The University of Bath is inviting applications for this fully-funded PhD opportunity offered by the Milner Centre for Evolution at the University of Bath in collaboration with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
The Milner Centre for Evolution is a unique, cross-faculty research centre bridging biology, health and education. The Centre is dedicated to a broad range of fundamental research questions relating to evolutionary biology; from in deep time to the micro-evolutionary dynamics of a disease outbreak. We have a strong focus on public engagement and outreach. We are located in a dedicated multi-million-pound building that opened on the University campus in September 2018.
The PhD will also be partly based at Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, which offers unique plant and fungal collections, fungal genomics and systematics expertise, chemical characterisation facilities, and an active research and outreach environment.
Intended Supervisory Team:
Lead Supervisor: Dr Daniel Henk, Milner Centre for Evolution, Department of Biology & Biochemistry, University of Bath
Co-Supervisor: Dr Ester Gaya, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Project Overview:
Pathogenic fungi specialise in exploiting plant resources to cause massive damage to plants globally, and mutualistic fungi trade benefits with plants to underpin entire ecosystems. Straddling these lifestyles in plant-fungal interactions are endophytic fungi that live asymptomatically inside host plants. While these fungi are diverse and ubiquitous, the niche itself is complex and depends on a wide variety of biological and environmental factors. One key factor is how these fungi interact with other microbes, and they can produce an array of antimicrobial molecules to facilitate their occupancy in plants.
This project seeks to determine if the evolution of antimicrobial production is at the heart of fungi that have diversified and invaded the endophytic niche. The project is planned in 3 main research phases. First, focused collection of endophytic fungi in the genus Fusarium along with the direct characterisation of the antimicrobial traits from those fungi and chemical characterisation of those antimicrobials. Second, comparative genomics of the focal fungal endophytes will establish the scope of diversification associated with the endophytic niche including signatures selection for antimicrobial production and resistance. Third, experimental laboratory evolution will be used to evaluate the consequences of microbial competition on endophytic fungi and their relatives in real-time and longer timescales.
This project is shared between Kew and the Milner Centre at the University of Bath. Bath will be the main home for most of the project, but significant amounts of time are expected to be spent at both institutions, and it is expected to be highly collaborative. Along with the research foci, the studentship will integrate with active outreach teams at both institutions, and the student will have an opportunity to work with a broad community and develop their own approaches to engage the wider public with endophyte research.
Candidate Requirements:
Applicants should hold, or expect to receive, a First Class or good Upper Second Class Honours degree (or the equivalent) in a relevant discipline. A master’s level qualification would also be advantageous.
Non-UK applicants must meet our English language entry requirement.
Enquiries and Applications:
Candidates are encouraged to discuss the project directly with Dr Daniel Henk before applying (email address: [Email Address Removed]).
Formal applications should be made via the University of Bath’s online application form for a PhD in Biology.
On the application form, quote ‘Evolution Education Trust’ in the Finance section and the supervisor’s name and project title in the ‘Your research interests’ section.
Your application must be complete when you submit it to us. Incomplete applications cannot be considered. Please ensure you have completed all fields on the application form and supplied the contact details of TWO referees willing to provide us with a reference when requested (one must be from your most recent place of study). Also, you should ensure that you have uploaded all the required documents. See our website for more information.
Note: Applications may close earlier than the advertised deadline if a suitable candidate is found; therefore early application is recommended.
Funding Eligibility:
To be eligible for funding, you must qualify as a Home student. The eligibility criteria for Home fee status are detailed and too complex to be summarised here in full; however, as a general guide, the following applicants will normally qualify subject to meeting residency requirements: UK nationals (living in the UK or EEA/Switzerland), Irish nationals (living in the UK or EEA/Switzerland), those with Indefinite Leave to Remain and EU nationals with pre-settled or settled status in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme). This is not intended to be an exhaustive list. Additional information may be found on our fee status guidance webpage, on the GOV.UK website and on the UKCISA website.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:
We value a diverse research environment and aim to be an inclusive university, where difference is celebrated and respected. We welcome and encourage applications from diverse backgrounds and under-represented groups.
If you have circumstances that you feel we should be aware of that have affected your educational attainment, then please feel free to tell us about it in your application form. The best way to do this is a short paragraph at the end of your personal statement.
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