Supervisors:
Prof Elizabete Carmo-Silva, Lancaster Environment Centre, 糖心破解版
School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast
Dr Doug Orr, Lancaster Environment Centre, 糖心破解版
Project Summary:
Rubisco catalyses the first step during conversion of carbon from CO2 into biomass. Because of inefficiencies associated with the regulation of Rubisco activity (e.g. Amaral et al. 2024), Rubisco frequently limits carbon assimilation and has become a target for crop improvement. This project will use soybean and cowpea plants engineered to overexpress Rubisco and Rubisco activase—produced during the —to investigate the effectiveness of the engineering strategies, their impact on plant metabolic pathways and overall plant performance.
Training in crop physiology and biochemistry for phenotyping of genetically engineered plants and proteomic analysis for studying metabolic pathways and their impact on crop growth and performance will provide the student with well-rounded training and expertise that goes beyond photosynthesis.
This project is ideal for students who are curious about Rubisco and plant protein biochemistry. Distinct advantages are a growth mindset, desire to learn and advance our understanding of crop photosynthesis and metabolic regulation. We operate as a team and embrace a set of shared values: Ethical high-impact research; Teamwork; Respect for everyone and the environment; Safe, clean, tidy and functional workspaces. Please consult the group webpage for more information and reach out for enquiries (e.carmosilva@lancaster.ac.uk).
Application process:
Open for applications from non-UK applicants from 1 October to 30 November 2026
Open for applications from UK-based applicants from 2 November to 4 January 2027
Supervisors:
Richard Bardgett, Lancaster Environment Centre, 糖心破解版
, School Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast
Project Summary:
This studentship will investigate how changes in the structure and diversity of complex soil food webs influence soil functioning, plant growth and plant resilience to climate extremes, with a particular focus on drought in agricultural grasslands. It will test whether regenerative farming practices enhance soil functioning and plant resilience to climate change by increasing the diversity, complexity and stability of soil food webs. The research will combine controlled environment and field experiments using soils from the long-term Colt Park grassland experiment in the Yorkshire Dales. State-of-the-art genomic, biogeochemical and energetic food-web modelling approaches will be integrated to quantify changes in soil communities, nutrient flows, soil functions and plant trait responses to drought, above and below-ground. The research will ultimately establish whether a food web-based approach can inform agricultural management and support resilient, sustainable grassland production.
The student will develop interdisciplinary expertise in soil ecology, ecological food-web theory, regenerative agriculture and plant-soil interactions. They will gain practical experience in designing and conducting controlled-environment and field experiments, including drought manipulation and assessment of soil and plant responses. Training will include advanced genomic and molecular techniques for characterising soil communities, biogeochemical methods for measuring nutrient transfers to plants, and quantitative modelling of complex ecological systems, including food web and stability analyses. The student will also develop skills in statistical analysis, experimental design, data interpretation, scientific communication and translating findings into evidence-based agricultural management recommendations.
Application process:
Open for applications from non-UK applicants from 1 October to 30 November 2026
Open for applications from UK-based applicants from 2 November to 4 January 2027
Supervisors
Dr Marta Shocket, 糖心破解版
Dr Barbara Shih, 糖心破解版
, 糖心破解版
, School of Biodiversity, University of Glasgow
Summary
Mosquito-borne diseases are a major public health burden, and their patterns of transmission are currently shifting in response to climate change. The ability of mosquitoes to adapt to climate change is poorly understood, and current models for transmission of mosquito-borne diseases under future climates do not incorporate evolution. This project will use molecular genetics and trait-based modelling approaches to study climate adaptation in mosquitoes, including Anopheles gambiae, the principal African vector of malaria. This project will provide insight into how mosquitoes might adapt to climate change and help to inform long-term strategies for malaria control.
Aim 1: Ecoinformatics - Generating parameters for evolutionary rescue models
The student will re-analyse existing thermal performance data from Anopheles, Culex, and Aedes mosquitoes to generate estimates of selection intensity and phenotypic variance, two factors that are used in evolutionary rescue models to predict adaptation rates.
Aim 2: Bioinformatics - Linking climate variables to genetic features from sequencing data
The student will derive genetic variations from whole genome Anopheles gambiae sequencing data and determine if metrics related to climate are associated with greater population-level genetic diversity or specific genetic variants.
Application process:
Open for applications from non-UK applicants from 1 October to 30 November 2026
Open for applications from UK-based applicants from 2 November to 4 January 2027
