photosynthesis 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.

Increasing crop yields while decreasing environmental impacts of agriculture is one of the major challenges facing modern society.

Investigating Photosynthesis in Nannochloropsis – An Important Algal Genus for Biofuel Production

University of Sheffield
Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology

Dr D J Gilmour

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.

One of the key insights from phylogenetic studies of eukaryotic microorganisms is the enormous diversity within the microalgal group with green algae being similar to plants and other groups such as diatoms being very different.

Investigating Photosynthesis in Nannochloropsis – An Important Algal Genus for Biofuel Production

University of Sheffield
Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology

Dr D J Gilmour

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.

One of the key insights from phylogenetic studies of eukaryotic microorganisms is the enormous diversity within the microalgal group with green algae being similar to plants and other groups such as diatoms being very different.

Evolution and biochemistry of photosynthesis - electron transfer reactions, renewable energy production, biotechnology, and chloroplast genomes

University of Cambridge
Department of Biochemistry

Prof C J Howe

Applications accepted all year round

Funding Type

PhD Type

Awaiting Funding Decision/Possible External Funding

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 supervisor does not yet know if funding is available for this project, or they intend to apply for external funding once a suitable candidate is selected. Applications are welcome - please see project details for further information.

The common theme of our work is the biochemistry and evolution of photosynthesis.

Engineering The Rice Leaf for Improved Photosynthesis

University of Sheffield
Department of Animal and Plant Sciences

Prof A Fleming

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.

Improving photosynthetic efficiency has been identified as one of the few remaining traits for exploitation if we are to achieve the significant increases in crop yield required to feed the projected 9 billion world population by 2050.

Biophysics of light-induced motility in microalgae

University of Warwick
Department of Physics

Dr M Polin

Applications accepted all year round

Funding Type

PhD Type

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 has funding attached for UK and EU students, though the amount may depend on your nationality. Non-EU students may still be able to apply for the project provided they can find separate funding. You should check the project and department details for more information.

At a glance. The project focusses on the mechanisms by which motile microalgae (prominent e.g. within phytoplankton) sense, elaborate and respond to light.

PhD in nanomaterials for artificial photosynthesis

Imperial College London
Department of Chemical Engineering

Dr S Eslava

Applications accepted all year round

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.

Funding is available for a PhD studentship to start as soon as possible. The project will be based in the group of Dr Salvador Eslava in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Imperial College London and will be linked to a recently awarded EPSRC Fellowship project to Dr Eslava.

PhD in nanomaterials for artificial photosynthesis

University of Bath
Department of Chemical Engineering

Dr S Eslava

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.

The development of artificial leaves is crucial to exploit the solar energy and meet the increasing population energy demand, which is rising 10% per year.

Bioengineering of bacterial CO2-concentrating system for improved photosynthesis

University of Liverpool
Institute of Integrative Biology

Prof LN Liu, Dr D Canniffe

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.

The single-cell photosynthetic bacteria, cyanobacteria, account for over 25% of global carbon fixation, thanks for their powerful CO2-concentrating machinery.

Improving Photosynthetic Efficiency - Engineering and Evolution of Light-Harvesting Complexes via Synthetic Biology

University of Liverpool
Institute of Integrative Biology

Dr D Canniffe

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.

Photosynthesis is the ultimate source of food and energy for almost all forms of life. Using sunlight as the energy input, photosynthesis removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere generating the oxygen and carbohydrate that support complex life.