MSc by Research: Speeding up the plant microbiota: investigating the impact of speed breeding on host-microbe interactions in the barley rhizosphere

Feeding a growing world population amid climatic modifications and international conflicts represents an unprecedent challenge for crop production. To achieve this task, we need to develop crops capable to adapt to the environment and in a timely fashion.

The microbial communities populating the interface between plant roots and soil, collectively referred to as the rhizosphere microbiota, can facilitate mineral nutrition and protect crops from pathogens, representing a renewable alternative to synthetic agrochemicals. These communities are not randomly assembled from soil: the host plant, akin to an orchestra conductor, contributes to define composition and function of the rhizosphere microbiota. Thus, resolving the molecular basis of plant-microbiota interactions may pave the way for a new generation of sustainable crops.

Speed breeding, a technique inspired by NASA’s approach at growing plants in space stations, recently gained centre-stage as an innovative strategy to accelerate crop development. Despite the research interest triggered by this approach, little is known on the impact of speed breeding on plant’s capacity of shaping the rhizosphere microbiota.

This Master by Research aims at filling this knowledge gap. Using barley (Hordeum vulgare), the world’s fourth most cultivated cereal and an excellent genetically tractable organism, as an experimental model, the student will compare the microbiota assembled by plants grown under speed breeding and “conventional” conditions. To achieve this task, the student will deploy cutting-edge experimental and computational approaches, strengthening new and existing skills in plant cultivation, microbial ecology, high throughput sequencing as well as statistical data analysis. Discoveries of the project will benefit the academic community, e.g., novel insights into host-microbe interactions, and stakeholders, e.g., breeding programme targeting the microbiota, alike.

Students with a passion for research who are motivated by a desire to contribute to sustainable crop production and decarbonisation of agriculture are the best fit for this project. The successful applicant will be based at the James Hutton Institute, a scientific campus on the outskirts of the city where the Dundee Plant Sciences (https://www.dundee.ac.uk/life-sciences/research/plant-sciences ) and the newly established International Barley Hub (IBH, https://www.barleyhub.org/) are located. The student will profit from the interactions with a diverse and multidisciplinary scientific community, including other post-graduate students, and state-of-the-art research facilities.

Our research community thrives on the diversity of students and staff which helps to make the University of Dundee a UK university of choice for postgraduate research. We welcome applications from all talented individuals and are committed to widening access to those who have the ability and potential to benefit from higher education.

Please see our website for further details on the programme:

Life Sciences MSc by Research MSc by Research (Postgraduate) : Study : University of Dundee

Please note before submitting your application that you must list your top three project choices in the Research Proposal section of the application form.

You apply for this course using our Direct Application System. Once you've signed up for an account you'll be asked to search for a course.

https://www.dundee.ac.uk/study/pgr/research-areas/life-sciences/

To find Life Science MSc by Research you should select the following options:

· Course type: Research Postgraduate

· Keyword: Life

When you complete your form, you should include your top 3 project choices, 2 letters of reference, uploaded under "Other Information" > "Supporting documents" and a personal statement. Failure to do so will delay your application.

Please note when submitting an application, please note our intake deadlines on the ‘how to apply’ section of our website.