Doctoral Research Fellow

University of Birmingham - School of Biosciences

Location: Birmingham

Salary: £49,747 Grade 7

Hours: Full Time

Contract Type: Fixed-Term/Contract

Placed On: 11th September 2025

Closes: 8th October 2025

Job Ref: 106296

Salary: Fixed salary of £49,747 additional allowances may be applicable depending on circumstances

Contract Type: Fixed Term contract up to December 2028

Background: This post is available from 01/01/2026 for three years. This research focuses on assessing the defence capacity of mature trees against biotic stresses under elevated CO₂ (eCO₂) at Birmingham Institute of Forest Research’s Free Air CO2 Enrichment (BIFoR-FACE) as part the FutureForests Doctoral Network: an EU-funded Marie Skłodowska-Curie’s Actions (MSCA) initiative. Project objectives include 1) Track disease and insect damage in mature trees to assess whether eCO₂ increases vulnerability to biotic stress under varying climate conditions, 2) analyse molecular and structural changes, including transcriptomic responses and cell wall modifications (e.g. callose deposition), to reveal how defence pathways are altered under eCO₂ and 3) experimentally simulate heat stress on collected leaves to explore how abiotic factors interact with CO₂ in shaping immune priming. Complementary analysis will be conducted at the drought manipulation facility at the University of Innsbruck, Austria.

Person Specification: Applicants with a relevant background and a Master’s degree in plant biology, molecular biology, environmental science, or a related field, and a strong interest in plant-environment interactions. Applicants should demonstrate strong aptitude for field research and willingness to second to partner facilities. Applicants should comply with the MSCA mobility rules: in general, they must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the recruiting organisation for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their recruitment date (Jan 2026). Must not have a doctoral degree (PhD) by the recruitment date. Appointed candidate will be enrolled in a PhD programme. The successful applicant will be able to present research progress and prepare manuscripts and write up of PhD thesis with three research chapters.

Informal enquiries can be made to Prof. Estrella Luna Diez, email: e.lunadiez@bham.ac.uk

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We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working.