Research Studentships

PhD Studentship

Unveiling the natural sulphur potential of biological nitrogen fixation in faba bean

Supervisory Team: Dr Ravi Valluru

This PhD aims to understand the potential nature of sulphur on biological nitrogen fixation in faba beans. Sulphur is an essential mineral nutrient for plant growth and development; important for primary and specialized plant metabolites that are crucial for biotic and abiotic interactions. Sulphur also plays a crucial role in biological nitrogen fixation, a natural process belonging to legumes that symbiosis with bacteria through root nodules to fix atmospheric nitrogen. Root nodules have a high demand for sulphur. In nodulated legumes, biological nitrogen fixation is more sensitive to sulphur deficiency than nitrate uptake. However, the natural sources of gypsum-mine-derived sulphur-containing by-product’s effect on plant growth, development and biological nitrogen fixation is largely unexplored. This 3.5-year project will unveil the functional relationship between sulphur nutrition and biological nitrogen fixation in faba beans using 15N stable isotopes.

Training and Development

The successful candidate will receive comprehensive research training including technical, personal, and professional skills. All researchers at University of Lincoln are part of the Doctoral College and College of Health and Science wider postgraduate community, which provides support with high quality training and career development opportunities.

Funding

This PhD studentship is fully funded and covers University fees for 3.5 years.

Entry requirements for applicants to PhD

A Master’s (honours) degree in a relevant discipline/subject area with a minimum mark of 60% in the project element (or equivalent), and the potential to engage in innovative research, and to complete the PhD within 3.5 years.

How to Apply

To find out more about the project, please contact Dr Ravi Valluru (rvalluru@lincoln.ac.uk).

Applications will require a two-page CV and a 2000-word supporting statement, showing how the applicant's expertise and interests are relevant to the project. 

Funded PhD Studentship

Learning from children and young people with complex needs about their experiences of trauma informed care: What works and why? 

Since December 2023 the University of Lincoln have been working on a multi-phase evaluation project with Lincolnshire’s Children and Young People’s Complex Needs Service (CYPCNS), an integrated care systems established to promote collaboration between health, social care, criminal justice services, and wider voluntary service partner organisations in the support of the wellbeing of children and young people with complex needs.

The University of Lincoln is now offering a fully funded SENSS Collaborative Studentship PhD as part of this ongoing collaborative work to develop understanding of the experiences of young people with complex needs regarding the support they receive, their journey to recovery and the impact of trauma and its relationship with neurodevelopmental processes and links to behaviour. 

The research is an interdisciplinary project led by a supervisory team in the School of Social and Political Sciences, the School of Psychology, Sport Science and Wellbeing, and the School of Medicine, with an additional supervisor within the collaborative partner service. The methods will reflect this interdisciplinarity, including both quantitative data analysis, and qualitative co-production research with children and young people, and the studentship includes a three-month placement with the CYPCNS.

Applications are now open. The deadline to apply is 12:00 GMT on 24 February 2025.

You can find out more about the project and how to apply on the SENSS website.