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Dr N Maxted
Applications accepted all year round
Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)
About the Project
To secure and improve the in situ and ex situ conservation of crop wild relative (CWR) diversity in the Fertile Crescent through the development of systematic plant conservation strategies and as a means of underpinning global food security. To achieve this aim there are four subordinate research objectives:
1. Development of proposal for regional CWR conservation actions for the Fertile Crescent
A proposal will be put forward for CWR conservation actions for the Fertile Crescent as a mega-region of agrobiodiversity, this will involve a monographic approach to CWR conservation including: (a) generation of regional CWR inventory with distribution and use data, (b) inventory prioritisation based on agreed criteria, (c) collation of additional regional and national data sets (e.g. detailed distribution, threat status, gene pool data, trait characteristics), (d) GIS gap analysis, (e) generation of proposals for CWR conservation actions in the Fertile Crescent highlighting in situ/ex situ conservation priorities, and (f) develop, with regional and national agencies, in situ/ex situ conservation actions.
2. CWR genetic richness and evenness inside and outside of the Fertile Crescent
A genetic assessment of CWR target taxa both within and outside of the Fertile Crescent– this will involve: (a) surveying and demographic study of CWR populations (possibly including Triticum monococcum, Secale montanum, Avena byzantina, Hordeum spontaneum, Lens orientalis, Vicia ervilia, Pisum fulvum and Brassica oleracea) in the Western Fertile Crescent, (b) population sampling and genetic analysis of CWR populations to establish patterns of genetic diversity/distance (i. within the Western Fertile Crescent, ii within the Eastern Fertile Crescent and iii outside of the Fertile Crescent), and (c) establish genetic baseline for CWR populations so aiding future genetic monitoring within the Fertile Crescent.
3. CWR Threat Analysis
Undertake CWR threat analysis to assess the risk of genetic erosion facing CWR across the Fertile Crescent, this will involve: (a) determining the biological, environmental and socioeconomic factors which can contribute to loss of genetic diversity within the Fertile Crescent, (b) time series genetic analysis of exemplar populations of CWR species in the Fertile Crescent using ex situ conserved samples and current in situ populations, and (c) IUCN Red Lists Assessment of CWR taxa to determine their level of threat of genetic erosion.
4. Development of proposal for CWR genetic reserves
Recent studies by Maxted et al. (2011) for legumes and Whitehouse and Maxted (2011) for cereals have shown that certain area in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria are extremely rich in CWR diversity, but these areas lack any formal protected area where a genetic reserve might be established. Therefore research will: (a) surveying region to identify a potential site for the establishment of a genetic reserve, (b) investigating current management actions within the region and at the potential site (c) identifying the CWR taxonomic and genetic diversity present, (d) compare genetic diversity of target taxa both within and outside of site, and (e) developing proposals for additional conservation actions to ensure all regional CWR species are actively conserved and managed.
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Please find additional funding text below. For further funding details, please see the ‘Funding’ section.
The School of Biosciences offers a number of UK Research Council (e.g. BBSRC, NERC) PhD studentships each year. Fully funded research council studentships are normally only available to UK nationals (or EU nationals resident in the UK) but part-funded studentships may be available to EU applicants resident outside of the UK. The deadline for applications for research council studentships is in January each year.
Each year we also have a number of fully funded Darwin Trust Scholarships. These are provided by the Darwin Trust of Edinburgh and are for non-UK students wishing to undertake a PhD in the general area of Molecular Microbiology. The deadline for this scheme is also in January each year.
Please note the only funding available for our PhD is via the Scholarships mentioned. All applicants should indicate in their applications how they intend to fund their studies. Any academically suitable applicant that does not indicate how they intend to fund their studies will be considered for the Darwin and/or the Elite Scholarships if not already indicated. We can only consider applicants who have their own funding or wish to apply for their own funding or are successful in gaining a Scholarship.
1. Development of proposal for regional CWR conservation actions for the Fertile Crescent
A proposal will be put forward for CWR conservation actions for the Fertile Crescent as a mega-region of agrobiodiversity, this will involve a monographic approach to CWR conservation including: (a) generation of regional CWR inventory with distribution and use data, (b) inventory prioritisation based on agreed criteria, (c) collation of additional regional and national data sets (e.g. detailed distribution, threat status, gene pool data, trait characteristics), (d) GIS gap analysis, (e) generation of proposals for CWR conservation actions in the Fertile Crescent highlighting in situ/ex situ conservation priorities, and (f) develop, with regional and national agencies, in situ/ex situ conservation actions.
2. CWR genetic richness and evenness inside and outside of the Fertile Crescent
A genetic assessment of CWR target taxa both within and outside of the Fertile Crescent– this will involve: (a) surveying and demographic study of CWR populations (possibly including Triticum monococcum, Secale montanum, Avena byzantina, Hordeum spontaneum, Lens orientalis, Vicia ervilia, Pisum fulvum and Brassica oleracea) in the Western Fertile Crescent, (b) population sampling and genetic analysis of CWR populations to establish patterns of genetic diversity/distance (i. within the Western Fertile Crescent, ii within the Eastern Fertile Crescent and iii outside of the Fertile Crescent), and (c) establish genetic baseline for CWR populations so aiding future genetic monitoring within the Fertile Crescent.
3. CWR Threat Analysis
Undertake CWR threat analysis to assess the risk of genetic erosion facing CWR across the Fertile Crescent, this will involve: (a) determining the biological, environmental and socioeconomic factors which can contribute to loss of genetic diversity within the Fertile Crescent, (b) time series genetic analysis of exemplar populations of CWR species in the Fertile Crescent using ex situ conserved samples and current in situ populations, and (c) IUCN Red Lists Assessment of CWR taxa to determine their level of threat of genetic erosion.
4. Development of proposal for CWR genetic reserves
Recent studies by Maxted et al. (2011) for legumes and Whitehouse and Maxted (2011) for cereals have shown that certain area in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria are extremely rich in CWR diversity, but these areas lack any formal protected area where a genetic reserve might be established. Therefore research will: (a) surveying region to identify a potential site for the establishment of a genetic reserve, (b) investigating current management actions within the region and at the potential site (c) identifying the CWR taxonomic and genetic diversity present, (d) compare genetic diversity of target taxa both within and outside of site, and (e) developing proposals for additional conservation actions to ensure all regional CWR species are actively conserved and managed.
___
Please find additional funding text below. For further funding details, please see the ‘Funding’ section.
The School of Biosciences offers a number of UK Research Council (e.g. BBSRC, NERC) PhD studentships each year. Fully funded research council studentships are normally only available to UK nationals (or EU nationals resident in the UK) but part-funded studentships may be available to EU applicants resident outside of the UK. The deadline for applications for research council studentships is in January each year.
Each year we also have a number of fully funded Darwin Trust Scholarships. These are provided by the Darwin Trust of Edinburgh and are for non-UK students wishing to undertake a PhD in the general area of Molecular Microbiology. The deadline for this scheme is also in January each year.
Please note the only funding available for our PhD is via the Scholarships mentioned. All applicants should indicate in their applications how they intend to fund their studies. Any academically suitable applicant that does not indicate how they intend to fund their studies will be considered for the Darwin and/or the Elite Scholarships if not already indicated. We can only consider applicants who have their own funding or wish to apply for their own funding or are successful in gaining a Scholarship.
Funding Notes
Research Council Studentships are available for UK applicants. EU applicants resident in the UK may also be eligible. Non-UK students interested in molecular microbiology may apply for a Darwin Trust Scholarship. The deadline for applications for Research Council and Darwin Trust studentships is 31st January 2014.
We have a thriving community of International PhD students and encourage applications at any time from students of any nationality either able to fund their own studies or who wish to apply for their own funding (e.g. Commonwealth Scholarship Council, Islamic Development Bank).
For further information on funding see http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/biosciences/courses/postgraduate/phd.aspx
We have a thriving community of International PhD students and encourage applications at any time from students of any nationality either able to fund their own studies or who wish to apply for their own funding (e.g. Commonwealth Scholarship Council, Islamic Development Bank).
For further information on funding see http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/biosciences/courses/postgraduate/phd.aspx
References
1. Vincent, H., Wiersema, J., Dobbie, S., Kell, S.P., Fielder, H., Castañeda Alvarez, N.P., Guarino, L., Eastwood, R., Leόn, B. & Maxted, N., (2012). A prioritised crop wild relative inventory as a first step to help underpin global food security. Diversity and Distributions, In Prep.
2. Smýkal, P., Kenicer, G., Flavell, A.J., Corander, J., Kosterin, O., Redden, R.J., Ford, R., Coyne, C.J., Maxted, N., Ambrose, M.J. & Ellis, N.T.H., (2011). Phylogeny, phylogeography and genetic diversity of the Pisum genus. Plant Genetic Resources: Characterization and Utilization, 9(1): 4–18.
3. Maxted, N., Kell, S.P., Ford-Lloyd, B.V., Dulloo, M.E. & Toledo, A., (2012). Toward the systematic conservation of global crop wild relative diversity. Crop Sciences, 52(2): 774-785.
4. Maxted, N., Hargreaves, S., Kell, S.P., Amri, A., Street, K., Shehadeh, A., Piggin, J. & Konopka, J., (2012). Temperate forage and pulse legume genetic gap analysis. Bocconea, 24: 5-36.
2. Smýkal, P., Kenicer, G., Flavell, A.J., Corander, J., Kosterin, O., Redden, R.J., Ford, R., Coyne, C.J., Maxted, N., Ambrose, M.J. & Ellis, N.T.H., (2011). Phylogeny, phylogeography and genetic diversity of the Pisum genus. Plant Genetic Resources: Characterization and Utilization, 9(1): 4–18.
3. Maxted, N., Kell, S.P., Ford-Lloyd, B.V., Dulloo, M.E. & Toledo, A., (2012). Toward the systematic conservation of global crop wild relative diversity. Crop Sciences, 52(2): 774-785.
4. Maxted, N., Hargreaves, S., Kell, S.P., Amri, A., Street, K., Shehadeh, A., Piggin, J. & Konopka, J., (2012). Temperate forage and pulse legume genetic gap analysis. Bocconea, 24: 5-36.
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Career overview
Professor Nigel Maxted holds a PhD from the University of Southampton, where he conducted research on the taxonomy, conservation, and data management of *Vicia* subgenus *Vicia*. He also earned an MPhil from the same institution, focusing on the inter and intra-generic relationships between *Psophocarpus* species and their allies. His academic journey began with a BSc in Biological Sciences from The Polytechnic, Wolverhampton, and he also holds an Ordinary National Diploma in Agriculture from Hadlow College of Agriculture. Professor Maxted is a leading expert in plant genetic conservation, specifically in *in situ* and *ex situ* conservation related to crops, their wild relatives, and other socio-economically important plants. He has directed numerous national, European, and international conservation projects, securing funding from various global and governmental agencies, including the FAO, GEF, Bioversity International, and the UK government. In addition to his role as a Professor at the University of Birmingham, where he has been since 2018, he has held several significant positions in conservation organisations. He is the Co-Chair of the IUCN SSC Crop Wild Relative Specialist Group and has served as the Chair of the European Cooperative Programme for Plant Genetic Resources *In Situ* Working Group. His contributions extend to being a Senior Scientific Advisor for the GEF/World Bank on PGR Conservation and an Honorary Research Fellow at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. Professor Maxted''s research interests centre on global food security and the conservation of genetic diversity in plants of socio-economic value, particularly in Northern Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. He has published over 280 scientific papers and 23 books on various aspects of plant genetic resource conservation, and he has supervised more than 160 Masters and 34 PhD research projects. His recent work includes policy papers on crop wild relative conservation and practical field-based conservation efforts in the Middle East.
Research interests
Professor Maxted''s research focuses on the conservation of genetic diversity in plants that are of socio-economic value, particularly in relation to global food security. His expertise includes both *in situ* and *ex situ* conservation of crops and their wild relatives. He has led numerous national, European, and international conservation projects, often funded by major organisations such as the FAO, GEF, and Bioversity International. His work involves assessing genetic variation of crop wild relatives (CWR) and traditional crop landraces (LR) at the molecular level to enhance understanding of diversity patterns and to facilitate effective conservation strategies. Professor Maxted has developed novel approaches to conservation management, particularly for *in situ* CWR and on-farm maintenance of LR diversity. He is also involved in establishing the Vavilov Network, aimed at supporting global crop improvement through the provision of adaptive traits for agricultural use. His current active research projects include building conservation networks for crop wild relatives in the Southern African Development Community region, promoting genetic resource management in Europe, and enhancing *in situ* conservation of European plant genetic resources. He has published over 280 scientific papers and 23 books on various aspects of plant genetic resource conservation.
Plant Genetic Conservation
Agrobiodiversity
Crop Wild Relatives
In Situ Conservation
Ex Situ Conservation
Genetic Diversity
Food Security
Socio-Economic Plants
Conservation Methodologies
Molecular Diversity Assessment
Crop Landraces
Sustainable Conservation
International Conservation Projects
Policy Development
Biodiversity Management
Conservation Strategies
Genetic Resource Conservation
Environmental Sustainability
Climate Change Adaptation
Agricultural Biodiversity
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