Ph.D. Studentship in Plant Sciences at the University of Oxford
Start date: October 2021 or January 2022
Supervisors: Professor John MacKay (Plant Sciences), Professor Sonya Clegg (Zoology)
The project is part of a wider program at the University of Oxford on gene copy number variation (CNV) linked to defense against insect herbivores in keystone conifers. The hypothesis is that CNV is important for rapid evolution and local adaptation, which will be tested through ecological genomic analyses in populations from across the Northern hemisphere. Recent research suggests that CNV may enable rapid evolution in response to environmental factors including biotic stressors. CNV and resulting gene dosage could underpin variable levels of defensive compounds in wild populations of forest trees but this has not been demonstrated to date. The project will focus on a gene (beta-glu1) responsible for the release of bio-active defensive compounds in two keystone conifers, Norway and white spruce, which are widely distributed in Eurasia and North-America [See references]. Preliminary research has detected a strong CNV signal in the beta-glu1 in these species and we now aim to study its impacts in diverse populations.
The Ph.D. research will study links between CNV, gene expression and the accumulation of defensive phenolic compounds in common garden experiments in Canada and Latvia. The data will be used to model geographic patterns and differentiation between populations, test for signals of local adaptation in response to variations in damaging insect populations. The student will work alongside a postdoctoral researcher for CNV quantification from a Nanopore sequence capture experiment. Expression of the beta-glu1 gene will be determined by high-throughput quantitative RT-PCR and phenolic compound levels will be determined with the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS).
This studentship will cover 3.5-year course fee (Home/Republic of Ireland status) and a stipend of £15,609 per year. Overseas students are welcomed if they secure funding covering the difference between the course fees of Home/ROI status and Overseas status [1]. The candidate will be co-supervised by Professors MacKay and Clegg, and will work with international collaborators. The training includes advanced genomics and evolutionary biology modules and mentoring in forest genetics. The University of Oxford offers an exceptional training environment with over 11,000 postgraduate students across all disciplines. The Ph.D. training will include diverse scientific and professional development activities, opportunities for teaching through the provision of undergraduate tutorials, among others.
Essential attributes of applicants:
· A first-class or second-class undergraduate degree in biological sciences (biology, plant sciences, genetics, forest science, or other related subjects)
· Demonstrated interest in genetics, evolution, or plant adaptation
· An ability to work independently, to communicate effectively in both verbal and written English, and to carry out or learn proactively molecular experiments and computational analyses
· Any other entry requirements set out officially: https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/courses/dphil-plant-sciences
Desired attributes: An interest in plant-insect interaction; a good understanding or experience in molecular laboratory methods, statistics, bioinformatics, and programming.
To apply, send a cover letter, a curriculum vitae and academic records as a single PDF attachment to Professor John MacKay by email to [Email Address Removed]
[1] For details on funding, please visit https://www.ox.ac.uk/admissions/graduate/fees-and-funding.
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