PhD Studentship: Preserving Native Biodiversity and Wheat Production in Bhutan University of East Anglia in United Kingdom

[Fully-funded ARIES studentship covering tuition fees, maintenance stipend (£20,780 p.a. for 2025/26), and research training and support grant (RTSG). International applicants may have the difference between 'home' and 'international' fees waived, but relocation, visa, and health surcharge costs are not covered.] This PhD studentship at the University of East Anglia focuses on the critical challenge of preserving native biodiversity while maintaining wheat production in Bhutan, a country renowned for its high species richness and endemism. With only about 8% of its land arable, wheat is a vital crop for Bhutan, cultivated at high altitudes and holding significant cultural, religious, and food security value. However, wheat production faces threats from biotic factors, especially wheat rusts—fungal pathogens that reproduce on wheat and Berberis, the latter being a globally significant and culturally important plant in Bhutan. The project aims to resolve the tension between biodiversity conservation and agricultural productivity by characterising the spatial distribution and species composition of Berberis in major wheat-growing areas, assessing the genetic diversity and rust resilience of Bhutanese wheat landraces, and developing spatial models to inform wheat planting strategies that protect biodiversity and suppress rust outbreaks. The successful candidate will join the Saunders Lab at the John Innes Centre, gaining multidisciplinary training in field surveys, plant pathology, molecular biology, and computational biology. Additional training in landscape modelling will be provided by experts at Exeter University, with collaborative opportunities involving CIMMYT and the Bhutan National Plant Protection Centre. The studentship is fully funded for eligible UK and international applicants, covering tuition, a maintenance stipend (£20,780 p.a. for 2025/26), and a research training and support grant. International students may have the fee difference waived, but must cover their own relocation, visa, and health surcharge costs. Applicants should hold at least a UK equivalent Bachelors (Honours) 2:1 in Biology, Ecology, or a related discipline, and meet English language requirements (IELTS 6.5 overall, 6 in each category). The position starts on 1 October 2026. This is an excellent opportunity for an enthusiastic individual interested in interdisciplinary research at the intersection of agriculture, conservation, and ecosystem management.