Plants, Photosynthesis and Soil

New research aims to unlock stressful plant memories New research led by Prof Jurriaan Ton aims to uncover how plants adapt and survive in challenging environments with the ultimate goal to create more resilient crops.

Plants remember stress! The PlantMemo project, led by ‪@jurriaanton.bsky.social‬, has secured an ERC Advanced Grant for an exciting project decoding how stress “memories” boost plant resilience—paving the way for hardier crops.
🔗 www.sheffield.ac.uk/biosciences/...

#PlantScience #PlantImmunity #ERC

Fantastic news for PPS Sheffield! Huge congratulations to jessdunn.bsky.social and Alex on winning prestigious #BBSRC Fellowships! Excited to see the innovative work they produce over the next few years! bit.ly/3RRbh6f @sheffielduni.bsky.social #Fellowship #Research #Bioscience #Sheffield

The Importance of Nutrients in Controlling How Much Ecosystems Can Slow the Rate of Rising CO₂ at Western Sydney University on FindAPhD.com PhD Project - The Importance of Nutrients in Controlling How Much Ecosystems Can Slow the Rate of Rising CO₂ at Western Sydney University, listed on FindAPhD.com

7. The Importance of Nutrients in Controlling How Much Ecosystems Can Slow the Rate of Rising CO₂
How much can ecosystems slow climate change? Study how nutrients regulate carbon storage in global ecosystems. Led by Catriona Macdonald (HIE)
bit.ly/434xNOd
#CarbonCycle #EcosystemScience #AcademicSky

Exploring Plant, Root Symbionts and Silicon Interactions For More Sustainable Agriculture at Western Sydney University on FindAPhD.com PhD Project - Exploring Plant, Root Symbionts and Silicon Interactions For More Sustainable Agriculture at Western Sydney University, listed on FindAPhD.com

6. Exploring Plant, Root Symbionts and Silicon Interactions For More Sustainable Agriculture
Investigate how soil silicon affects root traits, symbiotic fungi, and plant health, led by Yolima Carrillo (HIE).
bit.ly/3ERVP71
#RootBiology #SustainableAg #AcademicSky

Defence by Design: Plant Selection For Symbiotic Fungal Communities at Western Sydney University on FindAPhD.com PhD Project - Defence by Design: Plant Selection For Symbiotic Fungal Communities at Western Sydney University, listed on FindAPhD.com

5. Defence by Design: Plant Selection for Symbiotic Fungal Communities
Explore how plant breeding can shape rhizosphere fungal communities for pest defence. Shape rhizosphere microbiomes for resilience. Led by @frewecologist.bsky.social
bit.ly/3YzyZYm
#Microbiome #Agroecology #AcademicSky

Functional diversity of the world’s grasslands at University of Sheffield on FindAPhD.com PhD Project - Functional diversity of the world’s grasslands at University of Sheffield, listed on FindAPhD.com

4. Functional diversity of the world’s grasslands
How do grasslands resist climate stress?
Study functional traits, ecosystem resilience, and biogeography in one of the world’s most extensive biomes, led by @colinplants.bsky.social
bit.ly/4jLI3So
#Ecology #Grasslands #AcademicSky

EpiPlasticity: exploring the ecological and evolutionary significance of epigenetic defence plasticity at University of Sheffield on FindAPhD.com PhD Project - EpiPlasticity: exploring the ecological and evolutionary significance of epigenetic defence plasticity at University of Sheffield, listed on FindAPhD.com

3. EpiPlasticity: exploring the ecological and evolutionary significance of epigenetic defence plasticity
Explore how stress memories shape plant immunity. Dive into epigenetics, ecology & evolution, led by @jurriaanton.bsky.social
bit.ly/4iYsfL5
#Epigenetics #PlantDefence #AcademicSky

Towards climate-change resilient crops by unravelling the relationship between CO2 assimilation and ATP production at University of Sheffield on FindAPhD.com PhD Project - Towards climate-change resilient crops by unravelling the relationship between CO2 assimilation and ATP production at University of Sheffield, listed on FindAPhD.com

2. Towards climate-change resilient crops: unravelling relationships between CO2 assimilation and ATP production led by @profmattjohnson.bsky.social
Power photosynthesis for climate-smart crops. Investigate CO₂ uptake + ATP production.
bit.ly/4m5BZ8X
#PlantScience #AcademicSky

Exploring Urban Soil Health for Sustainable Food Production at University of Sheffield on FindAPhD.com PhD Project - Exploring Urban Soil Health for Sustainable Food Production at University of Sheffield, listed on FindAPhD.com

1. Urban Soil Health for Sustainable Food
Grow the future of urban horticulture. Study urban soils, carbon, and microbes in Sheffield & Sydney. Led by Jill Edmondson (UoS) with collaborators in @sheffieldpps.bsky.social and @westsyduhie.bsky.social
bit.ly/4j3pUyA
#SoilScience #UrbanAg #AcademicSky

World class training - International dual award PhDs in Plant & Soil Science now open These new studentships offer a unique opportunity to join a vibrant and collaborative research community spanning two world-class institutions in Sheffield, UK and Sydney, Australia.

Applications open for our International Dual PhD Awards in Plant & Soil Sciences! Train in world-class labs across @sheffieldpps.bsky.social and @westsyduhie.bsky.social and spend time at both institutes.

bit.ly/4375M8D #PhDopportunity #PlantScience #SoilScience #Sustainability #AcademicSky

Fantastic talk by Catherine Nuttgens at Futurebuild on the importance of urban trees, supported by research carried out within the Urban Tree Observatory @sheffieldpps.bsky.social

Tethering ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase to photosystem I promotes photosynthetic cyclic electron transfer The location of the key photosynthetic enzyme FNR impacts the partitioning of photosynthetic electrons between the linear and cyclic electron transport pat

Finally! After a lot of hard work our paper on tethering FNR to PSI in Chlamy is out in @theplantcell.bsky.social
@sheffieldpps.bsky.social @profmattjohnson.bsky.social

academic.oup.com/plcell/advan...

Summer Studentships

I have a PAID 6 weeks undergraduate summer internship in my lab. You'll use #FRET #biosensors, #confocal #microscopes, and #RaspberryPi to try to discover how low humidity affects leaf development. @sheffieldpps.bsky.social @rmsearlycareer.bsky.social

Project 5: www.rms.org.uk/community/ne...

Our review paper “Browning events in Arctic ecosystems: diverse causes with common consequences” is out in @plosclimate.org

journals.plos.org/climate/arti...

@sheffieldpps.bsky.social, @robertgbjork.bsky.social, @scootjd.bsky.social, @thissideofthearctic.org, @arctic-carolina.bsky.social

SEB 2025 keynote speakers confirmed! SEB president Tracy Lawson, University of Essex Lecturer John Ferguson and BBSRC Discovery Fellow Lorna McAusland will all give talks in #stomata session P5. @casparchater.bsky.social www.sebiology.org/events/seb-a.... Abstract deadline March 7th. Please RT!

Description of the PhD project. Similar text available at https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/signalling-complexes-and-cell-wall-changes-during-plant-reproduction/?p177787

A reminder that I currently have a fully funded PhD advertised to work on plant reproduction! Sheffield is a great environment in which to study - friendly, supportive colleagues, LOTS of plant research going on @sheffieldpps.bsky.social, and close to the Peak District for hikes and climbing.

Jamie Howe giving a great talk at #BES2024 about his MRes research on pollen, w/Upuli Wickramaarachchi & Heather Walker, @sheffieldpps.bsky.social! #polleneaters.

Steph Glendinning talks about her PhD work in the lab, on resilience of urban pollinators at #BES2024! f/t colleagues Jill Edmondson and Luke Tilley! @royentsoc.bsky.social @sheffieldpps.bsky.social #pollinators

Molly Moseley @entomollygy.bsky.social presents work from her MBiolSci @sheffieldpps.bsky.social and the Sheffield Undergrad Research Experience at #BES2024. (w/
Upuli Wickramaarachchi!). More pollinator #chemicalecology to come as Molly is staying on in the lab for a PhD! #SURE

Uncovering how ABA dynamics in Arabidopsis, wheat and rice respond to low humidity to control water loss at University of Sheffield on FindAPhD.com PhD Project - Uncovering how ABA dynamics in Arabidopsis, wheat and rice respond to low humidity to control water loss at University of Sheffield, listed on FindAPhD.com

The Rowe lab is also recruiting a #PlantScience
PhD student for 2025! You'll use the new ABACUS FRET biosensors to map the dynamic leaf #AbscisicAcid
accumulations at low humidity in Arabidopsis, wheat and rice.
#PhDposition @botanicaljim.bsky.social
tinyurl.com/3h5w6tsd

Follow the links to find out more info about any of the projects in the thread and get in touch with the lead PI for informal inquiries. #phd #plantscience #academicsky #photosynthesis #climate #stress

Impacts of plant + pest identities on functionality of mycorrhizal networks
https://buff.ly/4fLhFWX
Investigate how plant neighbours influence mycorrhizal fungal networks and plant defences, giving insights intoresilience/functioning of ecosystems. k.j.field@sheffield.ac.uk @katiefield4.bsky.social

Making scents of plant pollination: how plant stress affects pollinators https://buff.ly/4eSAKoV
Environmental change means plants face increased stress. You’ll study how pollinator-plant interactions are affected by multiple stresses. led by stuart.campbell@sheffield.ac.uk @evoeco.bsky.social

EpiPlasticity: ecological and evolutionary significance of epigenetic defence plasticity https://buff.ly/4gbdMKA
Ever wondered how plants, without a brain, cope with concurrent stresses from diseases, poor nutrition and drought? This PhD lets you address this question. Led by
j.ton@sheffield.ac.uk

Assessing roles of upland fires in air pollution and public health in the UK https://buff.ly/4ipvWdN
Moorland fires are increasingly common across UK uplands. You will play a crucial role in understanding how these impact air quality, carbon cycling, +human health. Led by m.valmartin@sheffield.ac.uk

Determining role of FNR location in photoprotection of photosystem I https://buff.ly/4imFBBM
Life depends on photosynthesis; you will study a key photoprotective regulatory mechanism controlling electrical current flow between photosystems
matt.johnson@sheffield.ac.uk @profmattjohnson.bsky.social

Signalling complexes + cell wall changes during plant reproduction https://buff.ly/3CZnFN6
Plant cells undergo huge changes during fertilisation, including at cell walls. You will study these changes, finding new insights in reproduction. lisa.m.smith@sheffield.ac.uk @plantylisasmith.bsky.social

Optimising wheat-fungal symbioses for enhanced nutrition+sustainability
https://buff.ly/4gbcEXm
Investigate how an underexplored group of fungi (Mucoromycotina) can improve nutrient uptake in wheat, one of the world’s most important crops. led by k.j.field@sheffield.ac.uk @katiefield4.bsky.social

Primed for Protection: Cell Wall Modifications in Plant Defence/Immunity https://buff.ly/49b9zEm
Cell wall fragments can activate plant immunity. You will study how changes in wall chemistry enable plants to mount a stronger immune response. led by s.amsbury@sheffield.ac.uk @samamsbury.bsky.social

Exploring Structure/Dynamics of Complex I + ATP Synthase in Phototrophic Bacteria https://buff.ly/418auDA
Photosynthesis is essential for life on Earth. With cryo-EM/advanced biochem we will unravel structure/function of photosynthetic enzymes in purple bacteria. led by a.hitchcock@sheffield.ac.uk