Redefining Neogene Planktonic Foraminifera: A Digital Revolution in Taxonomy and Stratigraphy

About the Project

Microfossil taxonomy and biostratigraphy is a cornerstone of any subsurface investigations providing critical absolute and/or relative age controls on sediments, the main means of correlating sediments spatially, and paleoenvironmental information, all of which is essential for building geological models for a variety of academic, e.g., evolutionary or environmental change studies, or applied purposes, e.g., engineering, carbon sequestration or the energy sector. One of the key groups employed are the marine microfossils, planktonic foraminifera which arguable have the best fossil record of any group.

In 1983, Neogene Planktonic Foraminifera by Kennett and Srinivasan revolutionised the field by synthesising over half a century of research into one global taxonomic framework. Four decades later, our knowledge — and our technology — have advanced dramatically. High-resolution imaging, 3D morphometrics, advanced statistics, and even molecular tools now allow us to revisit long-standing questions that were once beyond reach. Yet, much of the foundational taxonomy and zonation remains based on outdated species concepts, leading to inconsistencies and uncertainties in biostratigraphic frameworks worldwide.

This PhD will reimagine the Neogene Planktonic Foraminiferal Atlas for the 21st century, combining classical micropalaeontology with cutting-edge analytical tools. Working as part of an international team of experts, the student will:

1. Resolve problematic and poorly constrained species concepts using quantitative morphometrics and imaging.
2. Test the robustness of morphospecies subdivisions that underpin key Neogene biostratigraphic schemes.
3. Evaluate the reliability of widely used stratigraphic datums in sediments with precise astronomical age control.

Initial work will utilise deep sea sediments from the International Ocean Discovery Project and its predecessors. We also aim to reduce uncertainties between workers by producing high-quality, 3-D stereo-light microscope images (how specimens are viewed by workers on a day-to-day basis) in addition to standard high-resolution scanning electron microscope images of all species investigated. There may also be opportunities to conduct stable isotope analyses to test key hypotheses relating to foraminiferal ecology and its stability in time and space.

Ultimately, the project will deliver new reference materials and datasets that feed into a revised Neogene Planktonic Foraminiferal Atlas, and directly into Mikrotax, the open-access global database (http://www.mikrotax.org) used by academia, industry, and students worldwide for micropalaeontological taxonomy and stratigraphy.

This project provides interdisciplinary training spanning taxonomy, biostratigraphy, quantitative morphology, geochemistry, and data management. The student will gain hands-on experience with museum collections, IODP cores, and advanced digital imaging, while building professional networks through collaboration with international experts.

Graduates from this project will be uniquely positioned to lead the next generation of research and applied work in this vital field where there is a rapidly developing global skills gap.

Funding Notes

This project is not associated with funding from the University of Birmingham. Applicants will need to obtain their own scholarship or other financial support to cover tuition fees and living costs. All interested candidates MUST contact the lead supervisor of this project by email, including a current CV and statement of interest BEFORE submitting a formal application.