Don't miss our weekly PhD newsletter | Sign up now Don't miss our weekly PhD newsletter | Sign up now

  Translating the chemical cross-talk between plants and root symbionts through application of novel microfluidics devices


   Faculty of Biological Sciences

  Prof Peter Urwin, Dr Sepideh Khodaparast, Prof Nikil Kapur, Prof Katie Field, Dr Christopher Bell  Friday, March 14, 2025  Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

About the Project

Plants associate with multiple symbionts. Some, such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), can offer important nutritional benefits to their host whereas others, e.g. parasitic nematodes, are detrimental to the host plant. Parasitic interactions can affect the outcomes of mutualistic partnerships and vice versa through competition for plant resources. This is problematic in sustainable food production systems where sought-after beneficial interactions between crops and AMF are often encouraged. This can inadvertently drive increased nematode density thereby reducing AMF efficacy. Initiation and establishment are critical steps for plant symbioses and are driven by chemical signals produced by the potential host and its symbionts. Due to the technical challenges imposed by the soil environment, defining the key differences and similarities in the chemical ‘language’ used in initiation, establishment and functioning of competing plant symbioses remains a challenge, particularly where they occur simultaneously.

This project, which is a collaboration between mechanical engineers and biologists, will take a multi-disciplinary approach to design and develop a novel microfluidics platform to investigate and manipulate interactions between plant roots and multiple competing symbionts. It will use the transparent microfluidic devices, which can harbour the growth of plants for a number of weeks, to characterise the chemical cross-talk between plant roots, nematodes and AMF. The precise and repeated non-destructive sampling facilitated by the new devices will allow exudation chemistry to be matched with root and AMF/nematode development. Elucidating the composition and precise spatial and temporal dynamics of signaling chemistry in the rhizosphere could allow the functional outcomes of multi-symbiont interactions can be manipulated. Application of key compounds involved in initiation of symbiosis may enhance root colonisation by AMF and/or infection by nematodes. This will be investigated first in microfluidic devices then a series of pot-based experiments will be carried out to validate whether inoculation with rhizosphere signalling chemicals can impact colonisation in soil-based systems.

For informal enquiries about the project, please contact Prof Peter Urwin .

About YBDTP:

YBDTP brings together world-class bioscience research and innovation, as well as excellence in doctoral supervision, across the region. YBDTP will fund postgraduate researchers at the Universities of Leeds, Sheffield, York, Bradford, Hull, Leeds Beckett, Sheffield Hallam and Teesside forming a strong regional training partnership. In YBDTP you'll benefit from a regional doctoral training programme that has interdisciplinary collaboration at its core. The aim is to enable you to develop a range of research skills in biological, biotechnology and biochemical areas as well as equip you with core data analysis and professional skills that are necessary for bioscience research and related non-academic careers.

https://www.whiterose-mechanisticbiology-dtp.ac.uk/yorkshire-bioscience-dtp/

Funding Notes:

Funding: A tax-free annual stipend at the standard UKRI rate (£19,237 for 2024/25 entry), research costs and tuition fees at UK rate

Academic year: 2025/26

Open to: International (including EU) and UK (home) students

Eligibility:

Open to International (including EU) and UK (home) students.

You can apply if you have, or are expecting to gain, at least an upper second-class honours degree or equivalent. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of this programme, we welcome applications if your background is in any biological, chemical or physical science or mathematics and are interested in using your skills in addressing biological questions. International students should check if they meet the entry requirements for their country.

We aim to support the most outstanding applicants from outside the UK and are able to offer a limited number of bursaries that will enable full studentships to be awarded to international (EU and non-EU) applicants. These full studentships will only be awarded to exceptional quality candidates, due to the competitive nature of this scheme. 

The Yorkshire Bioscience DTP is committed to recruiting extraordinary future scientists regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation or career pathway to date. We understand that commitment and excellence can be shown in many ways and have built our recruitment process to reflect this. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, particularly those underrepresented in science, who have curiosity, creativity and a drive to learn new skills.

Not all projects will be funded; a limited number of candidates will be appointed via a competitive process.

English language:

If English isn't your first language, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability.

How to apply:

Application deadline: 5pm, Friday 14th March 2025

To submit your application, click on the link to the Expression of Interest form in the Funding Notes section of any of your chosen projects. You can apply for up to 3 YBDTP projects (which can be at different universities).

We would advise you to read the questions in the form before submitting your application. Inside the form there is a link to a document for you to see the questions in advance.

If you have any questions about the application process, please email .

If you have any questions about the project you are interested in, please email the project supervisor (details inside the project description).

How we allocate:

Shortlisting will take place as soon as possible after the closing date and successful applicants will be notified promptly. If you're shortlisted, you'll be invited for an interview on a date to be confirmed in February 2025. You'll be notified as soon as possible after the interview dates whether your application has been successful, placed on a reserve list or unsuccessful. If you are successful, you'll be required to confirm your intention to accept the studentship within 10 days.

Terms and conditions:

The studentships are fully funded for four years, and you must complete your PhD in four years.

You'll receive the UKRI minimum doctoral stipend per year for your living costs, which is paid to you in regular instalments. The UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) stipend is tax free and does not need to be paid back.

International students will need to have sufficient funds to cover the costs of their student visa, NHS health surcharge, travel insurance and travel to the UK as these are excluded from UKRI funding.

Biological Sciences (4) Engineering (12)

Funding Notes

To apply for a studentship from the Yorkshire Bioscience Doctoral Training Partnership to undertake this project, please complete an expression of interest form for October 2025 recruitment here: View Website


References

Nematology, AMF, symbiosis, microfluidics, plants, engineering

Open Days


How good is research at University of Leeds in Biological Sciences?


Research output data provided by the Research Excellence Framework (REF)

Click here to see the results for all UK universities

Where will I study?