University of Edinburgh
School of Biological Sciences
Dr Annis Richardson
Monday, November 16, 2026
Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)
About the Project
Grasses are incredibly environmentally and economically important, growing in diverse environments across the globe and providing >50% of global calories. Understanding their development is therefore key to understanding the world around us, and for food security.
A characteristic feature of many grasses is the awn. The awn is a long, thin extension that forms at the tip of outer floral organs. It is awns that give the barley ear it’s characteristic “hairy” appearance. Although the presence of an awn influences grain yield in cereal crops depending on the environment, we do not understand how the awn is specified and we do not understand how it influences grain development, beyond providing photosynthate. In particular we do not understand how awns influence the microenvironment around the developing grain, which can impact grain quality and pathogen susceptibility, and how this function is affected by changes in the environment. Using barley, this project will tackle these key questions.
The project is split into two components.
- Assess the role of the awn on grain development and traits. You will grow different barley mutants with awn defects (e.g. awnless, multiple awns, smooth awns, calcaroides) in controlled environments. You will then use image analyses to quantify canopy architecture, and grain traits, such as grain size, shape and skinning, and correlate this to the awn shape.
- Reveal components of the genetic mechanism underpinning awn development. You will select one awn mutant to clone. Using a combination of imaging techniques, such as confocal microscopy, you will define when in development awn shape starts to differ between the mutant and normal plants, and then use this to collect transcriptomic data revealing which genes are expressed differently in the mutant. Combining this with whole-genome sequence data you will identify the potential gene responsible for the mutant phenotype and then test this hypothesis using gene editing.
Given the strong link with grain quality this project is currently exploring potential industry collaborations to further strengthen the project’s impact.
Training
A comprehensive training programme will be provided comprising both specialist scientific training and generic transferable and professional skills.
You will learn specific skills in experimental design, data analyses, image analysis, crop genetics, bioinformatics and molecular biology, alongside scientific presentation and writing. This training will be provided through hands-on experience in the lab, attending training courses and through attending scientific conferences and workshops.
Please download and complete the mandatory documents from the EastBio “how to apply” website, before proceeding with your application.
Applicants should apply to the PhD in Biological Sciences with Internship programme via the University of Edinburgh’s admissions portal (Euclid) with a start date of 01 October 2027.
Important: Before applying, please send your referees the EastBio reference form to ensure reference letters are submitted using the correct format.
When completing the Euclid application, applicants should include:
- the project title
- the proposed research supervisor(s)
- anticipated funding source (i.e. EastBio/ Edinburgh Doctoral College Award)
- the completed EastBio application form, uploaded to the Research Proposal Section
- referee details or completed reference letters using the template EastBio reference form. Please note: If you submit only the referee details, they will automatically receive a link to upload their reference letter. However, the submitted letter must be using the template form, so please share this with them in advance.
The closing date for applications to be submitted to Euclid is midday on Monday 16 November 2026.
Reference letters will be accepted up to 2 weeks after the closing date.
Submitted applications will remain under consideration during the shortlisting process until 22 February 2027, when successful candidates will be invited to interview. If any information is missing from your application, we will contact you through Euclid to request this. Please check your emails and the Euclid portal regularly.
Please be aware The University reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to amend or withdraw any of the advertised scholarships, without further notice.
Funding Notes
This 4 year PhD project is fully funded. Applicants will be considered for either an EastBio BBSRC Doctoral Landscape Award or the University of Edinburgh Doctoral College Award. Successful applicants will join the EastBio cohort as an EastBio-funded or associate-funded student. Those joining will undertake a mandatory training programme which includes a 3-month placement. This is open to students worldwide has financial support with a monthly stipend at the UKRI standard rate, funding towards project costs, and tuition fee cover. For further guidance; EastBio website; no separate application is required for consideration of the University of Edinburgh Doctoral College Award.
Project supervisors
Dr. Annis Richardson
Career overview
Dr. Annis Richardson is a Senior Lecturer in Molecular Crop Science at the University of Edinburgh, affiliated with the Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences within the School of Biosciences. Dr. Richardson's research focuses on understanding how plants acquire their shape, which is crucial for crop productivity. The research conducted in the Plant Shape Lab employs a multidisciplinary approach to investigate the mechanisms that determine plant organ shape, particularly in grasses such as barley and maize. By integrating genetics, next generation sequencing, molecular biology, 3D imaging, and computational modelling, Dr. Richardson aims to elucidate the development of grass organs over time. This research seeks to identify key elements underlying various traits to enhance grass crops for diverse purposes and field conditions in the future.
Research interests
Dr. Richardson's research focuses on understanding how plants acquire their shape, which is crucial for crop plants as organ shape significantly impacts productivity. In the Plant Shape Lab, a multidisciplinary approach is employed to investigate the mechanisms determining plant organ shape. The research primarily utilises barley and maize to explore shape definition in grasses, combining genetics, next generation sequencing, molecular biology, 3D imaging, and computational modelling. The aim is to identify key elements underlying different traits in grass development to generate crops suited for various purposes and field conditions.
