Agriculture and the Environment: Fully funded PhD in the BBSRC Molecular basis for differential susceptibility to stress in freshwater invertebrates (RS709)

Funding providers: BBSRC 

Subject areas: Agriculture and the Environment, Animal Behaviour and In Vivo Studies. 

Project start date(s): 

• 1st October 2025 (Enrolment open from mid-September)

Supervisors: 

Dr Eduarda Santos; (Universioty of Exeter)

Dr Tamsyn URen Webster (Swansea University)

Dr Eva Sonnenschein (Swansea University )

Dr Anke Lange ( University Exeter)

Aligned programme of study: Integrated PhD programme (BBSRC DTP)

Mode of study: Full or Part-time study is possible. 

Project description: 

Applications must be made to the University of Exeter here. 

Living organisms are continuously exposed to environmental stressors that affect their health, survival and ability to reproduce. In some highly stressful environments however, such as heavily polluted ecosystems that would be expected to cause high mortality rates, populations are thriving. This phenomenon has been attributed for the most part to genetic adaptation, but in many cases the extend of genetic adaptation observed isinsufficient to explain the level of stressor resistance seen. Epigenetic changes contributing to phenotypic plasticity and microbiome-extension of host adaptive phenotypic plasticity are two likely important, andinteracting, contributing mechanisms, but remain poorly characterised. Addressing this knowledge gap will provide novel and fascinating insight into how organisms interact with their environment in order to overcomeadverse conditions and result in important knowledge to understand the consequences of exposure to stressors in natural and anthropogenic environments. The applications of this knowledge are vast and range from improvement of the resilience and welfare of farmed animals, contributing to food security, to a better management of the sustainability of wild populations and preserving biodiversity. This project will address the following questions: How do organisms cope with stressors in their environment? What are the molecular mechanisms employed to allow survival under stressful conditions? What are the temporal dynamics and broader consequences of the alterations seen? The student will test the hypothesis that epigenetic variation and microbiome plasticity, in addition to genetic adaptation, contribute to stressor tolerance. The student will use Daphnia pulex, a keystone small crustacean species in freshwaters, as a model system. We have already identified a number of natural Daphnia populations with extensive metal tolerance, which is partly heritable in clean conditions and partly due to plasticity. Metals are particularly interesting because they constitute one of the most common contaminants in freshwater systems while many metals are also essential elements within the body, and therefore they will be used as an exemplar stressor in this project. The student will be able to utilise this unique biological resource to investigate how their genome, epigenome and microbiome quantitatively account for metal tolerance and whether tolerance to a specific metal is developed at the expense of loss of fitness (growth; reproduction; survival; resistance to other stressors).

Applicants for a studentship must have obtained, or be about to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class UK Honours degree, or the equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK, in an appropriate area of science or technology. Applicants with a Lower Second Class degree will be considered if they also have a Master’s degree or have significant relevant research or non-academic experience.

In addition, due to the strong mathematical component of the taught course in the first year and the quantitative emphasis in our projects, quantitative/mathematical experience is needed.  This can be demonstrated through one or more of the following:

• Undertaking units as part of your degree that have a significant quantitative/mathematical component*
• Maths or Physics A-level (grade B and above)

*Significant mathematical component examples include; maths, statistics, bioinformatics.

Applicants must ensure they highlight their quantitative/mathematical background within their application and to upload any supporting evidence.

To support accessibility to PhD training opportunities, these studentships are only available to applicants that have not previously obtained or about to obtain a PhD degree (or equivalent).

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum English requirements for the programme.  Further information about these English requirements >>

We ask that the language requirements are met by 1st June at the latest, to allow adequate time to obtain any necessary documentation to allow you to study in the UK.  Further information about documentation required >>

IMPORTANT: Residency requirements are complex and too detailed to capture in full below.  So please read alongside guidance provided on the GOV.UK website and UKCISA website to ensure you meet the criteria.  

Home students

Fully-funded studentships are available for Home students.  To be classed as a Home student, candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), or
• Have settled status, or
• Have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirement) or,
• Have indefinite leave to remain or enter

International students

If you do not meet the above criteria, you will be classed as an International student.

A limited number (up to 30%) of UKRI fully-funded studentships are available through the SWBio DTP, that applicants who would be classed as an International student are eligible for.  This also means that there are normally no restrictions on applying to any project that is advertised (unless otherwise indicated). .  Please apply through our normal application route.

Note: A UKRI fully-funded studentship will only cover what is listed under the ‘UKRI-BBSRC funded studentship‘ section.  However there may be other costs that you may encounter and need to take into consideration which will not be covered by the studentship. For example, visa fees, healthcare surcharge, relocation costs and COVID-19 related quarantine costs.

ATAS

Please note that the programme requires some applicants to hold ATAS clearance, further details on ATAS scheme eligibility are available on the UK Government website.

ATAS clearance IS NOT required to be held as part of the scholarship application process, successful award winners (as appropriate) are provided with details as to how to apply for ATAS clearance in tandem with scholarship course offer.

This scholarship covers the full cost of UK and International tuition fees and an annual stipend of £19,237.

Additional research expenses of up to £16,000 will also be available.

• CV 
• Degree certificates and transcripts 
• A cover letter 
• Two references 
• Evidence of meeting English Language requirement (if applicable)
• Copy of UK resident visa (if applicable)
• Confirmation of submission of EDI Form

*For ALL scholarship applications from February 2023 an EDI (Equality, Diversity and Inclusion) Monitoring Form is required.