PhD Studentship: How Do Circadian Clocks Communicate Between Plants and Bacteria? University of East Anglia in United Kingdom

[4-year fully funded European Research Council PhD studentship covering tuition fees, annual tax-free maintenance stipend at UKRI rates (£20,780 for 2025/6), and research training support grant.]

This fully funded PhD studentship at the University of East Anglia offers an exciting opportunity to investigate how circadian clocks communicate between plants and bacteria. The project is supervised by Professor Antony Dodd and is part of the prestigious ERC-funded “MicroClock” programme. Recent discoveries have revealed a true circadian clock in Bacillus subtilis, challenging previous assumptions about bacterial biology. This research will explore whether bacteria and plants synchronize their biological clocks to enhance survival and fitness, potentially revolutionizing our understanding of plant-microbe interactions.

The successful candidate will receive comprehensive training in chronobiology, plant signal transduction, microbiology, and advanced data analysis. The project is highly collaborative, involving international partners at LMU Munich and Leiden University, and includes opportunities for research visits abroad. The research aims to uncover mechanisms that synchronize bacterial and plant circadian rhythms, with implications for soil health and crop nutrition.

The studentship is fully funded for four years by the European Research Council, covering tuition fees, an annual tax-free stipend of £20,780 (2025/6 rate), and a research training support grant. Applicants should hold at least a UK equivalent Bachelors (Honours) 2:1 or a Masters degree, and meet the Faculty of Science English language requirements (IELTS 6.5 overall, minimum 6.0 in each component). The start date is 1 October 2026, and the application deadline is 8 April 2026.

This is an ideal opportunity for ambitious students passionate about circadian biology, microbiomes, and cross-kingdom interactions, who are eager to work within a dynamic, international research environment. For more information and to apply, visit the University of East Anglia’s postgraduate research application portal.