In this project, you will characterise the behaviour of a newly discovered plant temperature sensor that appears to be especially important in detecting evening coolness. This thermosensor feeds information back to the plant's circadian clock, potentially influencing how it detects the change in seasons. Global warming is causing warmer night-time temperatures, so it is critical for us to understand how plants integrate temperature signals to control growth and development.
In this project, genetic experiments will be conducted on mutations that alter the responses to evening coolness. Phenotypic characterisation of the developmental consequences will be guided by an analysis of a massive transcriptomics experiments conducted on a thermometer mutant. Statistical and mathematical models will integrate these data and generate new hypothesis to test experimentally. Important epistatic genetic experiments will interrogate these mechanistic models to explore in situ functionality. These experiments will utilise vital luminescence imaging to characterise transcriptional patterns of gene expression in individual young and adult living plants. From there, regulated protein migration via confocal microscopy and super-resolution structural illumination microscopy will assess the cellular context of evening-temperature perception. Complex assembly and regulated whole-complex dynamics will be examined in a structural context of the form and function of detected multi-protein complexes. Here one would also use FRAP and FCS to explore at these dynamics. Taken together new insights into how plants detect the degrees of night coolness will be uncovered at a genetic and systems level.
The WR DTP and the University of York are committed to recruiting 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 we 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.
Entry Requirements: Students with, or expecting to gain, at least an upper second class honours degree, or equivalent, are invited to apply. The interdisciplinary nature of this programme means that we welcome applications from students with backgrounds in any biological, chemical, and/or physical science, or students with mathematical backgrounds who are interested in using their skills in addressing biological questions.
Programme: PhD in Mechanistic Biology (4 years)
Start Date: 1st October 2022 (the student will be affiliated with the Department of Biology)
Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed in mid February 2022
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