Plant temperature signalling via modulation of small-RNA signalling (PENFIELD_J27DTP)
Key details
- Application Deadline
- 30 November 2026 23:59 UK Time
- Location
- John Innes Centre
- Funding Type
- Competition Funded (Home and International)
- Start Date
- 1 October 2027
- Mode of Study
- Full-time
- Programme Type
- PhD
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Welcome to Norwich
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Project Description
"Given the accelerating pace of climate change it is important to understand how plants adapt to temperature changes and how to engineer crops to cope with more variable seasonal growth environments. Yet surprisingly, the basic mechanisms by which plants sense and adapt to temperature remain only partly understood. This PhD opportunity will suit candidates interested in studying how plants adapt to changing temperatures, and who wish to learn the latest techniques in single cell analysis, genomics, chromatin biology and molecular biology.
Gene silencing is a fundamental process in all eukaryotes which in plants is necessary for normal development of all organs, and for defence against a range of pathogens. It has been known for some time that the strength of gene silencing is affected by the growth temperature. In this project the successful student will study how this temperature sensitivity adapts the growth and development of plants to seasonal changes in temperature, allowing plants to grow new organs especially adapted to winter, spring, and summer conditions via chromatin modifications.
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Entry Requirements
At least UK equivalence Bachelors (Honours) 2:1. English Language requirement (Faculty of Science equivalent: IELTS 6.5 overall, 6 in each category).
Funding
This project is awarded with a 4-year Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership PhD DTP studentship. The studentship includes payment of tuition fees (directly to the University), a stipend to cover living expenses (2026/27 stipend rate: £21,805, and a Research Training Support Grant of £5,000pa for each year of the studentship.
References
"Adaptation of seed dormancy to maternal climate occurs via intergenerational transport of abscisic acid.
Chen X, Bezodis W, González-Suárez P, Knitlhoffer V, Goldson A, Lister A, Macaulay I, Penfield S.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2025 Sep 16;122(37):e2519319122. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2519319122. A specialized ARGONAUTE enables trans-species RNA interference in plant immunity Wang M, Yang C, Yuen EL, Fang X, Qi F, Yang S, Koch BL, Li K, Hou Y, Oh T, Tang B, Feng L, Zhang X, Bozkurt TO, Feng X, Ma W (2026) bioRxiv 2026.02.18.706620; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.02.18.706620 Winter warming post floral initiation delays flowering via bud dormancy activation and affects yield in a winter annual crop.
Lu X, O'Neill CM, Warner S, Xiong Q, Chen X, Wells R, Penfield S. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2022 Sep 27;119(39):e2204355119. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2204355119. Fei, Y., Pyott, D.E. and Molnar, A. (2021), Temperature modulates virus-induced transcriptional gene silencing via secondary small RNAs. New Phytol, 232: 356-371. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.17586 Zhong SH, Liu JZ, Jin H, Lin L, Li Q, Chen Y, Yuan YX, Wang ZY, Huang H, Qi YJ, Chen XY, Vaucheret H, Chory J, Li J, He ZH. Warm temperatures induce transgenerational epigenetic release of RNA silencing by inhibiting siRNA biogenesis in Arabidopsis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2013 110(22):9171-6. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1219655110"