Prof L Ostergaard
No more applications being accepted
Competition Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)
About the Project
Flowering plants (Angiosperms) evolved >100 million years ago and today make up >90% of all plants on Earth. One of the main reasons for their incredible success is the formation of fruits in the centre of the flowers that function to nurture and protect the seeds inside and mediate their timely dispersal upon maturation. While efficient seed dispersal is essential for success of the next generation in the wild, many crop plants have undergone strong selection to prevent dispersal of their seed. However, for young crops such as oilseed rape, premature and unsynchronised seed dispersal is a huge problem leading to significant yield losses.
Oilseed rape belongs to the Brassicaceae family along with the model plant, Arabidopsis that disperse their seeds by a process known as pod shatter. We have established that pod shatter in oilseed rape and other Brassicaceae is accelerated at higher temperatures. In view of climate change, this may have serious implications for the future of oilseed rape production. We have begun to dissect the molecular mechanism by which this takes place. This project will drill down into the gene regulatory processes affected by temperature at the chromatin and gene expression level in oilseed rape, taking advantage of unique genetic resources available in the lab.
The successful candidate will join a lab driven by a fundamental curiosity to understand plant development. At the same time, we are keen to identify routes to translate our discoveries for crop improvement. This project is aligned with a large collaborative programme called BRAVO aimed at understanding the genetic networks underlying reproductive development in oilseed rape and vegetable Brassicas providing opportunities for interactions with both the scientific and industry partners.
This project has been shortlisted for funding by the Norwich Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership (NRPDTP). Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed as part of the studentship competition. Candidates will be interviewed on either the 8th, 9th or 10th January 2019.
The NRP DTP offers postgraduates the opportunity to undertake a 4-year research project whilst enhancing professional development and research skills through a comprehensive training programme. You will join a vibrant community of world-leading researchers. All NRPDTP students undertake a three-month professional internship (PIPS) during their study. The internship offers exciting and invaluable work experience designed to enhance professional development. Full support and advice will be provided by our Professional Internship team. Students with, or expecting to attain, at least an upper second-class honours degree, or equivalent, are invited to apply.
For further information and to apply, please visit our website: www.biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk
Funding Notes
For funding eligibility guidance, please visit our website: http://biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/how-to-apply/funding-and-eligibility. Full Studentships cover a stipend (UKRI rate: £14,777pa – 2018/9), research costs and tuition fees at UK/EU rate and are available to UK and EU students who meet the UK residency requirements.
Students from EU countries who do not meet the UK residency requirements may be eligible for a fees-only award. Students in receipt of a fees-only award will be eligible for a maintenance stipend awarded by the NRPDTP Bioscience Doctoral Scholarships. To be eligible students must meet the EU residency requirements.
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