PhD Studentship: Plant temperature signalling via modulation of small-RNA signalling
[4-year fully funded Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership PhD studentship including tuition fees, a stipend of £21,805 (2026/27 rate), and a Research Training Support Grant of £5,000 per year.]
This is a fully funded PhD studentship at the University of East Anglia, within the Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Programme (NRPDTP), for October 2027 entry.
The project,
Plant temperature signalling via modulation of small-RNA signalling
, is supervised by Professor Steven Penfield. It addresses a timely question in plant biology: how plants sense temperature changes and adapt development to seasonal conditions. The research explores gene silencing, small-RNA signalling, chromatin modifications, and their roles in helping plants respond to winter, spring, and summer environments.
The successful candidate will gain experience with modern research approaches including single-cell analysis, genomics, chromatin biology, and molecular biology. The project is especially relevant for students interested in plant adaptation, climate resilience, and the engineering of crops for more variable growth environments.
The NRPDTP offers a 4-year PhD studentship, a structured training programme, and a three-month professional internship placement (PIPS) designed to enhance professional development and research skills. The programme supports a vibrant community of world-leading researchers at Norwich Research Park.
Funding includes tuition fees paid directly to the university, a stipend for living costs at the 2026/27 rate of £21,805, and a Research Training Support Grant of £5,000 per year.
Applicants must have at least a UK-equivalent Bachelors (Honours) degree at 2:1 level and meet the English language requirement of IELTS 6.5 overall with 6.0 in each category (or Faculty of Science equivalent).
The application deadline is 30 November 2026. Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed on 2, 3, and 4 February 2027. Applications should be submitted through the UEA postgraduate research application portal, and the NRPDTP personal and research statement templates must be used.
