The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a $450,000 Project Grant under the Geosciences program (CFDA 47.050) to the Regents of the University of Michigan to conduct a collaborative research project titled "The Age of Cichlids: A Fossils-to-Genomes Approach to Dating Divergence and Tracing Ecomorphological Change in a Key Model of Vertebrate Evolution." The 3-year project, commencing on September 1, 2024, will leverage computed tomographic (CT) examination of modern and fossil cichlid specimens to create a comprehensive morphological character set for integrating fossil cichlids into a phylogenetic analysis with living species. The researchers will combine these phenotypic data with existing phylogenomic resources to infer a dated genus-level phylogeny for cichlids, and test the impact of fossils on understanding patterns of cichlid ecomorphology and macroevolution over tens of millions of years. The project will support a multidisciplinary team, including a postdoctoral researcher, two PhD students, a master's student, a technician, and undergraduate students, and engage public audiences through museum-based activities and educational resources.