fungi PhD Projects, Programs & Scholarships

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project does not have funding attached. You will need to have your own means of paying fees and living costs and / or seek separate funding from student finance, charities or trusts.

“Plants are not discrete entities, but instead are mergers of fungal cells with plant tissues”. This statement implies that every living plant has fungi living within the roots and shoots.

Biology and genetics of reproduction in filamentous fungi

University of Nottingham
School of Life Sciences

Prof P S Dyer

Applications accepted all year round

Funding Type

PhD Type

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project does not have funding attached. You will need to have your own means of paying fees and living costs and / or seek separate funding from student finance, charities or trusts.

Filamentous fungi are of importance in the food, industrial and medical sectors and have important roles in the ecology of natural ecosystems.

Interactions between introduced tree species and native mycorrhizal fungi in the UK

University of Reading
School of Biological Sciences

Dr BJ Pickles

Applications accepted all year round

Funding Type

PhD Type

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project does not have funding attached. You will need to have your own means of paying fees and living costs and / or seek separate funding from student finance, charities or trusts.

"Mycorrhizal symbioses are one of the most extensive and important biotic interactions in terrestrial ecosystems, typically providing plants with improved access to nutrients in exchange for carbohydrates produced via photosynthesis.

Integrating marine fungi into the structure and function of pelagic ecosystems.

University of Southampton
Ocean and Earth Science

Dr M Cunliffe, Dr B Ward

Application Deadline: 3 January 2020

Funding Type

PhD Type

Competition Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project is in competition for funding with other projects. Usually the project which receives the best applicant will be successful. Unsuccessful projects may still go ahead as self-funded opportunities.

Even though marine fungi have been known to exist since the 19th century, the application of molecular ecology tools has established a foundational understanding of the widespread distribution and diversity of the ocean mycobiome (Amend et al 2019).

Evaluation of fungal complement evasion mechanisms via the lectin pathway

University of Copenhagen
CORVOS – COmplement Regulation & Variations in Opportunistic infectionS

Prof P Garred, Prof J Koehl

Application Deadline: 10 November 2019

Funding Type

PhD Type

Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project has funding attached, subject to eligibility criteria. Applications for the project are welcome from all suitably qualified candidates, but its funding may be restricted to a limited set of nationalities. You should check the project and department details for more information.

The group of professor Peter Garred at the University of Copenhagen has deciphered the components of the lectin complement pathway.

The functional importance of plant-fungal interactions in agri-ecosystems

The University of Manchester
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences

Prof D Johnson

Applications accepted all year round

Funding Type

PhD Type

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project does not have funding attached. You will need to have your own means of paying fees and living costs and / or seek separate funding from student finance, charities or trusts.

Most land plants have evolved symbioses with soil-borne mycorrhizal fungi, which provide nutritional benefits to both partners and are key to their fitness.

Ecology and evolution of the earliest terrestrial animals. PhD in Biosciences (NERC GW4 + DTP)

University of Exeter
College of Life and Environmental Sciences

Dr X Ma

Application Deadline: 6 January 2020

Funding Type

PhD Type

Competition Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project is in competition for funding with other projects. Usually the project which receives the best applicant will be successful. Unsuccessful projects may still go ahead as self-funded opportunities.

Lead Supervisor. Dr. Xiaoya Ma, Department of Biosciences, Centre for Ecology & Conservation, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter.

Functional analysis of fungal effector proteins in the barley/wheat powdery mildew plant-pathogen interactions.

Royal Holloway, University of London
School of Biological Sciences

Dr L Bindschedler, Prof A Devoto

Applications accepted all year round

Funding Type

PhD Type

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project does not have funding attached. You will need to have your own means of paying fees and living costs and / or seek separate funding from student finance, charities or trusts.

Pathogens secrete small proteins called effectors or virulence factors which are important for the successful invasion of the host.

Towards more sustainable use of phosphorus in UK grasslands considering soil-plant interactions

The University of Manchester
Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health

Dr V Niasar, Prof D Johnson, Dr S Lee

Applications accepted all year round

Funding Type

PhD Type

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project does not have funding attached. You will need to have your own means of paying fees and living costs and / or seek separate funding from student finance, charities or trusts.

This ambitious project will lead to a major shift in how soil phosphorus (P), is managed in UK grasslands.

GW4 BioMed MRC DTP PhD studentship: Snapshot into the fungal nucleus – opening novel avenues to tackle fungal disease

University of Bath
Department of Biology & Biochemistry

Dr H-W Nützmann

Application Deadline: 25 November 2019

Funding Type

PhD Type

Competition Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)

PhD Research Projects are advertised opportunities to examine a pre-defined topic or answer a stated research question. Some projects may also provide scope for you to propose your own ideas and approaches.

This project is in competition for funding with other projects. Usually the project which receives the best applicant will be successful. Unsuccessful projects may still go ahead as self-funded opportunities.

This project is one of a number that are in competition for funding from the ‘GW4 BioMed MRC Doctoral Training Partnership’ which is offering up to 18 studentships for entry in September 2020.