Fungi are key components of the biosphere. Although the vast majority of fungi are not pathogenic, some species cause a wide range of infection in humans, while other species are plant pathogens that cause, in some instances, devastating impacts on agriculture and, consequently, threaten food security. Some of the most dangerous emerging fungal threats for animals and plants - such as aspergillosis in humans and blast diseases of cereals - are caused by filamentous fungi from the phylum Ascomycota, also known as “sac fungi”. Although the sac or “ascus” is the reproductive structure that defines the phylum, some pathogenic filamentous ascomycetes mostly reproduce asexually. This is the case of Magnaporthe (Syn. Pyricularia ) oryzae, a multihost plant pathogen, whose different genetic lineages are mostly host specific and cause the blast disease of cereals.
Sexual reproduction through meiotic recombination is considered highly advantageous since it decouples beneficial / deleterious mutations from their genomic backgrounds making natural selection more efficient. Additionally, meiotic recombination generates novel genotypes by reshuffling haplotypes, thus increasing haplotypic diversity. Given such advantages provided by sexual reproduction, it is puzzling that asexuallity is the pervasive mode of reproduction of field isolates of extremely successful filamentous fungal pathogens such as M. oryzae. The global expansion of asexual lineages of these pathogens is thus yet another instance of the so-called “genetic paradox of invasion”, which describes the successful geographical expansion of populations with a very reduced genetic diversity - bottlenecked populations - such as clonal or semi-clonal lineages. The success of such populations leads to the overarching questions of this project: How are phenotypic novelty and adaptation generated in fungal asexual populations with very reduced genetic diversity? What are the genomic consequences of long-term asexual reproduction - clonality - in successful pandemic lineages of the blast fungus?
More information about the research carried out in the Burbano Lab at University College London can be found in: www.burbanolab.org
We seek outstanding candidates interested in carrying out a PhD project in this area using a combination of phylogenomics, evolutionary and population genetics. Applicants must hold, or be expected to achieve, an upper second-class undergraduate honours degree or equivalent (for example BA, BSc, MSci) or a Masters degree in a relevant subject. Candidates are invited to send the following documents: CV, statement of interest (max. 500 words), and contact details of two references. Interested candidates should contact Hernán Burbano via email ([Email Address Removed]). Please include in the subject: "Gatsby Pre-application".
One candidate will be selected to work on a project proposal. The candidate will then compete at interview, with up to 9 other candidates, for one of up to four Sainsbury PhD Studentships. Interviews will be held in London on 20th/21st January 2022. It is expected that the studentship holder spend six months during their 3rd or 4th year at another university/institute to gain additional experience. Please note that students are not normally allowed to apply to the institution where they carried out their undergraduate degree.
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