PhD: The taphonomy of organelles and the origin of eukaryotes

The origin of eukaryotes is one of the most significant and unlikely events in evolutionary history, characterised by the origin of a cytoskeleton and organelles including the nucleus, mitochondria, lysosomes and endosomes, that facilitated the origin of all complex life. Determining the timing and order of acquisition of these key innovations is critical to testing hypotheses of eukaryogenesis but living organisms either have all or none of these characters; our only hope of elucidating the pattern of eukaryogenesis is the fossil record. While there is a rich eukaryote fossil record, often preserving organelle-like structures, these features are difficult to interpret because we have a no coherent understanding of what to expect of fossilized organelles. This project will exploit new microscopy techniques in the experimental taphonomy of eukaryote organelles, the results of which will be compared to fossilised organelles that you will characterise using FIB-SEM, TEM and synchrotron micro- and nano-tomography. On this basis, you will explore the limits of
fossilization, reinterpret the fossil record of eukaryotes and establish an evolutionary timeline for eukaryogenesis. The scope of the project is large, and the successful candidate would be welcome to develop any one or more of its components to suit their interests