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 a research training and support grant (RTSG). International applicants may have the difference between 'home' and 'international' fees waived. Does not cover relocation, visa, or health surcharge costs.]

This fully-funded PhD studentship at the University of East Anglia offers an exciting opportunity to address the challenge of preserving native biodiversity while supporting wheat production in Bhutan. Bhutan is renowned for its exceptional species richness and high endemism, yet only about 8% of its land is arable, making wheat a vital crop for food security and cultural heritage. However, wheat production in Bhutan faces significant threats from biotic factors, particularly wheat rusts—fungal pathogens that can devastate crops and are known as the "polio of agriculture." These pathogens have a complex lifecycle involving both wheat and Berberis, a plant genus that is highly diverse in Bhutan and holds cultural and medicinal significance.

The project aims to resolve the conflicting interests of biodiversity conservation and agricultural productivity. The successful candidate will conduct fieldwork in Bhutan to map the distribution and diversity of Berberis in key wheat-growing regions, assess the genetic diversity and rust resilience of local wheat landraces, and develop spatial models to inform wheat planting strategies that protect both crops and native ecosystems. This interdisciplinary research will combine field surveys, plant pathology, molecular biology, and computational biology.

The student will join the Saunders Lab at the John Innes Centre, benefiting from a vibrant, international, and multidisciplinary research environment. Training will include advanced skills in landscape modelling, with additional support from experts at Exeter University and collaborations with CIMMYT and the Bhutan National Plant Protection Centre. The project is ideal for candidates passionate about applying interdisciplinary approaches to real-world challenges in agriculture and conservation.

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

Eligibility: Applicants should hold at least a UK equivalent Bachelors (Honours) 2:1 degree in Biology, Ecology, or a related field, and meet English language requirements (IELTS 6.5 overall, 6 in each category). Enthusiasm for interdisciplinary research in biodiversity, agriculture, and conservation is essential.

Application deadline: 7 January 2025. The position starts 1 October 2026. For more information and to apply, visit the official application portal.