Plant temperature signalling via modulation of small-RNA signalling (PENFIELD_J27DTP)

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.