Andrew Plackett

[Funded by BBSRC through the Midlands Integrated Biosciences Training Partnership. Includes full studentship funding in partnership with University of Warwick, Aston University, Harper Adams University, Coventry University, and University of Leicester.] This PhD studentship at the University of Birmingham, funded by BBSRC through the Midlands Integrated Biosciences Training Partnership (MIBTP), investigates the evolutionary origin of ‘female’ meiosis in seed plants. The project addresses a fundamental question in plant reproductive biology: how did the distinct process of female meiosis evolve in seed plants, given that older seedless plants like ferns possess only one, ancestral type of meiosis? Using the model fern Ceratopteris richardii, the research will explore the hypothesis that genes involved in female meiosis may have been repurposed from other parts of the plant lifecycle, specifically the gametophyte stage. A key focus is the SHUGOSHIN gene, which is specific to meiosis in seed plants but also found in Ceratopteris. The project will employ a range of molecular and genetic techniques, including microscopy, fluorescent in situ hybridization, RNA-seq, RT-PCR, and qPCR, to characterize meiosis in ferns, identify and map gene expression, and test gene function through genetic engineering. The studentship is part of a collaborative training partnership involving several UK universities, offering access to a broad research community and training resources. Applicants should have a strong background in biological sciences, with experience or interest in molecular biology, genetics, or plant science. The position provides full funding and is open to candidates who apply through the specified MIBTP application portal. The deadline for applications is 27 November 2025. For further details, candidates can consult the MIBTP and University of Birmingham programme pages.