Dr D Seung
No more applications being accepted
Competition Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)
About the Project
We are looking for a motivated PhD student to join our research team, which aims to develop a full molecular understanding of how plants make starch granules.
The student’s project will focus on uncovering molecular mechanisms of starch granule initiation in developing wheat grains - an area of starch synthesis that is not yet fully understood. Given the economic, social and cultural importance of wheat starch, the project has enormous opportunity for impact, and will create basic knowledge that may lead to new strategies to improve the quality of wheat and other cereal crops.
Starch is made in plastids as semi-crystalline, insoluble granules composed of glucose polymers. In developing wheat grains, there is a distinct spatial and temporal pattern in the initiation of new starch granules. This pattern is tightly coordinated with changes in the structure of the plastids that contain the granules.
The aim of the student’s project is to understand the coordination between granule initiation and plastid structure at the molecular level. The student will explore the role of a novel granule-initiation protein that is tightly associated with plastid membranes. A combination of light/electron microscopy and biochemistry techniques will be used to understand the protein’s location and function. The student will also use genetic approaches to manipulate plastid size and structure, and test subsequent impacts on granule initiation and morphology. There will be ample opportunities for innovation, and we will provide excellent training in a broad range of genetic, biochemistry and bioimaging techniques using the state-of-the-art facilities at JIC. We will also utilise the latest advances in wheat genomics and mutant collections available at JIC.
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.