Linking antimicrobial resistance, climate warming, and carbon use efficiency in Arctic soils

Linking antimicrobial resistance, climate warming, and carbon use efficiency in Arctic soils

Project Description

Supervisors

Dr Marcela Hernandez Garcia, School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia

Dr Falk Hildebrand, Quadram Institute Bioscience

Dr Marc Dumont, University of Southampton

 

Scientific Background

Global warming and the potential end of the antibiotic era are two critical societal challenges. These two threats overlap because antibiotic contamination of the wider environment, in combination with climate warming, glacier retreat, and permafrost thaw, can open new niches for antibiotic resistant microbes to proliferate. We have found that microbial interactions shape the temporal dynamics of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the Arctic. Moreover, there is emerging evidence from terrestrial ecosystems that antibiotics and warming independently reduce the efficiency of microbial carbon use, which can translate to high C-efflux and lower potential for C-sequestration. In other words, both warming and antibiotic contamination may lead to the amplification of climate change. We predict that an increase in AMR in the Arctic will reduce microbial carbon use efficiency (CUE) because competitive interactions among microbes would lead to the allocation of energy and nutrients towards AMR instead of biomass growth. This PhD project will unravel the mechanisms driving AMR in pioneer and extreme soil environments in the Arctic, focussing on Svalbard – the fastest warming place on the planet, offering natural gradients in soil development, and pristine and anthropogenically influenced environments.

 

 

Research Methodology

The overarching aim is to understand whether climate warming and AMR impact microbial CUE. You will measure CUE by AMR bacteria in isolation and within Arctic soils. Additionally, you will investigate the potential for AMR bacteria in wastewater from Svalbard settlements to colonise Arctic soils and alter their CUE.

You will join sampling campaigns in Svalbard followed by training in cutting-edge tools for isolation and identification of microbes, including metagenomics and bioinformatics.

 

Training

Training will include cultivation of soil bacteria, quantitative PCR, amplicon-based sequencing, whole genome sequencing, and metagenomic analysis. You will present results at national and international conferences, and collaborate internationally with project partners abroad (including collaborators in France and Italy).

 

Person Specification

We are looking for a pro-active, highly motivated student. The successful candidate should have a strong background in microbial, soil or environmental sciences (e.g., BSc/Masters in Microbiology, Environmental Sciences, or similar). For fieldwork participation (non-essential), willing to join sampling campaigns in Svalbard.

Acceptable first degree subjects: BSc/Masters in Microbiology, Environmental Sciences, or similar

Project code: HERNANDEZ-GARCIA_UEA_ARIES26

References

  • Roy, S., Dawson RA, Bradley JA, Hernández, M. 2025. Prevalence and dynamics of antimicrobial resistance in pioneer and developing Arctic soils. Environmental Microbiome 25:50
  • Makowska-Zawierucha N, Trzebny A, Zawierucha K, Manthapuri V, Bradley JA, Pruden A. 2024. Arctic plasmidome analysis reveals distinct relationships among associated antimicrobial resistance genes and virulence genes along anthropogenic gradients. Global Change Biology 30: e17293
  • O’Neill, Jim. 2016. Tackling drug-resistant infections globally: final report and recommendations. https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/LLN-2016-0044/LLN-2016-0044.pdf
  • Nesme J, Simonet P. 2015. The soil resistome: a critical review on antibiotic resistance origins, ecology and dissemination potential in telluric bacteria. Environmental Microbiology 17:913.
  • Hernández M, Roy S, Keevil CW, Dumont MG. 2023. Identification of diverse antibiotic resistant bacteria in agricultural soil with H218O stable isotope probing combined with high-throughput sequencing. Environ Microbiome. 18:34.

Key Information

  • This studentship has been shortlisted for funding under the UKRI NERC DLA funding scheme and will commence on 1 October 2026. The closing date for applications is 23:59 on 7 January 2026.
  • Successful candidates who meet UKRI’s eligibility criteria will be awarded a fully-funded studentship, which covers fees, maintenance stipend (£20,780 p.a. for 2025/26) and a research training and support grant (RTSG). A limited number of studentships are available for international applicants, with the difference between 'home' and 'international' fees being waived by the registering university. Please note, however, that ARIES funding does not cover additional costs associated with relocation to, and living in, the UK, such as visa costs or the health surcharge.
  • ARIES postgraduate researchers (PGRs) benefit from bespoke training and ARIES provides £2,500 to every student for access to external training, travel and conferences, on top of all Research Costs associated with the project. Excellent applicants from quantitative disciplines with limited experience in environmental sciences may be considered for an additional 3-month stipend to take advanced-level courses. Excellent applicants from quantitative disciplines with limited experience in environmental sciences may be considered for an additional 3-month stipend to take advanced-level courses.
  • ARIES is committed to equality, diversity, widening participation and inclusion in all areas of its operation. We encourage enquiries and applications from all sections of the community regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation and transgender status. Academic qualifications are considered alongside non-academic experience, and our recruitment process considers potential with the same weighting as past experience.
  • All ARIES studentships may be undertaken on a part-time or full-time basis. International applicants should check whether there are any conditions of visa or immigration permission that preclude part-time study. All advertised project proposals have been developed with consideration of a safe, inclusive and appropriate research and fieldwork environment with respect to protected characteristics. If you have any concerns, please contact us.
  • For further information, please contact the supervisor. To apply for this Studentship, follow the instructions at the bottom of the page or click the 'apply now' link.
  • ARIES is required by our funders to collect Equality and Diversity Information from all of our applicants. The information you provide will be used solely for monitoring and statistical purposes; it will remain confidential and will be stored on the UEA SharePoint server. Data will not be shared with those involved in making decisions on the award of Studentships and will have no influence on the success of your application. It will only be shared outside of this group in an anonymised and aggregated form. You will be asked to complete the form by the University to which you apply.
  • ARIES studentships are subject to UKRI terms and conditions. Postgraduate Researchers are expected to live within reasonable distance of their host organisation for the duration of their studentship. Please see https://www.ukri.org/publications/terms-and-conditions-for-training-funding/ for more information.

Apply Now

Apply now via the  University of East Anglia Application Portal