PhD in Microbial Controls on Soil Nitrogen Storage
This fully funded PhD project at Bangor University investigates the molecular and genomic mechanisms by which soil microbes assimilate inorganic nitrogen into organic forms, a process critical for improving nitrogen use efficiency, soil carbon storage, and ecosystem resilience. Nitrogen availability is a key constraint on plant productivity and a major driver of agricultural pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. While the cycling of inorganic nitrogen by microbes is well studied, the fate of fertiliser nitrogen assimilated into soil organic nitrogen, particularly microbial protein, remains poorly understood. This project aims to fill that knowledge gap by integrating advanced metagenomics, transcriptomics, and bioinformatics with state-of-the-art ¹⁵N isotope fluxomics, in collaboration with the University of Bristol.
The successful candidate will lead the molecular work package of a larger interdisciplinary programme. Research objectives include identifying microbial taxa, genes, and genomic traits that indicate nitrogen immobilisation and storage within soil microbial biomass; characterising how soil properties such as pH and carbon availability structure microbial communities and functional gene assemblages involved in amino acid and protein biosynthesis; linking rates of nitrogen assimilation into specific amino acids with the abundance and expression of relevant biosynthetic genes and pathways; and developing predictive models that connect microbiomes and soil/land use drivers with nitrogen immobilisation across diverse soil systems.
Training will be provided in DNA and RNA extraction from soils, whole-genome shotgun metagenomics and transcriptomics, functional annotation using KEGG, MetaCyc, SEED, and GapMind, as well as statistical modelling and machine learning approaches (e.g., random forests). The student will also learn to integrate molecular data with isotope-based process measurements. The research will be based on soils from the Henfaes Research Station, covering grassland, arable, forest, heathland, and peat systems, with regular collaboration and training visits to the University of Bristol for isotope fluxomics and biogeochemical measurements.
Applicants should have a strong background in microbial ecology, molecular biology, biogeochemistry, environmental science, bioinformatics, or a related discipline, with experience or a strong interest in genomics, molecular biology, or computational analysis. Enthusiasm for interdisciplinary research linking molecules to ecosystem processes is essential. Experience with R, Python, or Unix-based environments is desirable but not essential.
The studentship covers UK tuition fees, a training support fee, and a stipend (£20,780 p.a. in 2025/26, updated annually) for 3.5 years. Bangor University offers a world-leading environment in soil and microbial ecology, with strong links to national research platforms and long-term field sites. This PhD provides an exceptional opportunity to work at the interface of molecular biology, biogeochemistry, and environmental science, addressing globally important challenges in food security, pollution mitigation, and soil nutrient storage.
For informal enquiries, contact Professor Rob Griffiths at [email protected]. To apply, visit the Bangor University direct application portal and search for the project title. The application deadline is March 22, 2026, with the project starting in September 2026.
