EASTBIO: Experimental evolution of the immune response in a spatial context

This fully funded, 4-year PhD project is part of a competition funded by the BBSRC EASTBIO Doctoral Training Partnership.

Human activities are leading to a rapid reorganization of biodiversity, with many species shifting their ranges in response to changes in temperature, land use, and under human-assisted dispersal. Such biodiversity reorganization leads to changing biotic interactions, as populations are introduced to or released from new or previous competitors, pathogens, resources, and predators. However, species responses to novel biotic interactions remain unpredictable, in part because we lack information on how the traits relevant for responding to novel interactions evolve during range shifts. This project will use experimental evolution to address this major, outstanding knowledge gap. The student will join an active and lively research group that is currently addressing multiple questions about spatial evolution, resource adaptation, and epigenetics using the seed beetle Callosobruchus maculatus, an economically important and globally invasive predator on stored legumes. The current project will complement ongoing work by manipulating both resources and bacterial and fungal pathogens that attack both the beetles and the resources (i.e., manipulating microbes as both parasites and competitors). Using spatially explicit arenas for experimental evolution, and under different environmental conditions, the student will conduct experiments to investigate how the evolution of pathogen resistance proceeds during experimental range shifts. The work will generate novel insight into the evolution of immunity and antimicrobials in range shifting species, which can inform pest control, disease prevention strategies, and antimicrobial product development. The project moreover addresses fundamental questions about the evolutionary process, providing the opportunity to make major conceptual advances in the field. The project is well supported by an internationally excellent supervisory team with expertise in range shift eco-evolutionary dynamics, experimental evolution, host-parasite dynamics, disease ecology, and genomics. There are ample opportunities for international collaboration, networking and travel associated with the project, and the student will be well supported in their career development throughout the PhD process.

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ELIGIBILITY:

• Applicants should hold a minimum of a 2:1 UK Honours degree (or international equivalent) in a relevant subject. Those with a 2:2 UK Honours degree (or international equivalent) may be considered, provided they have (or are expected to achieve) a Distinction or Commendation at master’s level.
• All students must meet the eligibility criteria as outlined in the UKRI guidance on UK, EU and international candidates. This guidance should be read in conjunction with the UKRI Training Grant Terms and Conditions, esp. TGC 5.2 & Annex B.

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APPLICATION PROCEUDRE:

• Please visit this page for full application information: How to apply | eastbio (eastscotbiodtp.ac.uk)
• Please send your completed EASTBIO application form, along with academic transcripts to Alison Innes at: [Email Address Removed]
• Two references should be provided by the deadline using the EASTBIO reference form. References should be sent to [Email Address Removed]
• Unfortunately, due to workload constraints, we cannot consider incomplete applications.
• CV's submitted directly through a FindAPhD enquiry WILL NOT be considered.