PhD Studentship : Microbial Controls on Soil Nitrogen Storage

Lead organisation: Bangor University

Collaborating organisations: University of Bristol

Duration: 3.5 years

Start date: September 2026

Supervisor: Rob Griffiths, co-supervisors: Dave Chadwick, Davey Jones

PhD Studentship Title: Microbial Controls on Soil Nitrogen Storage

Project overview

Nitrogen (N) availability is a major constraint on plant productivity and a key driver of agricultural pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. While microbial controls on inorganic N cycling are well studied, a major and poorly understood fate of fertiliser N is its assimilation into soil organic nitrogen, particularly microbial protein. This organic N pool is large, dynamic, and potentially critical for improving nitrogen use efficiency, soil carbon storage, and ecosystem resilience.

This PhD project will focus on the molecular and genomic mechanisms that regulate microbial assimilation of inorganic N into organic forms in soil. By integrating metagenomics, transcriptomics, and bioinformatics with state-of-the-art ¹⁵N isotope fluxomics (led by collaborators in Bristol), the student will help establish direct links between microbial genes, pathways, and measured rates of nitrogen transformation across different soils.

Research objectives

The student will lead the molecular work package of a larger interdisciplinary programme and will:

• Identify microbial taxa, genes, and genomic traits that act as indicators of nitrogen immobilisation and storage within soil microbial biomass.
• Characterise how soil properties (particularly pH and carbon availability) structure microbial communities and functional gene assemblages involved in amino acid and protein biosynthesis.
• Link rates of nitrogen assimilation into specific amino acids with the abundance and expression of relevant biosynthetic genes and pathways.
• Develop predictive models linking microbiomes and soil/land use drivers with nitrogen immobilisation across different soil systems.

Methods and training

The student will receive advanced training in:

• DNA and RNA extraction from soils
• Whole-genome shotgun metagenomics and transcriptomics
• Functional annotation (KEGG, MetaCyc, SEED, GapMind)
• Statistical modelling and machine-learning approaches (e.g. random forests)
• Integration of molecular data with isotope-based process measurements

The project is based on soils from the Henfaes Research Station (Bangor University), spanning grassland, arable, forest, heathland and peat systems. Regular collaboration and training visits to the University of Bristol will ensure close integration with isotope fluxomics and biogeochemical measurements.

Candidate profile

We are seeking a highly motivated candidate with:

• A strong background in microbial ecology, molecular biology, biogeochemistry, environmental science, bioinformatics, or a related discipline
• Experience (or strong interest) in genomics, molecular biology, or computational analysis
• An enthusiasm for interdisciplinary research linking molecules to ecosystem processes

Experience with R, Python, or Unix-based environments is desirable but not essential.

Funding information

A full studentship will cover UK tuition fees, a training support fee and a stipend (£20,780 p.a. in 2025/26, updated each year) for 3.5 years.

Why Bangor?

Bangor University offers a world-leading environment in soil and microbial ecology, with strong links to national research platforms and long-term field sites. This PhD provides an exceptional opportunity to work at the interface of molecular biology, biogeochemistry, and environmental science, addressing globally important challenges in food security, pollution mitigation, and soil nutrient storage.

For informal enquiries, please contact Professor Rob Griffiths:  robert.griffiths@bangor.ac.uk

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