ACCE+ DLA Programme: Detecting rapid evolutionary responses to climate change in UK plants

ACCE+ DLA is committed to recruiting extraordinary future scientists regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, faith or religious belief, pregnancy or maternity, parental or caring responsibilities or career pathway to date. We understand that a student’s potential can be shown in many ways and we strive to recruit students from all backgrounds, and support them on their scientific journey.

We have designed our application systems to identify candidates who are likely to be successful in research regardless of what opportunities may have been available to them prior to their application.

Various support and guidance on applying for an ACCE+ DLA studentship, including how to apply; what we’re looking for (including our assessment rubric); details of financial support, training, and placement opportunities available; and details of our recruitment process, can be found at https://accedtp.ac.uk/, in the ‘prospective applicants’ tab.

Project overview

Background: The UK climate is changing, with summers becoming hotter and drier. Extreme events are also increasing, with temperatures over 40 °C recorded in the UK for the first time in 2022. But are our native plants keeping pace with this change, and if so, how? Studying adaptation is difficult because we usually only see the outcome: today’s species. However, seed banks allow us to “resurrect” ancestral populations collected decades ago and compare them directly with their modern descendants. This unique approach lets us watch evolution in action.

The Project: In this PhD, you will work with The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the Millennium Seed Bank to resurrect three widespread UK grasses from collections made before 1985. You will revisit the original collection sites to gather seeds from modern populations, then grow ancestral and extant plants side by side under controlled conditions that mimic today’s climate.

Your work will focus on three main objectives:

[1] Test for adaptation to climate change: compare growth rates and survival of ancestral vs. modern plants under warmer conditions and simulated climate extremes.

[2] Uncover genomic changes: Use low-coverage genome resequencing to identify genetic differences between ancestral and extant populations, and assess whether similar changes occur across species.

[3] Trace evolutionary patterns: Use UK herbarium records (e.g. RBG Kew) to track the spread of adaptive traits and genes through time and space.

Why Apply?

You will learn and become an expert in plant biology, experimental design, evolutionary genetics, and bioinformatics. You will work with world-leading resources such as the Millennium Seed Bank and national herbaria, while tackling urgent, high-profile questions about how biodiversity responds to climate change. This is an opportunity to make a contribution to both fundamental science and applied conservation.

How to Apply

Notes and details of how to apply are available here: https://accedtp.ac.uk/how-to-apply/ 

All applicants to ACCE+ must complete an online application form (see the relevant webpages for full details per ACCE+ partner). This form consists of questions that replace a traditional CV, questions about the project/s you are applying to, and the questions that make up the ACCE+ guided personal statement proforma. The personal statement proforma questions are designed to standardise this part of the application to minimise the difference between those who are given support and those who are not. In addition, depending on which ACCE+ University you apply to, you may be asked to submit additional documents via email (all details are in the online form and the ACCE+ page for each University).

Link to application details: https://forms.gle/xU6LBhomH3Tzw68f6

Candidates should not submit a separate CV and cover letter or personal statement via email. CVs and cover letters or personal statements received by email will not be considered as part of your application. 

Informal enquiries about the application process may be made to [Email Address Removed]. 

Part-Time Study Options

All ACCE PhDs are available as part time or full time, with part time being a minimum of 50% of full time, unless stated otherwise in the advert. 

Project CASE Status

This project is not a CASE project. While individual applicant quality is our overriding criterion for selection, the ACCE DTP has a commitment for 40% of all studentships to be CASE funded - as such, CASE projects may be favoured in shortlisting applicants when candidates are otherwise deemed to be equal or a consensus on student quality cannot be reached. This will only be undertaken as a last resort for separating candidates following interview.