Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Nicolaus Copernicus University (Toruń, Poland) is offering a PhD scholarship in Plant-Microbe Interactions with expected commencement 1. February 2016 or as soon as possible thereafter.
The position is available for 3-year period.
Project title: "Effect of endophytes in adaptation of plants to salinity "
Description-
Objectives: Plant endophytic microorganisms can improve plant yield and enhance plant tolerance to abiotic stress.
Main objectives of the project: characterisation of halotolerant fungal endophytes isolated from the obligatory halophytic plant Salicornia europaea, selection of strains tolerant to salt stress and useful in conferring salt stress tolerance to plants, transcriptome analysis of plants adapted to salinity.
In BestPass we will provide fundamental biological as well as practical knowledge about interactions between endophytes and plants. This improved understanding will pave the way for increased use of endophytes to improve sustainability and plant productivity in a reliable way.
Principal supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Katarzyna Hrynkiewicz, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun, Poland, hry...@umk.pl, +48 (56) 611-25-40
Planned secondments: Department of molecular biology and Genetics, Aarhus Universitet, Denmark (AU), DLF Trifolium A/S, Denmark (DLF).
Terms of employment: PhD student will be hired under employment contract with obligatory social security and pension scheme.
The salary will be payed according to the regulations of the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska Curie Initial Training Network and Polish state regulations and the Best Pass project budget.
Application Procedure: The application, in English, must be submitted by mail to: Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Lwowska 1, 87-100 Torun (room No 127), Poland or on-line in pdf-format to: bban...@umk.pl, citing the reference number.
Please include: detailing your motivation and background for applying for this PhD project, max 1-page proposal for research activities to pursue in the PhD study program, CV, diploma and transcripts of records (BSc and MSc), 1-3 professional referees (Name, address, telephone & email), documentation of English language qualifications, other information for consideration, e.g. list of publications (if any).
Your key tasks as a PhD student in BestPass are:
• Participate in the research environment at Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection (Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun, Poland) and the network activities of BestPass
• Manage and carry through your research project
• Take PhD courses
• Write scientific articles and your PhD thesis
• Participate in congresses
• Teach and disseminate your research
Nr of positions available : 1