PhD Research Project

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Characterisation of the regulatory networks controlling yield and conversion efficiencies in biorefining feedstocks.

Institution:

Aberystwyth University

Dept/School/Faculty:

Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS)

PhD Supervisor:

Dr j Gallagher

Co-Supervisor:

Dr M Bosch

Application Deadline:

No more applications being accepted

Funding Availability:

Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)

PhD Research Project

It is extremely important that new sustainable energy sources are developed to replace our reliance on fossil fuels for our major energy needs. Plant cell wall biomass represents one of the most abundant renewable resources available on earth. The sugar components contained in cell wall polysaccharides can be used for the production of liquid biofuels as well as for biorefining to produce a range of bio-materials. One of the main bottlenecks for the commercial exploitation of this biomass is the recalcitrance of the cell wall to conversion into fermentable sugars. A detailed understanding of the regulatory networks controlling cell wall synthesis is required to enable the genetic engineering and molecular breeding of energy crops with improved conversion characteristics.

A 4-year BBSRC funded PhD studentship is available within the Biorenewable and Environmental Change Division at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences to functionally characterize several transcription factors recently identified as potential cell wall regulators. Plants in which these regulatory elements are over-expressed are available, providing the student with excellent starting material for an in depth analysis. This project offers an excellent training opportunity, providing the student with a range of skill-sets as analysis will involve molecular biology, chemical, and microscopic techniques as well as saccharification and fermentation assays of cell wall biomass. This studentship is therefore especially suited for good graduates in Biology, Molecular Biology or Biochemistry aiming for advanced research training in the new research area of Bioenergy.

For more details or to discuss this project please contact Joe Gallagher (jbg@aber.ac.uk) or Maurice Bosch (mub@aber.ac.uk)

Funding Notes:

Annual starting stipend will be the current research council rate (currently £13590) available to UK candidates and EU candidates who have been ordinarily resident in the UK throughout the 3-year period immediately preceding the date of the award. EU candidates who have not been ordinarily resident in the UK for the last 3 years are eligible for a "tuition fees-only" award (no maintenance grant). The student will start in October 2012 and applications are to be made using the Aberystwyth University application form, http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/postgrad/howtoapply/forms/. Please ensure a CV, a cover letter, and two references are provided.