PhD Studentship: How Do Cells Communicate When It's Hot?

Primary supervisor - Prof Christine Faulkner

Plant cells are connected to their neighbours via ‘tubes’ called plasmodesmata, creating an interconnected cytoplasm that joins cells within and between tissues and organs. Many molecules use plasmodesmata to move freely between cells and it is critical for a plant to tightly control how open its plasmodesmata are to enable control over how far molecular information and resources can travel through tissues. Indeed, this control is important to how a plant responds to many different environmental and developmental changes, including immune responses when it is being invaded by a pathogen.

We, and others, have identified many components of the mechanisms by which plasmodesmata open and close when a cell perceives a stress. We know very well that when a cell is under stress that it isolates itself from its neighbours. However, we don’t know how changes in temperature affect this response, or how this affects the overall response a plant has to a pathogen infection. This is a significant gap in our knowledge in the face of increaseing global temperatures.

This project will profile how plasmodesmal responses change across a temperature gradient, and thus explore the relationship between plasmodesmal function, temperature and the success of immune responses. The student will take advantage of the extensive tools and resources available in the Faulkner lab to investigate plasmodesmal function and immune responses, and use these to generate new information and hypotheses to be tested. The project will use molecular biology, genetic and quantitative imaging approaches to gain determine how cell-to-cell connectivity via plasmodesmata underpins immune success in different environments.

The Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Programme (NRPDTP) is offering fully funded studentships for October 2026 entry. The programme offers postgraduates the opportunity to undertake a 4-year PhD research project whilst enhancing professional development and research skills through a comprehensive training programme. You will join a vibrant community of world-leading researchers. All NRPDTP students undertake a three-month professional internship placement (PIPS) during their study. The placement offers exciting and invaluable work experience designed to enhance professional development. Full support and advice will be provided by our Professional Internship team.

This project has been shortlisted for funding by the NRPDTP. Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed on 3,4 or 5 February 2026.

Visit our website for further information on eligibility and how to apply: https://biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/.

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). 

Mode of study: Full time

Start date: 1 October

Additional Funding Information

This project is awarded with a 4-year Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership PhD CASE studentship with Inspiralis Limited. The studentship includes payment of tuition fees (directly to the University), a stipend to cover living expenses (2025/6 stipend rate: £20,780), and a Research Training Support Grant of £5,000pa for each year of the studentship.

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