth Sibert, particularly the projects FunSeas (Functional Connectivity in Ancient Seas) and MESO-BATH (Ecology and global distribution of meso- and bathypelagic fishes past and present), both funded by the Spanish Government. The student will be
expected to conduct a secondment at WHOI to work Elizabeth Sibert.
Interested candidates, please contact the supervisors at: