University of East Anglia
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PhD Studentship: Protein Use Efficiency in Wheat for Reduced Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Emissions University of East Anglia in United Kingdom
Degree Level
PhD
Field of study
Chemistry
Funding
Available
Deadline
Nov 30, 2026
Country
United Kingdom
University
University of East Anglia

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About this position
Help shape the future of sustainable wheat production with this PhD studentship at the University of East Anglia, delivered in collaboration with DSV and the John Innes Centre (JIC).
This project focuses on protein use efficiency (PUE) in bread-making wheat and asks an important question for modern agriculture: how can nitrogen fertiliser use be reduced without sacrificing yield or bread-making quality? Nitrogen fertiliser is both a major cost to farmers and a major contributor to agricultural greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, grain protein content is widely used as a quality indicator in the milling and baking industry, which can encourage extra nitrogen inputs. This PhD will investigate why some wheat varieties can produce excellent bread at lower grain protein concentrations, and how that trait can be used to support more sustainable wheat breeding.
You will work with advanced wheat breeding materials and landrace collections, combining field trials and laboratory work with baking assessments, molecular genetics, genomics, metabolomics, and statistical modelling. The research will explore the genetic, biochemical, and physical characteristics that enable high loaf volume with lower protein content, and will examine how these varieties perform under reduced nitrogen fertilisation. The project will also develop practical outputs such as molecular markers and rapid screening approaches to help identify and breed high-PUE wheat.
This is an interdisciplinary PhD at the interface of plant genetics, crop science, food quality, and sustainable agriculture, with strong links to academic and industry partners. It is awarded as a 4-year Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership PhD CASE studentship with DSV.
Funding includes tuition fees paid directly to the university, a living-cost stipend at the 2026/27 rate of £21,805 per year, and a Research Training Support Grant of £5,000 per year for each year of the studentship. The application deadline is 30 November 2026.
Interested applicants should apply via the University of East Anglia postgraduate research application portal using the link provided in the advert.
Funding details
Available
What's required
An enthusiastic and ambitious PhD student is sought. The project is interdisciplinary and involves field and laboratory experiments, baking assessments, molecular genetics, genomics, metabolomics, and statistical modelling; relevant interest or experience in plant genetics, crop science, food quality, or sustainable agriculture would be advantageous. No specific degree classification or language requirement is stated in the posting.
How to apply
Apply through the University of East Anglia postgraduate research application portal. Prepare your application for the PhD studentship and submit it by the deadline. Use the provided application link and follow the university's postgraduate research admissions instructions.
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