The microscopic world of nature in seawater: Which phytoplankton cells use N-osmolytes?

Great Western Four+ Doctoral Training Partnership (GW4+ DTP)

Scientific Background
Seawater houses a microscopic world of nature, invisible to the naked eye, essential to the life support for our planet. These tiny cells use compounds called osmolytes to survive in a salty environment, and these osmolytes, particularly the ones containing nitrogen have great environmental relevance in marine ecosystems, providing essential nutrients (C, N) for planktonic marine bacteria, and their breakdown by microbes can release climate active trace gases such as methyamines. Despite their importance, we know very little about which phytoplankton (microscopic algae cells) use nitrogen-containing osmolytes (N-osmolytes), particularly in natural ecosystems.

This PhD is an exciting opportunity to create a step change in our understanding of which phytoplankton use N-osmolytes in coastal and open ocean environments. The approach is state of the art, combining flow cytometry cell sorting of natural phytoplankton assemblages with analytical chemistry detection of N-osmolytes. The result will provide novel and extremely timely datasets which will aid understanding of biogeochemical nitrogen cycling, and potential hotspots of sources of methylamines to the atmosphere.

The student will:
- Carry out a novel seasonal study at the Western Channel Observatory sorting major phytoplankton groups using flow cytometry and LC/MS to detect their N-osmolyte composition.
- Participate in an Atlantic Meridional Transect cruise (AMT, www.amt-uk.org/) to determine the N-osmolyte composition of phytoplankton groups across both productivity gradients and an oceanic gyres.
- Perform size fractionation experiments to determine N-osmolyte content of the larger phytoplankton fraction too large to sort by flow cytometry.

Requirements and Research environment
We seek an excellent, enthusiastic student with attention to detail to carry out research in coastal and open ocean environments.

Candidates must be prepared to go to sea for a period of up to 8 weeks. He/she must achieve at least a 2:1 BSc Honours in a physical or biological science, be capable of independent and team work and be excited about working across disciplines. Based at Plymouth Marine Laboratory this studentship will be carried out in a multidisciplinary research environment with access to unique fieldwork platforms. PML offers a dynamic working environment with a mixed population of students, scientists and support staff.

Candidates are encouraged to contact the lead supervisor ([Email Address Removed]) for further information.