Latest News

European Research Council Consolidator Grant awarded to St Hugh’s Fellow

Congratulations to Professor Erin Saupe, St Hugh’s Senior Research Fellow in Palaeobiology and Professor in Palaeobiology, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford on being awarded a grant supported by the European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator Grants to lead a new research project: EXTINCT. The grant supports highly promising mid-career scientists of any nationality and any field with building a research team at an eligible host organisation.

Consolidator Grants award around €2 million for projects typically lasting five years. Awardees must have 7-12 years of highly promising postdoctoral experience plus an excellent research proposal. With funding from the EU’s Horizon Europe programme, these grants will support cutting-edge research at universities and research centres in 25 EU Member States and associated countries. The ERC received 3,121 applications for this call, of which 11.2% were successful.

Extinction has occurred continuously over the history of life on Earth. However, there is still little understanding of the drivers of extinction across timescales. In EXTINCT, Professor Saupe  will develop new ways of determining what causes marine invertebrates to die out. The project will look at patterns across different places and time periods. Professor Saupe said, ‘This grant enables us to explore the drivers of extinction throughout Earth’s history and to contribute to modern-day conservation efforts. We are excited to develop novel methods and models to tackle these challenges. I am grateful to the ERC funders, to my collaborators for their support and mentorship, and to my group members for their inspiration, dedication, and hard work in this area.’

For more information on the project please click here.