The cycling of climate-active sulfur compounds by major crops (TODD_UEA_ARIES27)
Key details
- Application Deadline: 16 December 2026 23:59 UK Time
- Location: UEA
- Funding Type: Competition funded project (Students worldwide)
- Start Date: 1 October 2027
- Mode of Study: Full-time or Part-time
- Programme Type: PhD
Project Description
Primary Supervisor - Professor Jonathan Todd
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?
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.
Entry Requirements
At least UK equivalence Bachelors (Honours) 2:1. English Language requirement (Faculty of Science equivalent: IELTS 6.5 overall, 6 in each category).
Funding
ARIES studentships are subject to UKRI terms and conditions. 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 is committed to equality, diversity, widening participation and inclusion in all areas of its operation. We encourage applications from all sections of the community regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation and transgender status. Projects have been developed with consideration of a safe, inclusive and appropriate research and fieldwork environment. Academic qualifications are considered alongside non-academic experience, with equal weighting given to experience and potential.
After submitting their application for the relevant ARIES project(s), applicants are expected to complete the ARIES Equality and Diversity Form Applicants - 2027 Entry – Fill in form. One form is required per application, so applicants applying to more than one project must complete a separate form for each.
Please visit www.aries-dtp.ac.uk for further information.
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.
