BBSRC Yorkshire Bioscience DLA Programme - Decoding the epigenetic language shaping root parasite-host communication

About the BBSRC Yorkshire Bioscience Doctoral Training Partnership (YBDTP):

The YBDTP brings together world-class bioscience research and innovation, as well as excellence in doctoral supervision, across the Yorkshire and Teesside region. The YBDTP will fund postgraduate researchers at the Universities of Leeds, Sheffield, York, Bradford, Huddersfield, Hull, Leeds Beckett, Sheffield Hallam and Teesside forming a strong regional training partnership. In YBDTP you'll benefit from a regional doctoral training programme that has interdisciplinary collaboration at its core. The aim is to enable you to develop a range of research skills in biological, biotechnology and biochemical areas as well as equip you with core data analysis and professional skills that are necessary for bioscience research and related non-academic careers.

https://www.yorkshirebiosciencedtp.ac.uk

About the Project:

Parasitic weeds such as Striga (witchweed) and Cuscuta (dodder) are among the most destructive plant pests worldwide, siphoning nutrients from crops and crippling yields of cereals and legumes. Striga alone threatens the food security of over 300 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa. Despite their impact, the molecular mechanisms that enable these parasites to invade and suppress their hosts remain poorly understood. 

This exciting PhD project will explore how epigenetic mechanisms and mobile small RNAs regulate parasitic plant virulence, focusing on Striga–host interactions. You will investigate whether root parasites use a novel virulence mechanism known as interspecies RNA interference (interspecies RNAi) to silence host defence genes and determine how DNA methylation regulates the activity of parasite-acquired horizontally transferred DNA and virulence genes. 

What you’ll do and learn: 

• Apply state-of-the-art sequencing technologies (small RNA, transcriptome, long-read genome and methylome sequencing) to dissect parasite–host communication. 
• Gain expertise in bioinformatics, comparative genomics, and epigenomics, with strong transferable skills in big data analysis. 
• Conduct functional validation experiments to test the roles of small RNAs and DNA methylation in Striga parasitism. 
• Work across disciplines, from ecology of host-parasite interactions to evolution of host/parasite adaptation and from fundamental plant biology to applied biotechnology, with direct relevance to global food security. 

Why apply? 

You will join a vibrant, multidisciplinary training environment at the cutting edge of plant epigenetics and biotechnology. The project offers excellent career prospects: expertise in next-generation sequencing, RNA biology, and crop biotechnology is highly sought after in academia, industry, and the agri-tech sector. If you are a motivated bioscience graduate eager to tackle one of agriculture’s greatest challenges while gaining skills that open diverse career pathways, we encourage you to apply. 

For informal enquiries about the project, please contact Dr Saima Shahid

Link to website: https://sheffield.ac.uk/biosciences/people/saima-shahid

Eligibility:

Open to International (including EU) and UK (home) students.

You can apply if you have, or are expecting to gain, at least an upper second-class honours degree or equivalent. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of this programme, we welcome applications if your background is in any biological, chemical or physical science or mathematics and are interested in using your skills in addressing biological questions. International students should check if they meet the entry requirements for the host university.

We aim to support the most outstanding applicants from outside the UK and are able to offer a very limited number of bursaries that will enable full studentships to be awarded to international (EU and non-EU) applicants. These full studentships will only be awarded to exceptional quality candidates, due to the highly competitive nature of this scheme. 

The YBDTP is committed to recruiting extraordinary 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 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.

Not all projects will be funded; a limited number of candidates will be appointed via a competitive process.

English language: If English isn't your first language, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. Please see the English language requirements for the host university.

How to apply:

Application deadline: 5pm (UK time), Wednesday 7th January 2026

To submit your application, click on the link to the Expression of Interest form (also found in the Funding Notes section) of any of your chosen projects. You can apply for up to two YBDTP projects (which can be at different universities).

If you have any questions about the application process, please email [Email Address Removed]

If you have any questions about the project you are interested in, please email the project supervisor.

How we allocate:

Shortlisting will take place as soon as possible after the closing date and successful applicants will be notified promptly. If you're shortlisted, you'll be invited for an interview on a date to be confirmed in February 2025. You'll be notified as soon as possible after the interview dates whether your application has been successful, placed on a reserve list or unsuccessful. If you are successful, you'll be required to confirm your intention to accept the studentship within 10 days.

Terms and conditions:

The studentships are fully funded for four years, and you must complete your PhD in four years.

You'll receive the UKRI minimum doctoral stipend per year for your living costs, which is paid to you in regular instalments. The UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) stipend is tax free and does not need to be paid back.

International students will need to have sufficient funds to cover the costs of their student visa, NHS health surcharge, travel insurance and travel to the UK as these are excluded from UKRI funding.