Dr S Rundle
No more applications being accepted
Competition Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)
About the Project
Scientific background
This PhD will apply a new, cutting-edge technology, EmbryoPhenomics, to develop novel tools for predicting environmental sensitivity in marine invertebrates.
The accurate prediction of how organisms will respond to global change represents a significant scientific challenge but is essential for developing policy decisions and mitigation strategies.
Phenomics is a new, technology-enabled approach that uses the high-throughput acquisition of high-dimensional data of the observable phenotype (i.e. morphology, physiology and behaviour) to measure biological responses more robustly and provide a more holistic understanding of the mechanisms underpinning sensitivity.
EmbryoPhenomics uses bio-imaging and advanced image analysis to measure the sensitivity of early developmental stages in aquatic species with different life history strategies and will be used to produce novel, sub-lethal phenomic end points that can be used as predictive tools.
Research methodology
The student will work within the new EmbryoPhenomics facility at the University of Plymouth.
They will design and carry out experiments assessing the response of marine invertebrates (molluscs and crustaceans; encapsulated and planktonic developers) to current and predicted levels of environmental stressors (temperature, salinity and oxygen) in isolation and in combination; there will also be the opportunity to compare responses under static and fluctuating conditions.
They will apply this unique capability for high-throughput phenomics in embryos and identify lethal and sub-lethal responses, including traits and ‘proxy traits’ that are key ‘end points’ of environmental stress.
Training
The student will benefit from a truly, interdisciplinary training in practical and Computational Biology, all within an environmental context.
As well as learning how to use the EmbryoPhenomics platform, i.e. bio-imaging and data acquisition, image analysis and interpretation, they will receive training in Computational Biology (Python, and advanced R) and handling large data sets, developmental ecophysiology, and the use of large-scale experiments for addressing questions in environmental biology.
Person specification
Candidates should have a minimum of a 2.1 Bachelor degree in a Biological Sciences subject or Environmental Science with some element of biology. They should also have a good level of numeracy and be willing to learn the computational skills associated with this PhD.
This project has been shortlisted for funding by the ARIES NERC Doctoral Training Partnership. Undertaking a PhD with ARIES will involve attendance at training events.
All ARIES Universities have Athena Swan Bronze status as a minimum.
Applicants from quantitative disciplines who may have limited environmental science experience may be considered for an additional 3-month stipend to take appropriate advanced-level courses.
Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed on 26/27 February 2019.
For further information please see www.aries-dtp.ac.uk or contact us at [Email Address Removed].
Funding Notes
In general, UK and EU nationals who will have been resident in the UK for three years or more at the time when their PhD begins will be eligible for a full ARIES studentship. UK and EU nationals who have been resident outside the UK but within the EU during the qualifying period will usually be eligible for a ‘fees only’ studentship, which pays research costs and tuition fees but gives no help with living expenses.
In case of uncertainty, the planned university of registration should be contacted for eligibility advice; or the ARIES administrators: [Email Address Removed].
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