PhD Proposal Description:
Diffuse water pollution from agricultural sources in the form of excessive nutrient run-off and drainage discharge is a persistent global contamination source of water quality in rural and agricultural catchment streams and a growing challenge to progressing the principles of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in our farming system. Surface and subsurface runoff has a complex composition including nitrates, ammonium, phosphorus compounds, and persistent organic pollutants. Phosphorus (P) and Nitrogen (N) promote the excessive growth of aquatic weeds and algae, and once they die these deplete the oxygen content of the water which can degrade and kill other animals and plants, impacting the overall biodiversity of the system. Anthropogenic eutrophication is recognised as a significant global water pollution problem which is often linked with intensive agricultural practices and has strong potential to impact the health, security of aquatic ecosystems and water supplies.
Improved P and N nutrition is the most recognized benefit of AMF symbiosis for host plants. Leguminous plants, e.g., Trifolium spp. (common clover), barrel clover (Medicago spp.), Pisum spp. (peas), can have two different root symbioses: AMF and a specialized, natural occurring N-fixing bacterial symbiont, rhizobia. In addition, certain plants, through the help of AMF, can readily uptake and absorb certain heavy metals (e.g., As, Cd) and are known as hyperaccumulators.
In this project, the PhD candidate will use laboratory experiments to elucidate which combination of AMF and leguminous plants provide the most P and N uptake. The PhD candidate will also identify field areas with high agriculture runoff and test the soil toxicity. The candidate will also identify any plants in these areas for naturally occurring hyperaccumulators, their AMF plus any potential rhizobia, through mycorrhizal extraction and molecular analysis by conducting 16S rRNA (bacteria) and 18S rRNA (fungal) gene sequencing. Selected plants will then be collectively, termed simulated recovered VBS plants (SR-VBSP), tested to quantify the amounts of heavy metals absorbed. The SR-VSBPs will be tested for toxicity by using the MTS assay in a well-established cellular model of human monocytes to see if they could be safely used as a biochar or green manure. Ultimately, and based on field season conditions, the results obtained will be transferred and conducted in an agricultural field setting. These plants and their microbial constituents can be a sustainable way that farmers can myco-phytoremediate the soil and, in turn, use these plants at the end of a season as a nutrient sorbent biochar/ natural overwintering green manure.
Applications and candidate profile:
Applications should be submitted within a single PDF document that includes a CV with educational background, transcripts of degree results, list of publications and conference presentations; a short (1–2 page) letter of motivation and; contact details for 2 referees. The motivation letter should clearly state how the applicant’s research interests and skills relate to the research project outlined above. Applications will not be considered complete until referees have submitted their references. If the successful candidate does not have English as a first language, they will also be required to submit evidence of English language competence at this stage. Trinity College Dublin is committed to policies, procedures and practices which do not discriminate on grounds such as gender, civil status, family status, age, disability, race, religious belief, sexual orientation or membership of the travelling community. On that basis we encourage and welcome talented people from all backgrounds to join our staff and student body. Trinity’s Diversity Statement can be viewed in full at https://www.tcd.ie/diversity-inclusion/diversity-statement
We are looking for applicants with the following qualifications:
Essential:
• A first-class (or equivalent) undergraduate degree in microbiology, or biotechnology, or another discipline directly relevant to the topic
• Excellent communicative (written and oral) competence in English
• Excellent research, protocol design, and organisational skills
• Ability to work and drive to field locations (ability to drive in Ireland, and/or complete license exam by start of PhD position)
• Be a pro-active, self-directed individual and able to work alone as well as part of a team in a collaborative, structured environment
Desirable:
• A Master’s degree (completed or in progress) in microbiology or molecular microbiology, or related discipline directly relevant to the topic
• Demonstrable experience of using sequencing technologies and experience in molecular biology
• Demonstrable experience of using software for bioinformatics analysis of bacterial sequences (genes, genomes, transposons, etc)
· Demonstrable experience of performing cell culture and toxicity assays
• Demonstrable experience of performing statistical analysis (use of Excel, GraphPad, etc)
• Familiarity with techniques such as flow cytometry, imaging, etc
• Evidence of publication (or in press) in international peer-reviewed journals
• Willingness to integrate the activities of the Department of Microbiology
Application Process
Applications can be made through this link; Apply - E3 - Engineering, Environment and Emerging Technologies - Trinity College Dublin (tcd.ie) Late applications will not be accepted. Informal enquiries should be made to the primary supervisor. Completed applications should be submitted to via the above link and will require :
1. A curriculum vitae (including the names of two referees, one of which must be an academic referee).
2. A cover letter (maximum 1000 words) outlining the applicant’s research interests and why they are suitable for this project.
Applications will be jointly reviewed by project supervisors. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to video-interview. Successful applicants will subsequently apply to register as PhD students through the Trinity College Dublin central portal but must meet all requirements for registration in order to be eligible for this funding award. Postgraduate admission requirements are available here: https://www.tcd.ie/study/apply/admission-requirements/postgraduate/. The successful applicant will be required to provide evidence of English language competence following the award offer and before registering.