Explore the top fully funded PhD Position in Gene Regulatory Networks in Cereal Development at the University of Edinburgh for 2026. Apply now.

⭐ PhD Position in Gene Regulatory Networks in Cereal Development (2026) | Fully Funded Opportunity

🌾📚 The PhD Position in Gene Regulatory Networks in Cereal Development offered by the University of Edinburgh’s School of Biological Sciences stands out as one of the most exciting and impactful fully funded research opportunities for students worldwide. This project, supervised by Dr. Annis Richardson, explores cutting-edge developmental and evolutionary biology to understand how cereals such as rice, wheat, maize, and barley acquire their structure, architecture, and productivity.

If you are passionate about plant genetics, molecular biology, developmental evolution, transcriptomics, or crop improvement, this PhD is a powerful gateway into advanced academic research and long-term scientific careers.

🌱 What Is the PhD Position in Gene Regulatory Networks in Cereal Development?

(🎯 Focus Keyword included)

This fully funded PhD position focuses on uncovering the gene regulatory networks (GRNs) that control cereal development. Cereals are the world’s most important food crops, providing over 50% of global caloric intake. Understanding their genetic architecture is crucial for enhancing:

• 🍚 Food security
• 🌱 Crop resilience
• 🌾 Productivity
• 🌍 Adaptation to climate change

Despite their global importance, scientists still understand surprisingly little about how gene interactions determine the shape and growth of cereal plants.

This PhD aims to fill that gap using comparative developmental genetics, evolutionary biology, and multi-omics analysis.

🔍 Why Are Gene Regulatory Networks Important for Cereal Development?

📌 Gene regulatory networks (GRNs) describe how genes communicate, activate, suppress, or influence one another.
They determine:

• Leaf shapes
• Stem structures
• Flowering patterns
• Grain formation
• Root architecture

Understanding GRNs helps researchers identify breeding targets and gene-editing pathways that can create improved crop varieties with:

💡 Higher yields
💡 Better stress tolerance
💡 Optimal architecture
💡 Greater nutritional value

🌍 With climate change stressing global food systems, this research is more important than ever.

🧬 The Plant Shape Lab: Where Innovation Meets Evolution

This PhD takes place in the Plant Shape Lab, an interdisciplinary research group working at the crossroads of:

• Developmental biology
• Evolutionary genetics
• Crop design
• Molecular biology
• Plant cell biology

The lab focuses on understanding how plant architecture evolves, why different cereals look the way they do, and how these traits can be engineered for future agriculture.

🔬 You will work with:

• Transcriptomic datasets
• Genomic sequencing platforms
• Proteomics
• Confocal microscopy
• Tools for building and analyzing gene regulatory networks

🌾 What Will You Study in This PhD?

This PhD Position in Gene Regulatory Networks in Cereal Development focuses on the evolutionary comparison of cereal species to understand:

🟢 1. Conserved Gene Network Components

Which genes have been historically preserved across species such as wheat, rice, and maize?

🔵 2. Species-Specific Developmental Traits

What gene changes led to the unique shapes and architectures of different cereals?

🟣 3. How GRNs Shape Plant Architecture

How networks regulate leaf shape, awn formation, height, and flowering structures.

🔴 4. How Evolution Created Modern Cereal Diversity

Understanding “why cereals evolved their current architecture” through comparative genomics.

🧪 What Skills Will You Gain?

This project provides a broad set of high-demand laboratory and analytical skills, including:

🔬 Laboratory Techniques

• Molecular cloning
• Gene expression analysis
• Confocal microscopy
• Plant transformation
• Tissue dissection and imaging

💻 Bioinformatics & Computational Techniques

• Transcriptomics
• Proteomic data analysis
• GRN modeling
• Comparative genomics
• Multi-omics integration

📢 Academic & Professional Development

• Scientific communication
• Paper writing
• International collaboration
• Conference participation

This skill set forms the foundation for careers in academia, plant breeding, biotechnology, and agricultural genomics.

🌍 Why This PhD Matters for Global Food Security

The world faces major challenges:

• Drought and heat stress
• Rising population
• Decreasing agricultural land
• Crop disease outbreaks

By decoding gene networks, researchers can design “tunable cereals”—plants with optimized shapes and traits that survive future environmental pressures.

This aligns with global sustainability goals (SDG2 & SDG13), making your research directly beneficial to the world.

📅 Key Details About the PhD Position

🏫 Institution:

University of Edinburgh – School of Biological Sciences

👩‍🏫 Supervisor:

Dr. Annis Richardson

📍 Location:

Edinburgh, Scotland, UK 🇬🇧

📆 Start Date:

01 October 2026

🌍 Eligibility:

Open to students worldwide (UK, EU, and International)

🎯 Competition Funded PhD

💰 Funding & Stipend (Darwin Trust Studentship)

The Darwin Trust-funded PhD studentship offers:

• ✔️ Full tuition coverage
• ✔️ Annual stipend £22,700 (2025–26 rate)
• ✔️ Open to international applicants
• ✔️ Highly competitive funding

Darwin Trust Funding Guidance:
https://biology.ed.ac.uk/darwintrust/phdstudenships/edinburgh

📝 How to Apply for the PhD Position

Applicants must apply through the University of Edinburgh’s EUCLID admissions portal.

✔️ Steps:

1. 📥 Apply to the Biological Sciences PhD programme
2. 📌 Specify the project title:
   “Discovering the gene regulatory networks that control cereal development”
3. 🧑‍🏫 Mention the supervisor: Dr. Annis Richardson
4. 💰 State your anticipated funding source (e.g., Darwin Trust)
5. 📧 Contact the supervisor about joining the research group
6. 📄 Submit a separate application to the Darwin Trust for funding

🔗 Official Application Link:
https://biology.ed.ac.uk/darwintrust/phdstudenships/edinburgh

📚 Important References (Authoritative Sources)

The project builds on influential recent works, including:

🔗 McAllister, T., Nelissen, H., Strable, J., Richardson, A.E. (2025). Unlocking grass leaf development: foundations for tunable cereal design. New Phytologist.

🔗 Richardson, A., Jones H., Bartlett M. (2024). Grass awns: Morphological diversity arising from developmental constraint. Current Opinion in Plant Biology.

These papers demonstrate the lab’s leadership in cereal architecture and plant developmental genetics.

🌾 How Evolution Guides Cereal Gene Network Research

This PhD leverages comparative evolutionary biology to understand:

• Why rice has slender leaves
• Why wheat produces awns
• Why maize evolved broader leaf blades
• Why barley has unique spike architectures

By mapping gene networks across species, researchers can identify:

📍 Ancient genes controlling plant shape
📍 Newly evolved genes unique to specific crops
📍 Traits that breeders can improve using CRISPR or marker-assisted breeding

This empowers future crop engineering.

🧠 What Are Gene Regulatory Networks?

(Voice-Search Style Answer)

Gene regulatory networks are interconnected systems of genes that activate or suppress each other to control plant development, growth, and shape.
They determine how a cereal plant forms leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers.

These networks are essential for understanding how cereal crops can be improved through genetics or breeding.

❓ What does this PhD Position in Gene Regulatory Networks in Cereal Development study?

It studies how genes coordinate to shape cereal plants and how these networks evolved across different cereal species.

❓ Is this PhD fully funded?

Yes. Funding includes tuition + £22,700 annual stipend, open to International/EU applicants.

❓ Where is the PhD located?

At the University of Edinburgh, School of Biological Sciences.

❓ What skills will I gain?

Molecular biology, transcriptomics, confocal microscopy, genomics, and professional research communication.

🧑‍🔬 Why Choose the University of Edinburgh for This Research?

The University of Edinburgh is a world leader in:

• Plant sciences 🌿
• Evolutionary genetics 🧬
• Structural biology 🔬
• Biotechnology 🌱
• Interdisciplinary research collaborations 🌍

You will gain access to:

• High-tech imaging facilities
• Genomics platforms
• Multi-omics computational tools
• A strong network of international collaborators

This ensures top-tier PhD training.

⭐ FAQs: PhD Position in Gene Regulatory Networks in Cereal Development

1. Is the PhD fully funded?

Yes, via the Darwin Trust studentship covering fees + £22,700 stipend.

2. Who can apply?

Students worldwide, including International/EU.

3. What background is needed?

A strong academic record in biology, plant science, molecular biology, or genetics.

4. When is the start date?

October 1, 2026.

5. What is the duration of the PhD?

Typically 3–4 years.

6. Do I need to contact the supervisor?

Yes—always contact Dr. Annis Richardson before or during the application process.

7. What techniques will I learn?

Transcriptomics, molecular biology, confocal imaging, gene network analysis, comparative genomics.

🎓 Conclusion: Why You Should Apply for This Life-Changing PhD

The PhD Position in Gene Regulatory Networks in Cereal Development is one of the most impactful, well-funded, and scientifically exciting opportunities for 2026.

You will:

🌱 Advance global crop science
🌍 Contribute to food security
🧬 Work with evolutionary and developmental gene networks
🔬 Learn cutting-edge omics and microscopy skills
💰 Receive full funding and a generous stipend

This is more than a PhD—it is an opportunity to shape the future of sustainable agriculture and plant genetics.

If you are passionate about plant biology, molecular genetics, or evolutionary development, this PhD is a perfect match.

👉 Apply now through the University of Edinburgh and the Darwin Trust.

🧑‍🎓 Author Bio

Mubeen Ali Niaz
Founder of ScholarshipsWithAakash.site
Mubeen curates top-ranked, fully funded scholarships for international students. With a strong background in global education and SEO, he helps students worldwide gain access to world-class research programs.

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