PhD Studentship: Investigating the ‘cry-for-help’ Effect in Wheat

University of East Anglia; Norwich; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 24,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition covered

Stipend provided

Job summary

The University of East Anglia is offering a Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership PhD studentship hosted at the John Innes Centre and Earlham Institute. The project investigates how wheat roots recruit beneficial soil microbes in response to pathogen challenge, using molecular, metabolomic and bioinformatic analyses to understand metabolite secretion and microbiome recruitment.

The successful candidate will join a dynamic, collaboration-focused team with access to

Qualifications

• Background in soil or plant microbiology and molecular biology.
• Experience with data analysis and interpretation of sequencing/metabolomics datasets.
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary team and communicate findings.

Responsibilities

• Analyse wheat split-root microcosms to study plant‑microbe interactions.
• Perform molecular and metabolomics analyses to link root metabolites with microbiome recruitment.
• Apply bioinformatic approaches to characterize microbial community responses.
• Contribute to disseminating results through reports and publications.

Skills

Soil microbiology

Bioinformatics

Molecular techniques

Education

PhD in a relevant field

Tools

Metabolomics

Bioinformatics tools

Job description

Soil microbial associations with roots are highly complex and incredibly important for healthy plant growth. Consequently, plants secrete diverse metabolites to attract/repel key microorganisms from the surrounding soil. Plant‑recruited microbes contribute to plant health in multiple ways, including nutrient solubilisation, growth promotion and pathogen antagonism. Recent evidence suggests that plant roots actively recruit beneficial microbes in response to pathogen attack, the so‑called ‘cry‑for‑help’ effect. While we understand the broad principles of the cry‑for‑help effect, many details of this phenomenon are poorly understood.

In this project, the student will analyse wheat split‑root microcosms inoculated with microbial communities of varying complexity to explore the relationship between pathogen challenge, root metabolite secretion and soil microbiome recruitment. Using a combination of molecular and environmental microbiology, bioinformatic analysis, metabolomics and plant‑microbe interaction assays, they will dissect the wheat cry‑for‑help effect in unprecedented detail. The project will ultimately lead to a comprehensive understanding of wheat metabolite secretion and its role in recruiting microbial communities and maintaining healthy soils. This knowledge will be crucial to the development of the next generation of sustainable, high‑yielding wheat varieties.

The studentship will be based at the John Innes Centre and the neighbouring Earlham Institute. Both partners provide cutting‑edge research facilities and a stimulating research and training environment, working alongside world‑leading experts in soil microbiology and plant‑microbe interactions. They will be part of a friendly, collaborative research team and will gain excellent training in a range of skills and techniques. The combination of transferrable, technical skills associated with the project will make the successful candidate highly employable, in industry or academia.

Funding Details

This project is awarded with a 4-year Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership PhD DTP studentship. The studentship includes payment of tuition fees (directly to the University), a stipend to cover living expenses (2026/27 stipend rate: £21,805, and a Research Training Support Grant of £5,000pa for each year of the studentship.

Closing Date: 23:59 on 30 November 2026.