PhD Studentship: The Role of Hydrogen and Carbon Monoxide Metabolism in Anaerobic Haloarchaea in Biogeochemical Cycles

Supervisory Team 

Dr James Birrell and Professor Terry McGenity, University of Essex, School of Life Sciences

Dr Jamie Blaza, University of York

Scientific background 

Climate change is a critical issue in our modern world, requiring a shift from fossil fuels to green energy. Understanding the intricate natural cycling of gases that affect our climate is crucial for predicting their current and future impact. Microbial cycling of key greenhouse gases, e.g. CO2/methane, is quite well understood. Much less is known about microorganisms that metabolize intermediates like CO and H2, connecting the cycles of CO2, methane, CO, and H2. Among life's domains, archaea remain enigmatic due to limited genomic information and challenges in culturing. Anaerobic high-salinity environments represent widespread yet understudied habitats for recently discovered anaerobic haloarchaea. Their metabolic strategies, potentially involving specialized enzyme complexes, hold the key to understanding gas production and consumption, impacting our grasp of biogeochemical cycles, global warming, and climate change. Haloarchaeal consumption of H2 and CO2 may support their survival over geological time, and influence the management of salt caverns that are widely used for storage of H2 as a fuel. Additionally, anaerobic archaea offer biotechnological promise in biofuel production as well as the discovery of new enzymes and metabolic pathways.

Research Methodology  

The research plan involves two main facets: enriching and identifying archaea in anoxic hypersaline environments (e.g. salt mines, salterns, deep-sea basins), and characterizing enzyme complexes related to H2/CO metabolism. Objectives encompass anaerobic sampling and cultivation, metagenomic analysis, bioinformatic identification, purifying enzyme complexes, producing enzyme complexes heterologously, and elucidating structures using electron cryomicroscopy (cryoEM). 

Person Specification & Training 

Applicants should display a keen interest in microbiology, biochemistry, or related fields, particularly in microbial roles in biogeochemical cycles. The PhD program offers multidisciplinary training in fieldwork, particularly sampling, and work, including microbiology, bioinformatics, molecular biology, biochemistry, and protein structure elucidation. The University of Essex serves as the primary location, with the potential for cryoEM training at the University of York, and visits to sampling sites including the Boulby salt mine. The supervisory team, comprising Dr. Birrell, Professor McGenity, and Dr. Blaza, combines expertise in protein biochemistry, microbiology/microbial ecology, and cryoEM.

Email a cover letter and CV via the above ‘Apply’ button.

Funding Details

Funding Minimum

Based on UKRI rates 2022/23 £18,622 p.a. 

Additional Funding Information 

This project has been shortlisted for funding by the ARIES NERC DTP.

Successful candidates who meet UKRI’s eligibility criteria will be awarded a NERC studentship, which covers fees, stipend (£18,622 p.a. for 2023/24) and research funding. International applicants are eligible for fully-funded ARIES studentships including fees. Please note however that ARIES funding does not cover additional costs associated with relocation to, and living in, the UK.

Excellent applicants from quantitative disciplines with limited experience in environmental sciences may be considered for an additional 3-month stipend to take advanced-level courses.

ARIES is committed to equality, diversity, widening participation and inclusion in all areas of its operation. We encourage enquiries and applications from all sections of the community regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation and transgender status. Academic qualifications are considered alongside significant relevant non-academic experience.

For further information, please visit www.aries-dtp.ac.uk

Closing Date: 23:59 on 10 January 2024