PhD Studentship: Understanding the Evolution of How Plants Perceive Changes in the Environment

Scientific Background 

Plants modify the concentration of calcium ions in their cells in response to different environmental stimuli and stresses. These changes in cellular calcium concentration trigger many downstream responses, including re-programming of gene expression and coordination of growth. Calcium signalling pathways are therefore essential for plants to respond and adapt to environmental stresses. 

Flowering plants, such as the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, have complicated networks of proteins involved in calcium signalling pathways. Genetic redundancy is observed and has hindered further study of these signalling pathways. Our recent genomic analyses have revealed that gene families encoding components of calcium signalling pathways are considerably smaller in other model plant species, including in the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha. The study of these pathways in M. polymorpha therefore offer a unique opportunity to understanding calcium signalling pathways in plants and provide an evolutionary assessment of how plants respond and adapt to environmental stresses in the context of global climate change. 

Research methodology 

In this project, we will explore how the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha grows and responds to different stresses in the natural environment. The student will evaluate growth and physiology in plants grown under different environmental conditions, use bioimaging techniques to measure calcium signals, and use qRT-PCR to measure gene expression. They will also build on our recent work identifying stress signalling genes and test how knockout of these genes by CRISPR gene editing can be used to alter stress tolerance in plants. 

Training 

This multi-disciplinary project will offer the student excellent training opportunities in plant biology (including plant physiology and stress biology), cell biology, and the molecular genetics of plant environmental stress signalling. Furthermore, the student will receive training in data analysis (including transcriptomics) and manuscript preparation, whilst also having regular opportunities to present their work at national and international meetings. 

Person specification  

We are looking for a highly motivated individual with strong interests in plant biology, molecular biology, biochemistry and the natural environment, and who can thrive in a multi-disciplinary research laboratory. Candidates should have a background in biological or environmental sciences, and require a minimum of a 2:1 Bachelor’s degree. 

Funding details 

ARIES studentships are subject to UKRI terms and conditions(opens in a new window). Successful candidates who meet UKRI’s eligibility criteria will be awarded a fully-funded studentship, which covers fees, maintenance stipend (£21,805 p.a. for 2026/27) and a research training and support grant (RTSG). A limited number of studentships are available for international applicants, with the difference between 'home' and 'international' fees being waived by the registering university. Please note, however, that ARIES funding does not cover additional costs associated with relocation to, and living in, the UK, such as visa costs or the health surcharge.