Sainsbury Laboratory (SLCU) Schornack Group: Programmatically Redesigning Nature's Best Biocomposite: The Plant Cell Wall
Supervisors:
Sebastian Schornack
Sarah Robinson
Overview:
Do you want to combine cutting-edge Synthetic Biology with real-world Engineering? Join us to reprogram plant architecture and material properties using the secrets of fungal pathogens!
The plant cell wall is the ultimate natural biocomposite: it determines cell size, shapes organs, and represents the world’s most abundant biomass. The Schornack lab has discovered a class of fungal proteins, the FOLD effectors (e.g., SIX6), that act as highly potent, molecular-scale "wall softeners" by directly binding to key wall carbohydrates. When these effectors are expressed in plants, the cells balloon in size within two days!
This PhD project is a pioneering effort to move from discovery to design. You will be a Plant BioDesign Engineer, treating these FOLD effectors as sophisticated, naturally evolved DNA 'parts.'
What will the successful applicant do?
Mechanics & Engineering: Work in collaboration with Dr. Sarah Robinson to utilise the unique Automated Confocal Micro-Extensometer—a device that applies microscopic force while imaging the cells and atomic force microscopy—to quantify exactly how the FOLD effector changes the stiffness and elasticity of the plant cell wall in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves.
Molecular Design & Testing: Identify which carbohydrate polymer (cellulose, pectin, xyloglucans, xylan) the effector targets, then rationally design and build mutant FOLD effectors to see if you can tune their 'softening' power.
Synthetic Biology: Use advanced cell-type-specific promoters (e.g., only in the epidermis or vasculature) in Arabidopsis thaliana to programmatically control where and when the cells enlarge. Can we use this control to design a stronger stem, a larger leaf, or biomass that is easier to convert into sustainable materials?
You will be based in the highly collaborative Sainsbury Laboratory (SLCU), in Cambridge, working across two labs to master molecular biology, advanced confocal imaging, and specialised biophysical engineering. This project is a perfect fit for an ambitious student, ideally with some prior lab experience, who is passionate about Engineering Biology and applying scientific knowledge to solve challenges in the Green Economy.
If you are excited by the prospect of engineering the physical properties of life itself, apply now!
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