Digital Paleontology Undergraduate Internship

Job description

Digital Paleontology Intern The Mann Lab is seeking a Digital Paleontology Intern. The proposed internship will have the candidate conduct collaborative research on a new species of fossil early amphibian (Temnospondyl) from the Early Permian of Texas. The intern will be trained to identify fossil anatomy based on physical observations, microscopy, alongside newer imaging techniques such as X rays and microCT data. CT data will be processed using Dragonfly segmentation software where necessary. The student will learn the basic principles of comparative anatomy, phylogenetics, taxonomy and systematics. Ideally these results will lead to a publication in collaboration with other members of the Lab. This internship is designed to provide candidates with hands-on training of a paleobiological toolkit of methods and best museum practices commonly found in our field and broadly in natural history sciences. Among these tools, the intern will gain significant experience in computer programs, such as Dragonfly 3D (CT rendering software), PAUP, and TNT (phylogenetics software). Through hands-on training with fossils, they will develop expertise in comparative vertebrate anatomy, becoming ski...