Plant thermal tolerances across scales: from a single tree to global trends

Details

Applications are invited for this exciting, fully-funded, 42 month PhD studentship at the University of Aberdeen. This project is part of the newly established Anthony & Margaret Johnston Centre for Doctoral Training in Plant Sciences enabled by a generous legacy gift.

Changing climates pose risks to plants worldwide. To better understand these risks and plan mitigations around them, we need more data on the range of temperatures that plants can tolerate and how they cope with both high and low temperature extremes. This PhD project will combine fieldwork and data synthesis to extend a high-profile global dataset of plant thermal tolerances and model plant responses to complex patterns of thermal exposure, starting with a single tree in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest, and scaling up to global patterns across all land plants. The scientific outputs will advance the field of plant thermal ecology and evolution, and aid future land use and conservation action.

Background:

The supervisory team recently published the most comprehensive global database of plant thermal tolerances to date (Lancaster and Humphreys 2020). Since then, studies on plant thermal tolerances have rapidly accumulated, adding new data across diverse habitats, as well as for different plant parts (e.g. leaves and pollen). At a much smaller scale, in 2023 the Antonelli Foundation in Brazil spearheaded a revolutionary project: to exemplify the fine scale complexity of forest biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in the context of a single tree, a giant fig. The One Tree team has been measuring temperature and humidity in and around different parts of the tree hourly since November 2023. This project will synthesise new data from the literature, own field measurements (One Tree) and the existing database, providing a new resource for plant thermal physiology and forecasting climate change responses in plants.

Approach:

Global dataset: The student will extend the database to incorporate more species and tissues, intraspecific variation, and information on plant life history strategies that may impact physiological tolerances. The data will be released in an interactive web format.

Field data collection (One Tree): The student will conduct fieldwork and measure thermal responses to microclimatic variation across the whole tree during two field seasons in Brazil, to assess the roles of plasticity and biotic interactions in shaping plant thermal responses.

Analysis: The student will model time series temperature and land use data to discover how variation in environmental temperature shapes global variation in thermal tolerances, using a new method (Redana et al. 2024). Further analyses may consider evolutionary history and potential trade-offs with other plant traits.

Support:

The student will receive hands-on supervision in data synthesis, botanical knowledge, thermal ecology, eco-evolutionary and GIS-based modelling, further career mentoring, science communication training, opportunities for networking (e.g. via international conferences and with collaborators in Brazil, Indonesia, Colombia, and USA), and outreach. Research visit(s) to Dr Humphreys in Stockholm are also offered.

The supervisory team are highly supportive of individual PhD trajectories and have a strong track record in training successful academics and non-academic ecological practitioners (100% of former PhD students are now in high-level employment within the ecology/evolutionary biology field). The School of Biological Sciences at the University of Aberdeen provides a stimulating and collegiate environment with over 100 PhD students, a dedicated postgraduate society, a weekly seminar series, annual student conferences and retreats, and dedicated support staff. The student will join the 3rd cohort of the Anthony and Margaret Johnstone Plant Centre for Doctoral Training in Plant Sciences, which brings further opportunities to collaborate scientifically and on outreach, including contributing to our beautiful and taxonomically-diverse botanical gardens.

Northeast Scotland is a scenic and stimulating place to live with local festivals, hillwalking and rugged coastal trails, and rich cultural history. 

Project funding is guaranteed. Interested potential students are encouraged to contact Prof Lancaster (lesleylancaster@abdn.ac.uk) with informal inquiries.

Candidate Background:

Candidates should have a first degree in Biology, Biological Sciences, or a related subject.

We actively encourage applications from diverse career paths and backgrounds and across all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation and transgender status, amongst other protected characteristics.

We also invite applications from those returning from a career break, industry or other roles. We typically require a minimum of a 2:1 UK Honours degree (or equivalent), but exceptions can be made where applicants can demonstrate excellence in alternative ways, including, but not limited to, performance in masters courses, professional placements, internships or employment.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

To apply, please submit the following documents:

1. A cover letter to the supervisor of the project you are applying for.
2. An up-to-date CV detailing your academic qualifications, employment history, and any other relevant experience. Please ensure your current permanent address is clearly stated, as this will be used to determine your fee status.
3. Clear copies of your degree certificates and transcripts (if available).

Your application should be submitted as a single email to pgrc-recruitment@abdn.ac.uk with the subject line: “Plant Science CDT – [Your Name]“.

The deadline for applications is 23:59 GMT on 21st June 2026.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Funding Notes

This 42 Month opportunity is open to UK/Home fee students only.

The studentship includes a tax-free UKRI doctoral stipend (£21,805 for the 2026/27 academic year).