This project is one of a number that are in competition for funding from the NERC Great Western Four+ Doctoral Training Partnership (GW4+ DTP). The GW4+ DTP consists of the Great Western Four alliance of the University of Bath, University of Bristol, Cardiff University and the University of Exeter plus five Research Organisation partners: British Antarctic Survey, British Geological Survey, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, the Natural History Museum and Plymouth Marine Laboratory. The partnership aims to provide a broad training in earth and environmental sciences, designed to train tomorrow’s leaders in earth and environmental science. For further details about the programme please see http://nercgw4plus.ac.uk/
Project Background:
Microalgae are an incredibly diverse and ubiquitous group of photosynthetic organisms which provide more than half of the oxygen on Earth and are responsible for most of the primary production in oceanic and freshwater ecosystems. Many model species are intensively studied in laboratories to shed light on fundamental scientific questions, and many more are used in biotechnology processes to produce a myriad of high valued compounds. The academic and applied interest in microalgae has driven the development of molecular tools and techniques for their genetic transformation. However, whilst synthetic biology-related tools have developed fast, the availability of suitable genetic elements is limited compared to well-established models such as E. coli, yeast, and mammalian cells.
In the oceans, microalgae frequently interact with viruses: viral infections impact species turnover, nutrient recycling, the fate of algal blooms, and the transfer of genetic information. Despite their ecological and economic relevance, very little is known about how microalgae counteract viral infections. Although a wide range of microalgal laboratory cultures are available, we are yet to discover viruses for many of them. In this project, the PhD student will identify novel algal viruses and characterise host-virus interactions, with an emphasis on (1) the interaction between the virus and the cell membrane, (2) the microalgae physiological response at the cellular level, and (3) the identification of genetic elements from the virus (such as promoters, leading sequence, terminator) that may be used in synthetic biology applications.
Project Aims and Methods:
We aim to understand how microalgae interact with viruses during the infection process: Do microalgae have an immune - antiviral - system and if so, how does it impact viral infection? Furthermore, we expect that outputs from the above research questions - the discovery of new viruses, or the molecular compounds from an immune response - can have tremendous benefit and value for research and industry. The interaction between already isolated viruses with key algal species will be characterised by performing infection experiments under laboratory conditions.
The viral modulation of the microalgae’s gene expressions pathways will be analysed by transcriptomics. High-speed Atomic Force Microscopy will allow us to study the microalgae-virus membrane interaction. In parallel, environmental sampling of natural seawater will be used to infect a range of selected microalgal strains. When culture lysis is observed, potential viral particles will be characterised using techniques such as flow cytometry and genomics.
Candidate requirements:
For this cross-disciplinary project, we seek a highly motivated candidate with interests in molecular biology, bioinformatics, virology, and marine sciences.
Project partners:
Plymouth Marine Laboratory and Exeter university will provide access to state-of-the-art microbiology laboratories. In addition, this project will exploit the Western Channel Observatory to provide the raw biological material for the isolation, screening and characterisation of novel algae and viruses (as well as media prep). Genomic and transcriptomic sequencing will be conducted at the University of Exeter’s sequencing centre, and bioinformatic analyses will be performed in collaboration with the University of Exeter’s Living Systems Institute.
Training:
In addition to laboratory and bioinformatics training, the student will have the opportunity to participate in weekly sampling missions at the Western Channel Observatory, as well as opportunistic oceanographic research cruises.
Useful links:
Prospective applicants:
For information relating to the research project please contact the lead Supervisor via [Email Address Removed] and m.allen5@exeter .ac.uk, or check out www.bluemicrobe.co.uk
For information about the application process please contact the Admissions team via [Email Address Removed]. Please note that applications received via other routes including a standard programme application route will not be considered for the studentship funding.
Eligibility
NERC GW4+ DTP studentships are open to UK and Irish nationals who, if successful in their applications, will receive a full studentship including payment of university tuition fees at the home fees rate.
A limited number of full studentships are also available to international students which are defined as EU (excluding Irish nationals), EEA, Swiss and all other non-UK nationals. For further details please see the NERC GW4+ website.
Those not meeting the nationality and residency requirements to be treated as a ‘home’ student may apply for a limited number of full studentships for international students. Although international students are usually charged a higher tuition fee rate than ‘home’ students, those international students offered a NERC GW4+ Doctoral Training Partnership full studentship starting in 2022 will only be charged the ‘home’ tuition fee rate (which will be covered by the studentship).
International applicants need to be aware that you will have to cover the cost of your student visa, healthcare surcharge and other costs of moving to the UK to do a PhD. More information on this is available from the universities you are applying to (contact details are provided in the project description that you are interested in).
How to apply
In order to formally apply for the PhD Project you will need to go to the following web page.
https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/funding/award/?id=4295
The closing date for applications is 1600 hours GMT on Friday 10th January 2022.
Interviews will be held between 28th February and 4th March 2022.
If you have any general enquiries about the application process please email [Email Address Removed] or phone: 0300 555 60 60 (UK callers) or +44 (0) 1392 723044 (EU/International callers). Project-specific queries should be directed to the main supervisor
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