Dr D Kumaresan, Prof J Mcgrath, Prof C Allen
No more applications being accepted
Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)
About the Project
Background and significance of research:
Methane (CH4) is an important greenhouse gas and has a global warming potential of 25 (by mass to CO2) over 100 years. After a brief downward trend, it has been shown that there is an increase in atmospheric CH4 concentration. It has been well established that microbes modulate CH4 flux that directly influences the global methane budget. Methanotrophs are organisms that can use methane as a sole carbon and energy source. These microbes play an important role in limiting methane emissions into the atmosphere and also have potential biotechnological applications e.g. producing single cell proteins using methane as a feedstock. Recently, we showed that long-term soil phosphorus deficiency could trigger functional response (lower emissions) within microbial functional guilds that modulate methane cycling. However, a detailed understanding of the eco-physiological mechanisms in methanotrophs, specifically in relation to nutrient stoichiometry, is scarce.
This project will study the eco-evolutionary adaptations of methanotrophic bacteria in different ecosystems, including rice paddies (China), Movile Cave (Romania) and hypersaline lakes (India). The PhD student will receive training in microbiology, molecular ecology tools (e.g. stable-isotope probing (SIP) enabled meta ‘Omics), bioinformatic tools and will experience working with international collaborators.
Research aims:
The specific aims of the project are to:
i) determine the eco-physiological response of methanotrophs to different elemental stoichiometry status (using both in situ Multi - ‘Omics and isolate physiology) and
ii) assess the metabolic plasticity of methanotrophs and their ability to respond to changes in ecological niches.
This project will be supervised by Dr Deepak Kumaresan, Professor John McGrath, and Dr Chris Allen of the Institute for Global Food Security/School of Biological Sciences.
The successful applicant will register as a research student at Queen’s University School of Biological Sciences.
Funding Notes
This project is funded by the Department for the Economy (DfE). Only UK and EU students are eligible to apply. Full information on eligibility criteria is available from the DfE website: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/department-economy-studentships
Academic requirements:
A 2.1 UK Honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject is required.
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