PhD Studentship: Investigating the Cry-for-Help Effect in Wheat
Explore how wheat roots recruit beneficial soil microbes during pathogen attacks to develop sustainable crop varieties.
Best for:Best for biology and microbiology graduates with an interest in plant-microbe interactions and sustainable agriculture.
Overview
This four-year PhD studentship investigates the plant 'cry-for-help' effect in wheat, focusing on how root metabolite secretion attracts beneficial microbes in response to pathogen attacks. Jointly hosted by the John Innes Centre and the Earlham Institute under the Norwich Research Park Biosciences DTP, the project combines molecular microbiology, metabolomics, and bioinformatic analysis. The successful candidate will work within a collaborative research team to uncover mechanisms for maintaining healthy soils and supporting high-yielding crops. Applicants are expected to engage in rigorous experimental work, data analysis, and scientific communication.
What you'll do
- Analyze wheat split-root microcosms inoculated with diverse microbial communities
- Examine the relationship between pathogen challenge, root metabolite secretion, and soil microbiome recruitment
- Apply techniques in molecular and environmental microbiology, bioinformatics, and metabolomics
- Conduct plant-microbe interaction assays to dissect the wheat cry-for-help mechanism
- Collaborate with researchers across the John Innes Centre and the Earlham Institute
- Contribute to scientific publications and present research findings at academic meetings
Requirements
Degree required: BSc or MSc degree in a relevant biological or computational science discipline
Degree offered: PhD
Language: English
Instruction: English
- Background in molecular biology, microbiology, or a related discipline
- Interest in plant-microbe interactions and soil ecology
- Capacity for bioinformatics data analysis or willingness to learn computational methods
- Strong analytical and experimental problem-solving skills
- Meet standard academic and residency requirements for UKRI / Norwich Research Park Biosciences DTP studentships
Funding & terms
How to apply
Deadline: 2026-11-30
Interested candidates should review the project details and access the application portal via the official link provided. Submit all required application documents before the specified closing date.
- CV
- Cover letter
- Academic transcripts
- Reference letters
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