UK : University of Warwick PhD Studentship

Improving the energy efficiency of biodiesel: Reducing energy input and improving sustainability

Warwick HRI

Project overview:
Nitrogen (N) is an essential nutrient for plant growth and is generally in limiting supply in the soil. For this reason the use of N fertilisers has made a major contribution to world food production. However, fertiliser production consumes enormous quantities of energy and fertiliser use is associated with pollution of water courses and conversion to potent N-containing greenhouse gases. The large acreages of the Brassica napus crop oilseed rape (OSR), grown for edible oils and biodiesel, receives more N than any other arable crop and hence is associated with a significant environmental N footprint.

The aim of this studentship is to address this issue by identifying genetic determinants for nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and plant germplasm containing beneficial alleles that can be used for breeding varieties with improved NUE. The project will build on existing work on OSR, but instead focus on the genetically simpler diploid Brassica relatives. The student will be able to exploit the natural variation present in Brassica diversity sets (DS) developed at WHRI, together with segregating mapping populations, which are a potentially rich source of beneficial alleles for traits for sustainable production'.

The strategy will involve determining allelic variation in a set of candidate genes with key roles in N transport and assimilation. This will be complemented by the assessment of target traits in the DS and mapping populations and the association of these with candidate genes using techniques such as genetic mapping and comparative genomics. The project will provide a multidisciplinary training programme in crop trait genetics and the opportunity to carry out life cycle analysis to quantify the potential benefits provided by this work. An understanding of the genetic control of NUE in Brassica is important for sustainable crop development for the future.

This studentship is available to UK, EU and International candidates. Funds are only available to cover UK/EU Tuition Fees. International candidates (outside EU) would be required to pay the difference between UK/EU Tuition Fees and International Tuition Fees.

The studentship is for 3 years starting on 29 September 2008 and will be registered at the University of Warwick. The studentship is funded by Enerbio, a research fund sponsored by the Tuck Foundation.

Details of how to apply are available at http://www.go.warwick.ac.uk/pgapply. You should indicate on the form that you are applying for the studentship (there is a section for funding). Please quote reference number HRI56.

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Please quote job vacancy reference number HRI56-078.

The closing date/time for applications is midnight (British time) at the end of Monday 11 August 2008.

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