Funding providers: Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) - (South West Biosciences (SWBio) Doctoral Training Partnership)
Subject areas: Sitophilus oryzae, Sitophilus granarius, chemical ecology, food security, insect olfaction
Project start date:
- 1 October 2023 (Enrolment open from mid-September)
Project supervisors:
- Dr David Withall (Rothamsted Research)
- Dr Joel Loveridge (Swansea University)
- Dr Jozsef Vuts (Rothamsted Research)
- Professor Tariq Butt (Swansea University)
- Dr John Caulfield (Rothamsted Research)
Aligned programme of study: PhD in Chemistry
Mode of study: Full-time or part-time study is possible.
Project description:
This is an exciting interdisciplinary opportunity to study the chemical ecology of important cereal pests, the rice weevil (Sitophilus oryzae) and granary weevil (Sitophilus granarius), with a view to developing novel integrated pest management solutions. Rice and cereals are among the most important crops in the world, and weevils of the genus Sitophilus are responsible for significant post‐harvest losses. The use of volatile semiochemicals (behaviour‐modifying ‘information signals’ such as pheromones) to lure pests aways from a crop is a powerful strategy for crop protection; leading to lower pesticide use and so reducing environmental damage as well as contamination of the human food supply chain.
Over the course of this PhD project you will investigate the molecular detail of how Sitophilus weevils detect and interpret chemical signals in their environment. This will involve direct studies of weevil behaviour, insect electrophysiology, synthetic chemistry, analytical chemistry, bioinformatics, computational chemistry and molecular modelling, giving you a broad skill base. Integrated pest management is a vibrant and growing sector with significant employment opportunities in academic, industry, and in regulatory and other government bodies, but the experience and skills you will gain in this project are also directly transferrable to other fields.
The outputs of this work will have the potential for substantial economic and environmental impact, and contribute to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals relating to food security and protecting the environment. You will be supervised by an interdisciplinary team, with opportunity to interact with industry, and your time will be divided between Rothamsted Research and Swansea University, giving you the opportunity to experience different research environments and ways of working.
Eligibility
Candidates must normally hold an undergraduate degree at 2.1 level in chemistry or a related subject, or a master’s degree with a minimum overall grade at ‘Merit’ in chemistry or a related subject (or Non-UK equivalent as defined by Swansea University).
English Language requirements: If applicable – IELTS 6.0 overall (with at least 5.5 in each individual component) or Swansea recognised equivalent.
This scholarship is open to candidates of any nationality.
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