Fully Funded PhD Studentship in Bioengineering the Seagrass Microbiome to Enhance Plant Health and Resilience Swansea University in United Kingdom

[£19,237 stipend per year, plus £16,000 Research Training and Support Grant (RTSG) and £1,920 fieldwork budget. Full funding for tuition and stipend.]

This fully funded PhD studentship at Swansea University offers an exciting opportunity to advance research in environmental biosciences by bioengineering the seagrass microbiome to enhance plant health and resilience. Seagrasses are foundational to coastal ecosystems, providing critical services such as carbon sequestration, biodiversity support, sediment stabilisation, and shoreline protection. However, these vital meadows are under threat globally due to climate change, pollution, and disease, which undermines their ecological benefits. Despite ongoing restoration efforts, success rates remain low, highlighting the urgent need for innovative, science-driven solutions.

This interdisciplinary project, in collaboration with Cardiff University, focuses on the seagrass microbiome—bacteria, fungi, archaea, and viruses that play essential roles in nutrient cycling, pathogen defence, and stress tolerance. The research aims to apply microbiome engineering, a strategy proven in terrestrial agriculture, to marine plant systems. By selecting and applying beneficial microbial consortia, the project seeks to improve seagrass health and restoration outcomes, supporting coastal conservation and blue carbon ecosystem protection.

The PhD researcher will engage in a range of activities, including:

• Microbial cocultivation and screening: Isolating microbes from healthy seagrass tissues and sediments, testing for traits like nutrient mobilisation, antioxidant production, and pathogen inhibition.
• Metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, and metabolomics: Using high-throughput sequencing and HPLC-HRMS to characterise microbiomes under various conditions and identify key metabolites in microbe–microbe and plant–microbe interactions.
• Community and network modelling: Analysing functional and sequencing data to infer biotic interactions and predict the microbiome’s role in ecosystem resilience using dynamic network modelling.
• Mesocosm trials: Applying selected microbial consortia to seagrass plants in controlled environments to assess impacts on growth, survival, and stress tolerance.

Expected outcomes include new insights into seagrass–microbe interactions, identification of beneficial microbes, and proof-of-concept demonstrations of microbiome engineering for marine plant restoration. The project is ideal for candidates interested in microbiology, plant–microbe interactions, bioinformatics, and marine conservation. Comprehensive training will be provided in microbial cultivation, sequencing, multi-omics data analysis, and experimental plant trials, within a vibrant interdisciplinary research community.

Funding for this position includes a £19,237 annual stipend, a £16,000 Research Training and Support Grant (RTSG), and a £1,920 fieldwork budget, covering full tuition and living costs. The SWBio DTP is committed to supporting students from diverse backgrounds, offering flexibility for those with caring responsibilities, disabilities, or other personal circumstances. Applicants are encouraged to discuss any specific needs with the project supervisor.

To apply, prepare your CV, academic transcripts, and a cover letter detailing your interest and suitability for the project. Submit your application via the Swansea University portal before the deadline. For more information, visit the project webpage or contact the listed supervisor.