PhD Studentship : Improved Methodology for the Detection and Pathogenesis of Acute Oak Decline

An opportunity to apply for a funded full-time PhD in microbiology and plant pathology in the College of Health, Science and Society, UWE Bristol.  The studentship will be funded by UWE Bristol :

The expected start date of this studentship is 01 April 2025

The closing date for applications is 24 January 2025.

Studentship Details

Acute Oak Decline (AOD) is a complex tree decline disease threatening the native oak species in the UK. Symptoms of AOD include stem bleeds and inner bark tissue necrosis, which can cause death of mature oaks within just three to five years of symptom onset. The cause of AOD is complex, caused by a combination of abiotic and biotic factors. These include local environmental changes such as drought and poor soil conditions alongside necrotic bacteria and a native bark-boring beetle which promotes the spread and virulence of these bacteria.

We are recruiting for a PhD student to join an expanding research group dedicated to tree health at UWE Bristol, and also a wider inter-disciplinary team working on oak tree health in the UK and Europe. The PhD research will focus on acute oak decline and improvements to methods for the detection of the bacteria associated with the disease, as well as pathogenicity determination. Components of the project include 1) advancement in rapid and reliable identification techniques that can be applied during field sampling; 2) design and implementation of a standardised method for inoculation trials; 3) assessment of effects of environmental stress on inoculated oak and 4) metagenomic community profiling of inoculated oak.

The successful candidate will work closely with leading experts in acute oak decline research at both UWE Bristol and Forest Research, joining in on field trips to affected woodlands to gain field experience of acute oak decline first-hand. At UWE Bristol, the candidate will join a thriving postgraduate community and be based in the new Lab Zone where they will learn versatile microbial molecular and plant pathology techniques.

 To apply for this position, you should have:  

• A strong background in microbiology, molecular biology, microbial ecology or related discipline  

• A high level of proficiency in English (both written and spoken) 

• Curiosity and motivation for scientific research  

• Good communication skills and a positive team spirit 

For an informal discussion about the studentship, please email Dr Carrie Brady (carrie.brady@uwe.ac.uk).

Funding details

The studentship is available from 01 April 2025 for a period of three years, subject to satisfactory progress and includes a tax exempt stipend, which is currently £17,668 (2022/23)  per annum. 

Full-time tuition fees will be covered for up to three years (Home).

Eligibility

Applicants must have good honours BSc degree (2.1 or equivalent) in an appropriate discipline such as microbiology, molecular biology, microbial ecology or forestry. Experience in forestry fieldwork, soil science, molecular techniques, plant-microbe interactions or bioinformatics are desirable.

The studentship is eligible for UK applicants only.

How to apply

Please click the 'Apply' button above. 

Supporting documentation: all your degree certificates and transcripts.

References: you will need to provide details of two referees as part of your application.

Closing date

The closing date for applications is 24 January 2025.

Further Information

It is expected that interviews will take place on weeks commencing 10 February 2025.

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