Shedding light on the functioning of root-fungal symbioses with high resolution isotopic imaging

In this exciting multi-disciplinary project, you will work at the interface between physical and biological sciences, using the latest technologies in both to address key questions that underlie food security in the face of changing climates. The project will provide fundamental new understanding of how crop plants capture and use light. To develop and reproduce successfully, plants need to capture light energy from the sun, to drive photosynthesis and produce the sugars needed to support growth. Capturing light requires the formation of a photosynthetic apparatus, requiring the plants to capture nitrogen and other resources from the soil. To increase nutrient capture, many plants form symbiotic relationships with mycorrhizal fungi, exchanging soil nutrients for photosynthetically captured carbon. 

The project will use state of the art techniques in bioimaging – NanoSIMS – combined with isotopic tracers to understand how the supply of nutrients is matched to the demands of photosynthesis and how environmental conditions control the interactions between plant roots and mycorrhizal fungi. NanoSIMS imaging is based on the principle of secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), and has been demonstrated to provide unique information to understand elemental uptake by plants [1]. This state-of-the-art microscope is capable of high spatial resolution imaging, providing subcellular localisation of isotopic distributions. During this PhD you will receive training to independently use this instrument and prepare plant samples for NanoSIMS analysis. You will use the NanoSIMS to localise stable isotopes of ¹³C and ¹⁵N in structural features typical of arbuscular mycorrhiza (arbuscules, hyphae, vesicles) and quantify their uptake at a subcellular scale. The outputs from the studentship will contribute to the urgent need to address food security and develop sustainable agri-ecosystems.

To Apply;

For Enquiries on this project please contact the supervisory team;

Prof David Johnson - [Email Address Removed]

Dr Katie Moore – [Email Address Removed]

Prof Giles Johnson - [Email Address Removed]

To make an application please visit here - https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/admissions/how-to-apply/

When applying please search and select programme ' PhD Environmental Science' and plan 'PhD Environmental Biology'.