The Cycling of Climate-Active Sulfur Compounds By Major Crops

Project Code: TODD_UEA_ARIES27

The Cycling of Climate-Active Sulfur Compounds By Major Crops

Project Code: TODD_UEA_ARIES27

Project Description

Supervisors

Professor Jonathan Todd, School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia – contact me

Dr Ben Miller, UEA

Dr David Oram, UEA

 

Scientific Background:

Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) is known as a marine anti-stress compound made by algae and bacteria. It has key roles in global nutrient and sulfur cycling, signalling, and microbial DMSP catabolism releases climate-active gases (CAG), notably dimethylsulfide (DMS). However, DMSP is also produced by many terrestrial plants, including maize that is farmed to 1.22 billion metric tons annually, and is found at appreciable levels in maize rhizosphere samples. Little is known about microbial DMSP catabolism in terrestrial plant settings and key questions remain unanswered, e.g., what microbes degrade plant-made DMSP, which pathways do they use and what is their impact on CAG production?

 

Research Methodology

This multidisciplinary PhD will address these unknowns by working on maize cropped in East Anglia. The student will conduct a seasonal field study of DMSP production and cycling on maize plantations. DMSP production, accumulation, microbial catabolism and CAG flux will be investigated at the process (using e.g., gas and liquid chromatography with mass spectroscopy) and molecular (using e.g., RT-qPCR) levels in/from plant tissue and soils –to explore their environmental significance. To complement this process-led work, the PhD will conduct culture-dependent (isolation and characterisation of model organisms) and -independent microbiology (e.g., DNA-stable isotope probing) to identify microbes importing and catabolising DMSP as a nutrient in maize samples, their biodiversity, the pathways used, the CAG liberated and how environmental changes impact these. Finally, they will be encouraged to develop the project to their interests, e.g., to investigate plant growth promoting effects of microbial isolates or novel DMSP cycling genes.

 

Training

You will join the productive and well-resourced teams of Todd, Miller and Oram at UEA and QIB, and receive exceptional interdisciplinary training spanning DMSP biology, molecular ecology and microbiology, plant physiology, bioinformatics, analytical chemistry, fieldwork and in scientific writing and presentation. You will present your findings at weekly team meetings, (inter)national conferences, and in peer-reviewed scientific publications and your PhD thesis.

 

Person Specification:

We require a motivated and innovative individual keen to master diverse techniques within our team studying DMSP biology. You require a background in micro/biology and a minimum of a 2:1 Bachelor degree.

References

  • Payet RD, Bilham LJ, Kabir SMT, Monaco S, Norcott AR, Allen MGE, Zhu XY, Davy AJ, Brearley CA, Todd JD, Miller BJ (2024). Elucidation of Spartina dimethylsulfoniopropionate synthesis genes enables engineering of stress tolerant plants. Nat Commun. 15, 8568.
  • Wang J, Curson ARJ, Zhou S, Carrión O, Liu J, Vieira AR, Walsham KS, Monaco S, Li CY, Dong QY, Wang Y, Rivera PPL, Wang XD, Zhang M, Hanwell L, Wallace M, Zhu XY, Leão PN, Lea-Smith DJ, Zhang YZ, Zhang XH, Todd JD. (2024). Alternative dimethylsulfoniopropionate biosynthesis enzymes in diverse and abundant microorganisms. Nat Microbiol. 9:1979-1992.
  • Hopkins FE, Archer SD, Bell TG, Suntharalingam P, Todd JD. (2023). The biogeochemistry of marine dimethylsulfide. Nat Rev Earth Environ. 4:361-376.
  • Liu J, Xue CX, Wang J, Crombie AT, Carrión O, Johnston AWB, Murrell JC, Liu J, Zheng Y, Zhang XH & Todd JD. (2022). Oceanospirillales containing the DMSP lyase DddD are key utilisers of carbon from DMSP in coastal seawater. Microbiome. 10:1-21.
  • Todd JD, Rogers R, Li YG, Wexler M, Bond PL, Sun L, Curson ARJ, Malin G, Steinke M, Johnston AWB. (2007). Structural and regulatory genes required to make the gas dimethyl sulfide in bacteria. Science. 315:666-669.

Key Information

  • This studentship has been shortlisted for funding under the UKRI NERC DLA funding scheme and will commence on 1 October 2027. The closing date for applications is 23:59 on 16 December 2026.
  • Successful candidates who meet UKRI’s eligibility criteria will be awarded a fully-funded studentship, which covers fees, maintenance stipend (£21,805 p.a. for 2026/27) 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