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PhD Student Vacancy.

Mylnefield Trust: Roots for the future: Uncovering nitrogen-controlled root angle regulation in barley

Starting Salary -

Location Dundee

This is a Fixed Term, Full Time vacancy that will close in 2 months at 12:00 GMT.

The Vacancy

Modern agriculture relies heavily on nitrogen fertilisers to sustain crop yields. However, excessive fertiliser application contributes to environmental pollution through nitrate leaching into waterways and emissions of greenhouse gases. Furthermore, the industrial production of nitrogen fertilisers is highly energy-intensive, adding substantially to the carbon footprint of agriculture and contributing to climate change.

Developing crops that can use nitrogen more efficiently is therefore a major challenge for achieving sustainable and climate-resilient food production.

This PhD project will investigate how barley plants adapt their root systems to improve nitrogen acquisition from the soil, with the long-term goal of reducing fertiliser requirements while maintaining crop productivity. Plant roots are critical for nutrient uptake, and their architecture strongly influences how effectively plants capture resources distributed across the soil profile. Deep, steep root systems are better able to access nitrogen and water stored in deeper soil layers, while shallower root systems can more efficiently exploit nutrients concentrated in the topsoil.

A key determinant of root architecture is the root growth angle, which controls the direction of root growth relative to gravity.

Plants can adjust their root angle in response to changes in nutrient availability. For example, under low-nitrogen conditions, roots often grow more steeply to explore deeper soil layers. However, the molecular mechanisms that allow plants to sense soil nitrogen status and translate this information into changes in root architecture remain poorly understood.

Recent work in our laboratory has identified a promising candidate gene: a high-affinity nitrate transporter in barley that is associated with root angle regulation, providing a potential molecular link between nitrogen perception and root system development.

The project will investigate how this nitrate transporter influences root growth and architecture, and how nitrogen uptake and signalling pathways regulate root angle responses. We hypothesise that enhancing the responsiveness of root systems to nitrogen availability can improve nitrogen uptake efficiency, reducing the need for fertiliser inputs and helping to mitigate environmental pollution and climate change.

A major strength of this project is its integration of fundamental molecular biology with applied field research. You will combine controlled-setting experiments with field-based studies to understand how laboratory discoveries translate into real agricultural systems. Throughout the PhD, you will receive training in a diverse range of techniques, including PCR, quantitative PCR, molecular cloning, RNA in situ hybridisation, microscopy, plant phenotyping, nutrient tracer approaches, and advanced statistical analysis using R.

You will also gain experience in experimental design, data interpretation, scientific communication, conference presentations, and engagement with the farming community.

By combining molecular genetics, plant physiology, and field research, this project will provide valuable insights into how crops adapt to heterogeneous nutrient environments while contributing to the development of more sustainable agricultural systems for a changing climate.

Funding Notes

This 4 year studentship opportunity is open to UK students and provides funding to cover stipend, UK tuition fees and consumable/travel costs.

Students must meet the eligibility criteria as outlined in the UKRI guidance on UK and international candidates. Applicants will have a first-class honours degree in a relevant subject or a 2.1 honours degree plus Masters (or equivalent).

This project is based at the Dundee site of the James Hutton Institute, UK

How To Apply

To obtain application forms and further details of how to apply, please click 'Apply Now'. Please note that the closing date for applications is 11/01/2027.

Our Commitment to Equality and Diversity

Any applications that miss the deadline will not be considered.

Our Commitment to Equality and Diversity

We will not consider the use of 3rd party recruitment agencies for the sourcing of candidates for this position.

The James Hutton Institute is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

The James Hutton Institute is a: Stonewall Diversity Champion; Athena SWAN Silver Status Holder; Disability Confident Committed Employer and a Living Wage Employer.

The James Hutton Institute is Happy to Talk Flexible Working.





The Company The James Hutton Institute combines strengths in crops, soils and land use and environmental research, and makes a major contribution to the understanding of key global issues, such as food, energy and environmental security, and developing and promoting effective technological and management solutions to these.

James Hutton (1726 – 1797) was a leading figure of the Scottish Enlightenment, an eighteenth century golden age of intellectual and scientific achievements centred on Edinburgh. He is internationally regarded as the founder of modern geology and one of the first scientists to describe the Earth as a living system. His thinking on natural selection influenced Charles Darwin in developing his theory of evolution.

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📌 PhD Student Vacancy. Mylnefield Trust: Roots for the future: Uncovering nitrogen-controlled root angle regulation in barley (Queensland)
🏢 Hutton Scientific Services
📍 Queensland