Acaba de publicarse un novedoso trabajo realizado por las aragosaureras
Raquel Moya, Blanca Bauluz y Gloria Cuenca en la prestigiosa revista
Lethaia. En este trabajo se trata el estudio del esmalte dental de
mamíferos con dientes pigmentados. Hay distintos grupos de vertebrados
con dientes coloreados, por ejemplo algunas musarañas tienen las
cúspides de los dientes de color rojo, anaranjado o marrón y los
incisivos de algunos roedores son amarillos o anaranjados. Estos colores
se deben a que su esmalte contiene óxidos o hidróxidos de hierro. Al
parecer estos compuestos otorgan mayor dureza, resistencia y
flexibilidad al diente.
En esta ocasión estudiamos en
detalle el esmalte de los incisivos de especies actuales y fósiles de
varias musarañas de dientes rojos, una de dientes blancos y un roedor
utilizando distintas técnicas de microscopía electrónica y análisis
composicionales. Así observamos que la estructura del esmalte es muy
similar dentro de las musarañas, pero que la forma en la que se
distribuye el hierro cambia según las especies. Los roedores tienen una
estructura completamente diferente y el contenido en hierro de su
esmalte es muy bajo en comparación con el de las musarañas de dientes
rojos.
Además hemos podido ver que estos óxidos forman cristales
nanométricos que están localizados en un elemento concreto del esmalte
dental, la matriz interprismática. Como los incisivos de roedores crecen
a lo largo de toda su vida, también hemos visto que estos compuestos de
hierro se generan después del apatito, el mineral principal en los
dientes.
La referencia es: Moya-Costa, R., Bauluz, B. &
Cuenca-Bescós, G. 2019: Structure and composition of the incisor enamel
of extant and fossil mammals with tooth pigmentation. Lethaia,
https://doi.org/10.1111/let.12318.
El trabajo se puede leer aquí: https://rdcu.be/bh0Wh
The Faculty of Science at the University of Helsinki invites applications for a
PROFESSOR OR ASSISTANT/ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR IN HOMININ ENVIRONMENTS RESEARCH
The appointed professor is expected to develop a centre of expertise
for the study of the living environments of prehistoric humans or
alternatively the study of prehistoric humans in relation to their
environment. This position will sit in a community of vibrant
biogeoscience and evolutionary palaeontology research already in place
in a multidisciplinary research environment including developmental
biology, computer science and mathematics. This is also the home of the
NOW database of fossil mammals.
To be successful in the position, the candidate must have an
excellent track record of independent and innovative research relative
to the career stage is expected of the successful candidate.
Demonstrated expertise in any subject relevant to hominin environments
research is welcomed, with preference given to applicants having
experience in transdisciplinary collaboration or fieldwork related to
hominin environments or remains.
The University will offer the appointee a challenging career
opportunity in top-level research and research-based teaching,
possibilities for international collaboration, and for the appointed
assistant/associate professor prerequisites to grow into full
professorship. In addition to the funding possibilities offered by the
national funding agencies, the Faculty of Science opens calls on a
yearly basis for infrastructure funding. The selected person is also
anticipated to get a startup package equivalent to a postdoc salary for
three years and some support for infrastructure development.
A professor will carry out and supervise scientific research, provide
teaching based on it, follow developments in research and participate
in societal interaction in his/her field and in international
cooperation.
According to the Regulations of the University of Helsinki, a
professor must hold a doctoral degree and have high-level academic
qualifications, experience in heading scientific research. The professor
must also be able to provide research-based teaching of high quality,
supervise dissertations and theses as well as evidence of international
cooperation in the field.
An assistant/associate professor must hold a doctoral degree and
ability for independent scientific work as well as teaching skills
required by the position. Furthermore, the successful candidate is
expected to have competence and motivation for scientific career proven
by scientific publications and other academic activities.
When assessing the qualifications of each candidate, attention will
be paid to scientific publications and other research results of
scientific value, teaching experience and pedagogical training, the
ability to produce teaching materials, other teaching merits, and, if
deemed necessary, teaching skills as demonstrated in a lecture as well
as participation in doctoral education. Furthermore, attention will be
paid to the applicant’s activities within the research community,
success in obtaining research funding, research work abroad and elected
positions in international organisations.
Applications must have the following enclosures as a one single pdf file (in English):
1) an academic portfolio approved by the Faculty (as set out at https://www.helsinki.fi/en/faculty-of-science/faculty/join-us/academic-p...)
2) a list of those publications and other relevant documents on
competence and merits that the applicant wishes to be taken into account
in the selection process.
On the Faculty’s request, applicants should prepare to submit up to
10 publications of their choice to be sent to assessors after the
application period. The publications shall be submitted the University
of Helsinki Recruitment System upon request of the Faculty.
Please submit your application using the University of Helsinki Recruitment System via the link Apply for the position.
Applicants who are employees of the University of Helsinki are requested to leave their application via the SAP HR portal.
The dead line for applications is 18 February 2019.
More information: Professor Mikael Fortelius, +358-2941 50837, mikael.fortelius@helsinki.fi and Head of the Department Annakaisa Korja, +358-2941 51606, annakaisa.korja@helsinki.fi.
https://www.helsinki.fi/en/researchgroups/evolutionary-palaeontology-group
https://www.helsinki.fi/en/faculty-of-science/faculty/geosciences-and-ge...
http://www.helsinki.fi/science/now/
Ikerbasque, the Basque Foundation for Science, would like to inform you that we have launched a new international call to reinforce research and scientific career in the Basque Country.
We offer:
20 positions for promising postdoctoral researchers Ikerbasque Research Fellows 5 year contracts, during the last year the researcher can be assessed and she/he can obtain a permanent position
PhD degree between Jan2008-Dec2016
Support letter from the host group is mandatory
Applications from women are especially welcomed
Deadline: March 15th at 13:00 CET
For further information, please visit calls.ikerbasque.net
We would appreciate your help in disseminating this information, in case you know about any colleague that could be interested and meets the requirements of the call.
La aragosaurera Julia Galán García defiende el próximo viernes 25 de
enero a las 11 horas su tesis doctoral titulada: “Estudio de los
quirópteros (Chiroptera, Mammalia) del Cuaternario de Aragón y el norte
de la península ibérica”. En este trabajo, la autora presenta los
resultados en sus investigaciones sobre el registro de murciélagos
fósiles en varios yacimientos del Pleistoceno y el Holoceno de Aragón y
Atapuerca. El acto es el edificio de Geológicas de la Universidad de
Zaragoza. La entrada es libre.
Los quirópteros o murciélagos
(orden Chiroptera, Mammalia) son los únicos mamíferos adaptados al vuelo
activo. Con frecuencia aparecen representados en las asociaciones
fósiles de pequeños vertebrados, especialmente en yacimientos formados
en el interior de cavidades kársticas, por lo que su estudio desde un
punto de vista paleontológico reporta gran interés, en relación con la
paleogeografía, la paleoecología y la paleodiversidad de este grupo.
Además, los quirópteros fósiles pueden ser empleados como indicadores
paleoambientales y paleoclimáticos indirectos. Esta tesis doctoral se ha
enfocado en el estudio del registro fósil del orden Chiroptera en el
Cuaternario de la mitad norte de la península ibérica a través del
análisis de los restos fósiles de quirópteros procedentes de nueve
yacimientos (cuatro en la provincia de Burgos, uno en la provincia de
Zaragoza y cuatro en la provincia de Huesca) y del análisis biométrico
del cráneo de especímenes actuales de las especies Myotis myotis y Myotis blythii.
Las
principales aportaciones de esta tesis se han realizado en cuatro
líneas de trabajo: (1) el registro del orden Chiroptera en la mitad
norte de la península ibérica, vacío de registro y aportaciones; (2) el
caso los murciélagos ratoneros del complejo Myotis myotis/Myotis blythii
en el Cuaternario peninsular; (3) el valor de las asociaciones de las
especies del orden Chiroptera como indicador paleoclimático y
paleoambiental; y (4) la interacción entre el ser humano y los
quirópteros en el registro fósil. Los conjuntos fósiles de quirópteros
procedentes de los nueve yacimientos presentados contribuyen a completar
el conocimiento sobre el orden Chiroptera en el Cuaternario ibérico,
donde se presentan las primeras citas de las especies Barbastella barbastellus (Pleistoceno Inferior, Gran Dolina, Burgos) y Myotis mystacinus (Holoceno, cuevas B-9, B-8 y D-2, Huesca). Se discute la problemática del registro del complejo de especies Myotis myotis/Myotis blythii y
la posibilidad de revisar el escenario de especiación y distribución
paleogeográfica generalmente aceptado, que establece la llegada de esta Myotis blythii a nuestra región durante el Holoceno Medio procedente de Europa del Este.
El
uso del orden Chiroptera como indicador indirecto paleoclimático y
paleoambiental se discute a través del repaso de las principales
metodologías empleadas en el análisis de las asociaciones fósiles de
pequeños mamíferos, donde los resultados de esta tesis apuntan a la
existencia de una correlación entre los eventos paleoclimáticos
indicados por distintos proxies y las variaciones en la paleodiversidad
de las asociaciones fósiles de quirópteros. Por último, se discute la
relación entre las asociaciones de quirópteros fósiles presentes en un
yacimiento y las evidencias de ocupación humana sincrónicas, donde
trabajos anteriores ya habían indicado que el tipo de uso de una cavidad
por parte de los quirópteros se ve modificada sustancialmente ante la
presencia de humanos con tecnología Modo 3 o 4; los resultados de este
trabajo apuntan a que la presencia de humanos con tecnología Modo 2
también podría afectar a los quirópteros que cohabitasen el refugio.
La Comisión Organizadora de las 33.as Jornadas Argentinas de Paleontología de Vertebrados - Córdoba 2019, tiene el agrado de invitarlos a participar de la EXPOSICIÓN DE PALEOARTE que tendrá lugar en el marco del evento científico. El objetivo de la muestra es visibilizar el trabajo de los paleoartistas en el ámbito paleontológico y en la sociedad en general. Con este fin, la muestra se presentará durante las jornadas, a desarrollarse los días 29, 30 y 31 de mayo en el Centro Cultural Córdoba y posteriormente será inaugurada en el Museo Provincial de Ciencias Naturales “Dr. Arturo U. Illía”. La exhibición constará de ilustraciones de vertebrados fósiles (restos óseos, reconstrucciones en vida y paleoambientales, etc.) y las técnicas serán libres: clásicas (dibujos y pinturas) o digitales (2D y 3D). Las obras se expondrán en formato impreso y audiovisual y se acompañarán de un catálogo digital de la muestra. Podrán exponer sus trabajos paleoartistas de cualquier nacionalidad en dos categorías: amateurs y profesionales. La participación es gratuita y un jurado conformado por especialistas en Paleontología, Arte y Paleoarte distinguirá las obras destacadas. La fecha límite para el envío de los trabajos es el 15 de marzo.
Bases y condiciones disponible en: https://goo.gl/4HStvT https://goo.gl/QJhJtS
¡Toda la comunidad del Paleoarte es bienvenida a participar!
The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHMLA) seeks a Curator (Assistant preferred, but open to all ranks) to lead its research on invertebrate paleontology and paleoecology, to oversee the growth and care of collections of NHMLA’s Department of Invertebrate Paleontology (IP), and to provide content for a variety of public programs. More specifically, the successful candidate will conduct collection-based research in late Cenozoic marine paleoecology, with the aim of contributing to NHMLA’s program of long-term ecological change in Southern California.
NHMLA’s vast IP collection (> 7 million specimens) spans half a billion years of biological and geological evolution in Southern California. It includes fossils of all major marine invertebrate groups as well as ichnofossils, and contains the world’s largest collection of Cretaceous-Cenozoic mollusks from the Pacific Rim, the result of a century of research by NHMLA staff and amalgamation of collections from several Southern California universities. Half of this collection consists of fossils from the Pleistocene Epoch. Of the 3.5M Pleistocene specimens, 1.5M have been digitized, allowing this long-term dataset to bear on questions of Southern California’s ecological past and present, in turn greatly augmenting the efforts of NHMLA’s coastal biodiversity initiatives by incorporating a paleontological perspective.
The successful candidate will have a record of outstanding research, excellent communication skills, and a demonstrated ability to engage the public and stakeholders. A Ph.D., a strong record of peer-reviewed publications focusing on late Cenozoic marine invertebrate paleoecology and paleontology, and demonstrated ability to secure extramural funding are required. Experience in managing large natural history collections and active field programs are highly desirable. The Curator will be expected to build an active and publicly appealing research program, to lead continued improvement of the IP collections, to oversee all NHMLA’s programs on invertebrate fossils, and to supervise staff and volunteers of the IP Department. Additionally, the successful candidate is expected to develop working relationships with local universities, mentor students and postdoctoral fellows, strengthen NHMLA’s presence in key professional and governmental networks, and maintain research through competitive grants and/or other funding from external sources.
The Curator will be expected to participate actively in a broad range of museum activities, including exhibits, education, community science programs, educator and volunteer training, public communications, media interactions, and fundraising activities. A vision and capability to build a research program that can be integrated with NHMLA’s ongoing efforts to understand regional biodiversity, and to shape the collections and research in ways that activate both their scientific and public appeal, is paramount.
NHMLA is seeking applicants who have demonstrated experience and commitment working with a diverse community. This is a full-time position with a salary and title commensurate with experience.
Application deadline is February 15, 2019. The starting date is July 1, 2019. Applicants should send a cover letter, vision statement, curriculum vitae, and the full contact information of at least three professional references as a single PDF document to thayden@nhm.org, Marine Invertebrate Paleoecology Curatorial Search.
I would like to draw your attention to the Norman Newell Grant for early career paleontologists whose deadline is Feb. 1, 2019 and fast approaching. The grant is funded by the Paleontological Society (PS) and applicants must be current members of the PS at the time of application.
Eligible applicants include paleontologists within five years of their Ph.D., who are members in good standing of the Paleontological Society. Applications are encouraged from anywhere in the world, except those from countries with economic or trade sanctions imposed by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
The Norman Newell grants complement the Arthur Boucot grants, and preference is therefore given to research projects in areas not covered by the Arthur Boucot grant topical areas of morphology, taxonomy, and biostratigraphy. Applicants can only apply to one of these Early Career Grants per funding year. To broaden the reach of Paleontological Society funds, recipients of a Norman Newell grant may not apply for an Arthur Boucot grant, nor may they apply for a second Norman Newell grant. Similarly, recipients of an Arthur Boucot grant may not apply for a Norman Newell grant.
Four Norman Newell grants of $5,000 each will be made each year. Awards are made directly to individuals and not to institutions, and awards cannot be used for salary, stipends, tuition, or institutional overhead.
Application instructions (including downloadable form and details on two required letters of recommendation) and complete grant details are available at http://paleosoc.org/grants-and-awards/paleontological-society-newell-grant/
Information for the complementary Paleontological Society Arthur James Boucot Research Grants for early career paleontologists (with the same
deadline) is available at
https://paleosoc.org/grants-and-awards/paleontological-society-arthur-james-boucot-research-grants/
