About the Project
Project Description
In a rapidly changing world, adaptation is at the heart of success. Whether the success is of an invasive species introduced to a new area, a newly developed fishery or aquaculture market, or the persistence of an endangered species against all odds. Understanding the mechanisms and processes which increase organismal success is critical for biodiversity and food security. Current limitations result from a lack of data which pairs layers of genotype, phenotype and microbiome - environment relationships. This hampers meaningful development in ecological theory and limits the operationalisation of results as biotechnological innovation.
In this highly ambitious project, you will tackle this research challenge using a novel system - the red claw crayfish, Cherax quadricarinatus. In an interdisciplinary first, we will pair individual animal phenotype, genotype, microbiome to provide results which can guide invasion management, animal welfare, aquaculture production and biodiversity theory. The student will test major hypotheses: 1) Bogert effect - identify whether microbial buffering or extreme phenotypic plasticity is supporting organismal fitness while shielding adaptation at the genetic level, 2) Enemy release - assess loss and gain of pathogens across multiple environments, 3) Founder effects and pre-adaptation - determine whether introduced populations and seed stock experience founder effect genetic bottlenecking or if pre-adaptation to fluctuating environments support plasticity.
You will learn cutting edge skills related to genome assembly, shotgun metabarcoding, metatranscriptomics, bioinformatics and invasion science. The student will be embedded into the supervisory teams broader network with vast capacity for policy and industrial engagement nationally and internationally. There is broad scope for multiple ISI publications, as well as international fieldwork to collect samples and opportunities to present at international confrences. Outcomes will pave the way for novel invasive species management approaches as well as innovation in animal health and welfare in aquaculture systems.
Research group websites and links
https://share.google/kv5jvMsmzLWkoRK8Uhttps://biologicalsciences.leeds.ac.uk/school-of-biology/staff/59/dr-elizabeth-duncanhttps://research.tees.ac.uk/en/persons/jamie-bojko/
For informal enquiries about the project, please contact Assoc. Prof, Josie South, School of Biology
About the BBSRC Yorkshire Bioscience Doctoral Training Partnership (YBDTP):
The YBDTP brings together world-class bioscience research and innovation, as well as excellence in doctoral supervision, across the Yorkshire and Teesside region. The YBDTP will fund postgraduate researchers at the Universities of Leeds, Sheffield, York, Bradford, Huddersfield, Hull, Leeds Beckett, Sheffield Hallam and Teesside forming a strong regional training partnership. In YBDTP you'll benefit from a regional doctoral training programme that has interdisciplinary collaboration at its core. The aim is to enable you to develop a range of research skills in biological, biotechnology and biochemical areas as well as equip you with core data analysis and professional skills that are necessary for bioscience research and related non-academic careers.
https://www.yorkshirebiosciencedtp.ac.uk
References
Huey RB, Kearney MR, Krockenberger A, Holtum JAM, Jess M, Williams SE. 2012. Predicting organismal vulnerability to climate warming: roles of behaviour, physiology, and adaptation. Phil Trans R Soc B 367:1665–79
Maria M. Martignoni, Oren Kolodny; Microbiome transfer from native to invasive species may increase invasion risk. Proc. R. Soc. B 1 November 2024; 291 (2034): 20241318.
Romeo C, Brenner E, Wauters LA, Alberdi A (2025) The role of microbiomes in animal invasions: a scoping review. NeoBiota 98: 335-360.
利兹大学 PhD Position in The role of microbiome in crustacean ecology and health项目有没有奖学金,是不是全奖Phd招生,下面我们一起看一下【大学名称】Phd的奖学金资助情况
项目资助情况
Terms and conditions:
The studentships are fully funded for four years, and you must complete your PhD in four years.
You'll receive the UKRI minimum doctoral stipend per year for your living costs, which is paid to you in regular instalments. The UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) stipend is tax free and does not need to be paid back.
International students will need to have sufficient funds to cover the costs of their student visa, NHS health surcharge, travel insurance and travel to the UK as these are excluded from UKRI funding.
Funding Notes
A tax-free annual stipend at the standard UKRI rate (£21,805 for 2026/27 entry), research costs and tuition fees at UK rate
Academic year: 2027/28
To apply for a studentship from the Yorkshire Bioscience Doctoral Training Partnership to undertake this project, please complete an expression of interest form for October 2027( https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/leeds/2026-27-bbsrc-yorkshire-bioscience-dtp-expression-of-interest-f ).
利兹大学Phd申请条件和要求都有哪些?PhD Position in The role of microbiome in crustacean ecology and health项目是不是全奖?有没有奖学金?下面我们一起看一下利兹大学申请Phd直招需要具备哪些条件和要求,以及托福、雅思语言成绩要到多少才能申请。
申请要求
Eligibility
Open to International (including EU) and UK (home) students.
The YBDTP is committed to recruiting extraordinary future scientists regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation or career pathway to date. We understand that commitment and excellence can be shown in many ways and have built our recruitment process to reflect this. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, particularly those underrepresented in science, who have curiosity, creativity and a drive to learn new skills.
You can apply if you have, or are expecting to gain, at least an upper second-class honours degree or equivalent. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of this programme, we welcome applications if your background is in any biological, chemical or physical science or mathematics and are interested in using your skills in addressing biological questions.
We aim to support the most outstanding applicants from outside the UK and are able to over a very limited number of bursaries that will enable full studentships to be awarded to international (EU and non-EU) applicants. These full studentships will only be awarded to exceptional quality candidates, due to the highly competitive nature of this scheme. International students should check if they meet the entry requirements for the host university.
English language: If English isn't your first language, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. Please see the English language requirements for the host university
Entry requirements | University of Leeds( https://medicinehealth.leeds.ac.uk/faculty-graduate-school/doc/entry-requirements-1 ).
Not all projects will be funded; a limited number of candidates will be appointed via a competitive process.