Overview
Cereals crops represent the most important food source for humans and animals and are a growing source of biofuels. The next 50 years will present new challenges for cereal production. These challenges include the doubling of the world population, the increased use of land for the cultivation of biofuel crops, increases in both temperature and drought (climate change), and the
increasing need for new methods for plant nutrition and disease control, driven by negative environmental impacts of fertilisers and pesticides. In light of these challenges, this project focuses on unravelling novel mechanisms involved in wheat response to stress and delivering knowledge and tools that can be used to improve crop and plant cell productivity. Consequently, it will contribute to our understanding of basic plant biology, and to the development of competitive and sustainable means for enhancing the productivity of food, feed, biofuel and plant cell cultures (biopharming).
Fusarium fungi that attack wheat can produce a mycotoxin, deoxynivalenol (DON), that acts as a disease virulence factors, facilitating Fusarium parasitism of wheat. DON is a protein synthesis inhibitor, and causes cell death in eukaryotes. The wheat genome has co-evolved with the Fusarium pathogen and its toxic metabolites. We have identified a range of wheat genes that are DON responsive and, in exotic wheat germplasm, most are associated with the phenotypic resistance to DON-induced bleaching and are located within a chromosomal locus that confers resistance to both DON and Fusarium pathogens. Three of these genes have been shown to directly contribute to the DON resistance of such wheat germplasm (VIGS analysis). One is a novel, evolutionary divergent gene. These and other DON-resistance associated genes, offer potential for enhancing eukaryotic stress tolerance. Using a combination of gene overexpression/silencing studies and a range of analytical and molecular techniques, we now want to determine whether the encoded proteins can enhance biotic and abiotic stress tolerance in whole plants (wheat) and plant cell cultures (tobacco, Arabidopsis). Additionally, we want to characterise novel genes and associated pathways that enhance plant stress resistance.
This proposal draws on the complimentary expertise of an international team of scientists in order to deliver on its objectives.
WE NOW WISH TO APPOINT A TEAM OF FOUR SCIENTISTS TO THIS PROJECT, INCLUDING
A postdoctoral scientist; this will be advertised SEPARATELY IN THE NEAR FUTURE - please check UCD HR website
Two PhD students
An MSc student
PhD student 1 will focus on toxin-responsive genes and conduct research in order to
Analyse the effect of gene silencing/overexpression on wheat yield, heat tolerance, pathogen resistance and herbicide tolerance (four genes)
Characterise the promoter region of one novel toxin-responsive gene and analyse the regulation of this gene and genes that encode interacting proteins
Determine the substrate specificity and function of one select stress resistance-associated gene
PhD student 2 will focus on toxin-responsive genes and conduct research in order to
Determine the effect of several select DON resistance-associated genes on plant programmed cell death
Localise (at the cellular and tissue level) the proteins encoded by three toxin-responsive genes
Determine the substrate specificity and function of a select stress resistance-associated gene
PHD positions will be for a period of four years. Students will complete taught courses, in addition to their research activities. They will receive an annual stipend of approx. 18000 euro and additionally, fees will be paid (5500 euros per annum).
Minimum requirements for the PhD students: ·A BSc (2:1 or higher) in botany/plant science/microbiology/biochemistry/molecular biology/crop science from an internationally reputable institution (completed)
Substantial molecular biology expertise, including vector construction,
RNA/DNA analysis, etc.
Plant biology experience – practical and theoretical
Desirable requirements for the PhD students:
A MSc (2:1 or higher) in botany/plant
science/microbiology/biochemistry/molecular biology/crop science from
an internationally reputable institution (completed)
Experience in monocot research
Co-authorship of peer-reviewed publications in international journals
Cell biology or plant transformation experience
The MSc student will conduct research in order to:
Analyse the effect of gene silencing/overexpression on wheat yield, heat tolerance, pathogen resistance and herbicide tolerance (2 genes)
Determine the substrate specificity and function of a select stress resistance-associated gene
Minimum requirements for the MSc student:
A BSc (2:1 or higher) in botany/plant
science/microbiology/biochemistry/molecular biology/crop science from
an internationally reputable institution (completed)
Substantial molecular biology expertise, including vector construction,
RNA/DNA analysis, etc.
Desirable requirements for the MSc students:
Plant biology experience – practical and theoretical
Experience in monocot research
Co-authorship of peer-reviewed publications in international journals
Cell biology or plant transformation experience
The MSc position will be for a period of two year. Students will complete taught courses, in addition to their research activities. They will receive an annual stipend of approx. 18000 euro and additionally, fees will be paid (5500 euros per annum).
APPLICANTS SHOULD SEND THEIR CV AND A LETTER OF INTEREST TO FIONA.DOOHAN@UCD.IE NO LATER THAN 27TH FEB 2011 (FURTHER INFORMATION IS ALSO AVAILABLE FROM FIONA DOOHAN). IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR FURTHER ASSESSMENT, THEY MUST INDICATE WHICH POSITION THEY ARE APPLYING FOR (PHD POSITION 1, PHD POSITION 2 or the MSC POSITION).
Please quote Scholarization.blogspot.com on your application when applying for this scholarship
Cereals crops represent the most important food source for humans and animals and are a growing source of biofuels. The next 50 years will present new challenges for cereal production. These challenges include the doubling of the world population, the increased use of land for the cultivation of biofuel crops, increases in both temperature and drought (climate change), and the
increasing need for new methods for plant nutrition and disease control, driven by negative environmental impacts of fertilisers and pesticides. In light of these challenges, this project focuses on unravelling novel mechanisms involved in wheat response to stress and delivering knowledge and tools that can be used to improve crop and plant cell productivity. Consequently, it will contribute to our understanding of basic plant biology, and to the development of competitive and sustainable means for enhancing the productivity of food, feed, biofuel and plant cell cultures (biopharming).
Fusarium fungi that attack wheat can produce a mycotoxin, deoxynivalenol (DON), that acts as a disease virulence factors, facilitating Fusarium parasitism of wheat. DON is a protein synthesis inhibitor, and causes cell death in eukaryotes. The wheat genome has co-evolved with the Fusarium pathogen and its toxic metabolites. We have identified a range of wheat genes that are DON responsive and, in exotic wheat germplasm, most are associated with the phenotypic resistance to DON-induced bleaching and are located within a chromosomal locus that confers resistance to both DON and Fusarium pathogens. Three of these genes have been shown to directly contribute to the DON resistance of such wheat germplasm (VIGS analysis). One is a novel, evolutionary divergent gene. These and other DON-resistance associated genes, offer potential for enhancing eukaryotic stress tolerance. Using a combination of gene overexpression/silencing studies and a range of analytical and molecular techniques, we now want to determine whether the encoded proteins can enhance biotic and abiotic stress tolerance in whole plants (wheat) and plant cell cultures (tobacco, Arabidopsis). Additionally, we want to characterise novel genes and associated pathways that enhance plant stress resistance.
This proposal draws on the complimentary expertise of an international team of scientists in order to deliver on its objectives.
WE NOW WISH TO APPOINT A TEAM OF FOUR SCIENTISTS TO THIS PROJECT, INCLUDING
A postdoctoral scientist; this will be advertised SEPARATELY IN THE NEAR FUTURE - please check UCD HR website
Two PhD students
An MSc student
PhD student 1 will focus on toxin-responsive genes and conduct research in order to
Analyse the effect of gene silencing/overexpression on wheat yield, heat tolerance, pathogen resistance and herbicide tolerance (four genes)
Characterise the promoter region of one novel toxin-responsive gene and analyse the regulation of this gene and genes that encode interacting proteins
Determine the substrate specificity and function of one select stress resistance-associated gene
PhD student 2 will focus on toxin-responsive genes and conduct research in order to
Determine the effect of several select DON resistance-associated genes on plant programmed cell death
Localise (at the cellular and tissue level) the proteins encoded by three toxin-responsive genes
Determine the substrate specificity and function of a select stress resistance-associated gene
PHD positions will be for a period of four years. Students will complete taught courses, in addition to their research activities. They will receive an annual stipend of approx. 18000 euro and additionally, fees will be paid (5500 euros per annum).
Minimum requirements for the PhD students: ·A BSc (2:1 or higher) in botany/plant science/microbiology/biochemistry/molecular biology/crop science from an internationally reputable institution (completed)
Substantial molecular biology expertise, including vector construction,
RNA/DNA analysis, etc.
Plant biology experience – practical and theoretical
Desirable requirements for the PhD students:
A MSc (2:1 or higher) in botany/plant
science/microbiology/biochemistry/molecular biology/crop science from
an internationally reputable institution (completed)
Experience in monocot research
Co-authorship of peer-reviewed publications in international journals
Cell biology or plant transformation experience
The MSc student will conduct research in order to:
Analyse the effect of gene silencing/overexpression on wheat yield, heat tolerance, pathogen resistance and herbicide tolerance (2 genes)
Determine the substrate specificity and function of a select stress resistance-associated gene
Minimum requirements for the MSc student:
A BSc (2:1 or higher) in botany/plant
science/microbiology/biochemistry/molecular biology/crop science from
an internationally reputable institution (completed)
Substantial molecular biology expertise, including vector construction,
RNA/DNA analysis, etc.
Desirable requirements for the MSc students:
Plant biology experience – practical and theoretical
Experience in monocot research
Co-authorship of peer-reviewed publications in international journals
Cell biology or plant transformation experience
The MSc position will be for a period of two year. Students will complete taught courses, in addition to their research activities. They will receive an annual stipend of approx. 18000 euro and additionally, fees will be paid (5500 euros per annum).
APPLICANTS SHOULD SEND THEIR CV AND A LETTER OF INTEREST TO FIONA.DOOHAN@UCD.IE NO LATER THAN 27TH FEB 2011 (FURTHER INFORMATION IS ALSO AVAILABLE FROM FIONA DOOHAN). IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR FURTHER ASSESSMENT, THEY MUST INDICATE WHICH POSITION THEY ARE APPLYING FOR (PHD POSITION 1, PHD POSITION 2 or the MSC POSITION).
Please quote Scholarization.blogspot.com on your application when applying for this scholarship
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