Supervisors:
Johannes Kromdijk
Julian Hibberd
Luke Mackinder (University of York)
Overview:
Crop productivity and yield resilience need to increase to keep track with increasing global food demands and pressures from climate change. Improving crop photosynthesis is an untapped route which may hold potential to enhance future cultivars. One way that enhanced photosynthetic efficiency could be achieved is via re-engineering photoprotection. When light energy is absorbed in excess, plants need adequate photoprotection to safely dissipate energy and limit downstream oxidative stress. However, photoprotection may be slower and more conservative than needed in crops. Previous work by the Kromdijk lab and others has shown that this can be sped up via altered expression of the sensor protein Photosystem II subunit S (PsbS), which initiates energy dissipation by the light harvesting antennae. However, although the interplay between sensor (PsbS) and quencher (antenna proteins) is clearly required, both elements have thus far only been studied in isolation and no work has directly considered to what extent their interaction determines quenching characteristics.
This project aims to leverage sequence variation of both the sensor protein (PsbS) as well as the quencher (antenna) to improve photoprotection characteristics for increased crop photosynthesis and yield. The proposed work has two major objectives. Firstly, to assess the impact of variation in both sensor and quencher, a cross-section of contrasting PsbS sequences from across the green lineage will be expressed in PsbS-deficient chlorophyte, bryophyte and vascular plant hosts with differing antenna proteins. Secondly, to circumvent the issues of low throughput and long timescales associated with the engineering cycle in a vascular plant host, the project will develop a Chlamydomonas reinhardtii strain with vascular plant antennae.
While the successful candidate will be registered at Cambridge, the project is distinctly multidisciplinary and will rely on strong plant and algal bioengineering expertise across the collaborating labs of the supervisory team of Johannes Kromdijk, Luke Mackinder and Julian Hibberd. Expected outcomes include advanced molecular understanding of the interplay between sensor and quencher in regulation of photoprotection, identification of optimal combinations to guide plant engineering efforts, development of an algal platform for high-throughput testing of heterologous sensor/quencher combinations and advanced interdisciplinary training in plant and algal bioengineering.
The Programme:
PhD in Plant BioDesign (4 years)
Plant BioDesign is a doctoral programme that will train the next generation of scientists to design and engineer plants to tackle global challenges in food security, clean growth, and environmental sustainability. The programme brings together world-leading researchers at the universities of York, Cambridge and Bristol and the John Innes Centre.
Plant BioDesign offers a unique four-year PhD training programme in plant engineering biology incorporating interdisciplinary research with training in engineering principles, advanced lab techniques, non-academic collaboration and professional and leadership development.
Plant BioDesign is part of the TechExpert pilot providing an enhanced annual stipend of £31,000. PGRs will participate in TechExpert activities each year, including outreach to promote tech careers, networking with the TechFirst community and engagement with the tech industry. The aim of the TechExpert pilot is to strengthen the UK’s innovation pipeline and build a more inclusive, resilient and high-impact research ecosystem.
The School of Biological Sciences is a diverse community conducting ground-breaking research. We are committed to fostering inclusive excellence and enthusiastically welcome applications from all ethnic, socioeconomic, cultural, and belief backgrounds and from all genders and sexual orientations. We seek to recruit students from all backgrounds, including those who may not have previously considered Cambridge. If you have the talent and motivation, then Cambridge is for people like you.
Entry Requirements:
You can apply if you have, or are expecting to gain, at least an upper second class honours degree or equivalent. You should have a background in biological, chemical or physical science or mathematics, be passionate about plant engineering biology and keen to develop your research and innovation skills to tackle global challenges. Open to UK (home) students only.
Plant BioDesign is committed to recruiting future engineering biologists regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation or career pathway to date. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, particularly those under-represented in science, who have curiosity, creativity and a drive to help grow the UK’s capability in engineering biology.
The aim of the TechExpert pilot is to strengthen the UK’s innovation pipeline and build a more inclusive, resilient and high-impact research ecosystem, retaining talented graduates in research roles at doctoral level to upskill for future tech careers and providing a viable way back into these roles for those who are employed.
Plant BioDesign will hold a webinar at 2.30 pm on Wed 10th December to provide more information on the programme and recruitment process. Please register if you wish to attend.
Start Date: 1st Oct 2026
How to apply:
To submit your application, complete our application form. You can apply for up to two Plant BioDesign projects (which can be at different institutions).
We advise you to read the questions in the form before submitting your application. Inside the form there is a link to a document for you to see the questions in advance.
Please note that students who need a visa to study in the UK are not eligible to apply for this project.
Click here to read about this project on Find-A-PhD.
If you have questions about the application process, please email plant-biodesign-network@york.ac.uk
How we allocate:
Shortlisting will take place shortly after the closing date and successful applicants will be notified promptly. If you're shortlisted, you'll be invited for an online interview on 27th February 2026. You'll be notified shortly after the interview dates whether your application has been successful, placed on a reserve list or unsuccessful. If you are successful, you'll be offered a visit to the offering institution and asked to confirm your intention to accept the studentship within 14 days.
Application deadline: 5pm on Monday 19th January 2026
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