[Fully-funded ARIES studentship covering fees, maintenance stipend (£20,780 p.a. for 2025/26), and research training and support grant (RTSG). International applicants may have the fee difference waived, but relocation, visa, and health surcharge costs are not covered.]

PhD Studentship: Cloaks and Daggers – Evolution of Egg Defences in a Global Agricultural Pest

The University of East Anglia invites applications for a fully-funded PhD studentship investigating the evolution of egg defences in the medfly (Ceratitis capitata), a major global agricultural pest. This interdisciplinary project, supervised by Professor Tracey Chapman, is embedded within the ARIES Ecology and Biodiversity theme and offers advanced training in phenotypic and molecular genetic engineering, bioinformatics, and microbiology.

Project Overview: Externally laid eggs are exposed to a variety of microbes, both harmful and beneficial. Medfly mothers protect their eggs by cloaking them with potent, broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptides known as Ceratotoxins. This project aims to unravel the evolutionary and functional significance of these egg cloaks, using cutting-edge techniques such as phenotype engineering, gene editing (CRISPR-Cas9), and microbial community sequencing. Key research questions include:

• What are the overall fitness benefits of Ceratotoxin egg cloaks under natural conditions?
• Is the redundancy of Ceratotoxin genes adaptive?
• Can Ceratotoxins be harnessed for innovative insect control strategies?

Methodology: The research will involve phenotypic manipulations (e.g., egg cloak removal, microbial add-backs), fitness assays, molecular genetics, and bioinformatics analyses. Depending on your interests, you may also explore the application of Ceratotoxins in pest management through experimentation, modelling, or literature synthesis.

Training and Environment: You will gain high-demand technical skills in molecular genetics, microbiology, and data analysis, as well as transferrable skills in critical thinking, ethics, and open research. The project is based in a vibrant, inclusive research environment at UEA.

Funding: The ARIES studentship provides full tuition fees, a maintenance stipend (£20,780 p.a. for 2025/26), and a research training and support grant. International applicants may have the fee difference waived, but relocation, visa, and health surcharge costs are not covered.

Eligibility: Applicants should hold at least a UK equivalent Bachelors (Honours) degree at 2:1 level in Biological Sciences, Genetics, or Ecology. English language proficiency (IELTS 6.5 overall, 6 in each category) is required. Both full-time and part-time study modes are available.

Application Deadline: 7 January 2025. The studentship is expected to start on 1 October 2026.

How to Apply: Applications should be submitted via the UEA postgraduate research application portal. For further details, visit the ARIES DTP and university websites. Informal inquiries to the supervisor are welcome.