Statistical and Molecular Genetics of Complex Traits

Most characters of any living organism are polygenically controlled and environmentally modified, including those threatening human health and those important in breeding for high yield, better quality and improved adaption of animals, plants and microbes. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying polygenic variation has been one of the most challenging areas in the history of genetics and the era of modern functional genomics. Research of my team at the University of Birmingham focuses on dissecting molecular basis and functional mechanism underlying quantitative complex traits using a several model organisms, including humans (lung cancer), budding yeast (alcohol tolerance, post-mitotic cell separation) and plants (Arabidopsis, potato). Specifically, we offer the following PhD projects.

1. Genetics of quantitative traits through a multi-omic approach
2. Methods for quantitative genetic analyses in autotetraploids
3. Ploidy driven change in meiotic recombination frequency
4. Integration of multi-omics sequence data and unveiling molecular for unveiling non-small cell lung cancer

For more information about these projects, please browse the MIBTP website at https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/cross_fac/mibtp/pgstudy/phd_opportunities/plantcrop2018 .

Projects involve use of theoretical (statistical) and/or experimental approaches. Thus, applicants with a strong training background in either biology or mathematics (particularly statistics, computational sciences) are equally encouraged to apply. For successful applicants with biological subject background, a thorough training will be given for statistics knowledge and computational (programming) skills. For applicants with a strong background in mathematics or other physical science subjects, systematic tutorial/lectures will be available in genetics and genomics.