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

Overview

The University of East Anglia, through the School of Biological Sciences, offers a full-time, fixed-term PhD studentship focused on how plants perceive environmental changes. The project examines calcium signalling pathways in flowering plants and the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha to provide an evolutionary assessment of plant adaptation to environmental stresses amid global climate change. Research activities involve evaluating plant growth and physiology across various conditions, utilizing bioimaging techniques to measure calcium signals, applying qRT-PCR for gene expression analysis, and performing CRISPR gene editing to alter stress tolerance.

Who can apply

Applicants must be highly motivated individuals with a strong interest in plant biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, and the natural environment, and the ability to thrive in a multi-disciplinary research laboratory. Candidates need a background in biological or environmental sciences alongside a minimum of a 2:1 Bachelor’s degree. A limited number of studentships are open to international applicants, with the registering university waiving the fee difference between home and international rates, though funding does not cover relocation expenses, visa costs, or the health surcharge.

What you get

The fully-funded ARIES studentship covers tuition fees, a maintenance stipend of £21,805 per annum for 2026/27, and a research training and support grant. The successful candidate receives multi-disciplinary training in plant biology, cell biology, molecular genetics of environmental stress signalling, data analysis including transcriptomics, and manuscript preparation, alongside opportunities to present research at national and international meetings.

Requirements

The position is structured as a full-time, fixed-term, on-site appointment based in the United Kingdom.

Key dates

The closing date for applications is 2026-12-16.