2 PhD projects in Plant Genomics and Genetics - Cannabis sex determination (# of pos: 2)

We are seeking two enthusiastic and highly motivated students for a 4-year project that aims to unravel the genetic regulation of sex determination in Cannabis sativa (hemp).

Further details of the PhD studentship are as follows:

Team: The students will be based full-time at the UCD Belfield campus and will be registered for the School of Biology and Environmental Science structured PhD programme. They will be part of the UCD Centre for Plant Science and join the team of Rainer Melzer (https://ucdflowerpower.org/ ) which is devoted to studying developmental and genetic aspects of crop plants, in particular hemp.

The students will also complete a number of advanced PhD-level modules, as well as professional training, which will benefit their future career.

Project description:

• Unlike many other plants, Cannabis sativa (hemp) produces male and female individuals. It is established that sex determination is genetic, but the exact molecular pathways involved remain elusive.
• In this project, we will use genomics and transcriptomics to identify genes controlling sex determination in Cannabis.
• If you have a BSc or MSc in life sciences or bioinformatics and are interested in plants, this project is for you!
• Specific roles:
  • PhD student 1:
    • Analysis of a mapping population segregating for sex expression.
    • Genome sequencing, assembly and annotation.
    • Genetic analyses.
  • PhD student 2:
    • Analysis of the effect of plant hormones on sex expression.
    • Transcriptomics.
    • Plant growth and phenotyping.