Nigel Groome Studentship: How Do ER-mitochondrial Communications Regulate Plant Metabolism During Growth and Stress Adaption

3 Year, full-time funded PhD Studentship

Eligibility: Home UK/EU and International applicants

Bursary p.a.: Bursary equivalent to UKRI national minimum stipend plus fees (current 2024/25 bursary rate is £19,237)

Fees and Bench fees: will be met by the University for the 3 years of the funded Studentship. Visa and associated costs are not funded. International applicants can visit https://www.brookes.ac.uk/students/isat/ for further information

Closing date: Friday 17th January 2025 – Midday

Start Date: September / October 2025

Project Title: Nigel Groome Studentship: How do ER-mitochondrial communications regulate plant metabolism during growth and stress adaption                   

Requirements:

Applicants should have a first or upper second-class honours degree from a Higher Education Institution in the UK or acceptable equivalent qualification. EU Applicants must have a valid IELTS Academic test certificate (or equivalent) with an overall minimum score of 6.5 to 7.0 and no score below 6.0 issued in the last 2 years by an approved test centre.

The studentship requires you to undertake the equivalent of up to 6 hrs teaching per week on average, during semester time, and to include preparation and marking (but no more than 20 hrs per week), and to participate in a teaching skills course without further remuneration.

Project Description:

Mitochondria support the energy demands of plant growth, development, and environmental adaption through regulating ATP-synthesis, metabolism, and cell signalling. It is becoming apparent that mitochondrial homeostasis is dependent on their interactions with their neighbouring organelles. Mitochondria form communication networks with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) at ER-mitochondrial contact sites (EMCS) to exchange signalling molecules and metabolites (eg Ca²⁺, ROS, lipids) between compartments. Across Eukaryotes, EMCS are believed to coordinate appropriate mitochondrial metabolic responses to stress and developmental cues, and act as import/export hubs linking compartmentalised mitochondrial metabolic reactions to wider metabolic pathways. 

In plants, the mechanisms and importance of ER-mitochondrial communication have yet to be fully understood. This poses a knowledge gap in our understanding of mitochondrial homeostasis during plant growth and stress-response. 

This project will explore novel mechanisms of ER-mitochondrial signalling in plants mediated by EMCS proteins at the organelle interface. We will investigate the functions of ER-mitochondrial signalling in regulating mitochondrial structure and function and their importance to plant growth and stress-resilience. We will use combinations of plant genetic manipulation (CRISPR-Cas9 mutagenesis, transgene expression), high-resolution light microscopy, electron microscopy, in vivo visualisation of mitochondrial signalling dynamics, and proteomic/metabolic analysis. Ideal applicants should have a background in plant molecular biology & bioimaging.

The studentship requires you to undertake the equivalent of up to 6 hrs of teaching per week on average, during semester time, and to include preparation and marking (but no more than 20 hrs per week), and to participate in a teaching skills course without further remuneration. 

Application process: Please contact hls-applications@brookes.ac.uk for details of how to apply via the above ‘Apply’ button. 

Director of Studies: Dr Verena Kriechbaumer

Supervisors: Dr Patrick Duckney, Dr Verena Kriechbaumer

Project Contact: Dr Patrick Duckney: p0096367@brookes.ac.uk

Contact hls-applications@brookes.ac.uk with any queries. 

This project is advertised on a competitive basis alongside other current Nigel Groome PhD studentship advertisements for School of Biological and Medical Sciences projects. Part time MPhil/PhD study will be exceptionally considered.

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