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Cornell University
The Hedrick Lab seeks to better understand the interconnected relationship between morphology, phylogeny, and ecology in order to answer the question:
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How do morphological innovations lead to ecological expansion and the radiation of taxa?
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By studying a wide variety of taxa ranging from sharks, to bats, to rodents, to dinosaurs, we assess the impact of morphological evolution on the great diversity of life, past, present, and future.
News from 2023
June 24, 2023 Salamander Site Set Up
We were out setting up salamander sites this past week to monitor movement and density of red-back salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) at different elevations in the Ithaca area.
May 1, 2023 Two New Papers Out!
An assessment of shifts in environmental favorability in red-backed salamanders with changing climate using both past climate and occurrence data and future climate projections. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.9999
A review in the Anatomical Record on the use of geometric morphometrics on non-avian dinosaurs with an emphasis on the effects of taphonomy on geometric morphometric analyses of fossils: https://doi.org/10.1002/ar.25183
April 4, 2023 Postdoctoral Opportunity in the Hedrick Lab
Application Review will Begin May 1.
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The Hedrick Lab (See Ad Here) is seeking to recruit a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher interested in using skeletal and soft tissue data to explore the evolution of extreme morphologies. Possible projects include examining the evolution of skeletal organization of the appendicular skeleton in hummingbirds and fossorial mammals through the lens of evolutionary rate shifts, integration and modularity, and 3D geometric morphometrics. The successful applicant will have access to the Cornell Museum of the Vertebrates’ collections, workstations running Avizo, multiple on-campus CT scanners, a full dissection lab, 3D printers, and surface scanners. Further, they will also have the opportunity to gain teaching experience in comparative anatomy and will be able to mentor undergraduates, if desired.
Interested candidates meeting the position’s minimum requirements (see below) should contact Dr. Brandon P. Hedrick (bph54@cornell.edu) with a copy of their full CV and a written statement in the body of the email outlining their interest and experience.
Members of under-represented groups, LGBTQ+, BIPOC, and disabled individuals are particularly encouraged to apply.
Minimum Requirements:
-PhD in biology, ecology, or related field
-Proficiency with R
Preferred Qualifications:
-Experience working with CT data (e.g., avizo, mimics, 3Dslicer)
-Experience with evolutionary modeling and evolutionary rates analysis
Salary: Starting at $56404 (https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-23-076.html) + Benefits
Targeted Start Date: August 1, 2023
As part of the university's comprehensive vaccination program, all Cornell employees are required to have and provide proof of an FDA-or WHO-authorized or approved COVID-19 primary vaccination or have obtained a university-approved disability/medical or religious exemption, regardless of their role and work location.