How Plants Breathe in a Warming World: Temperature Control of Stomata Development

• Funding – BBSRC funded 4year studentship, providing tuition fees, 
  training/research costs and an annual stipend at the UKRI rate, currently £21,805
• Start Date – September 2027
• Applicants are expected to have a degree (equivalent of Honours or Masters) in a relevant discipline. 

Mean global temperatures have already risen by 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and could climb by another 4°C by 2100. Climate change is already affecting crop yields, and without effective mitigation, global yields of major crops could decline by as much as 36% by the end of the century. There is thus an urgent need to understand how plants perceive and respond to temperatures at the molecular level – knowledge that is essential for developing climate-resilient crops.

When exposed to elevated temperatures, plants undergo morphological changes known as thermomorphogenesis: in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, these include elongation of roots, stems and petioles and the formation of smaller, upward-bent leaves with a reduced number of stomata – the microscopic pores enabling gas exchange and evaporation. These changes create an open architecture that helps plants cool while limiting water loss. While these adjustments help plants survive, they come at the cost of reduced biomass and lower photosynthetic capacity. Similar acclimation processes occur in cereals, but the underlying signalling pathways are poorly understood.

Plant hormones play key roles in coordinating thermomorphogenic growth in Arabidopsis, with some promoting elongation while others acting as brakes. However, it remains unclear whether hormones also regulate temperature-controlled stomata formation, and whether similar mechanisms exist in cereals. In this PhD project, you will (1) investigate the role of key plant hormones in temperature-controlled stomata formation in Arabidopsis; (2) identify the tissues and cell types where these hormones act to control stomata formation; and (3) explore whether similar hormonal regulation operates in the UK’s staple crop barley.

This project will train you in a broad range of experimental approaches including genetics, molecular biology, protein biochemistry, advanced confocal microscopy and state-of-the-art omics techniques. You will gain an in-depth understanding of experimental design, quality control and statistical analysis, and develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. You will have the opportunity to communicate your findings in departmental seminars and at scientific conferences, to participate in outreach activities and to contribute to publishing your research. At the end of the PhD, these technical and transferrable skills will leave you excellently positioned to pursue a career in academia, industry, or another science-related field.

You will be located at the James Hutton Institute, a vibrant and collaborative research hub that houses the University of Dundee’s Plant Science Division and hosts major research innovation centres such as the Advanced Plant Growth Centre (APGC) and the International Barley Hub (IBH). 

Our research community thrives on the diversity of students and staff which helps to   make the University of Dundee a UK university of choice for postgraduate research. We  welcome applications from all talented individuals and are committed to widening    access to those who have the ability and potential to benefit from higher education.

How to apply

Applications are open to Home & International students

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