Project Abstracts

PhD topics cover agri-food and environmental research, and a selection of our current PhD research project abstracts can be seen below.

1. Microbiological risk management tools for fruit and vegetable growers

Fruit and vegetable consumption is increasingly being recognised as an important transmission route of foodborne disease. This project aims to develop testing approaches to indicate the potential for pathogens (bacteria, viruses and parasites) presence in fresh produce by employing Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) approaches.

3. Better use of molluscicide pellets for improved management of slugs

Slugs are damaging pests of UK crops and control is achieved using molluscicidal pellets. Current pellets are inefficient and polluting and improvements to their design are urgently required. The project’s aim is to generate the knowledge required to develop new pellet formulations that give better and safer slug control.

4. Tuber yield response and its interaction with source, site and acclimatisation

Plants adapt in response to change in environmental conditions and studies show that this phenotypic plasticity also has co-evolved in response to soil microbiota (e.g microbes and viruses). In this project we aim to quantify the influence of soil microbiota and viruses on plant phenotypic plasticity (growth development) and its effect on plant fitness and final yield in potatoes.

6. Developing methodologies to understand the degradation and adsorption of macromolecule biopesticides in soil

Registration of biomolecules (proteins or RNA) for crop protection requires an environmental fate assessment. This project will use state-of-the-art methods such as RNA amplification and sequencing, laser-scanning confocal microscopy and liquid chromatography high resolution mass spectrometry to investigate the sorption coefficients and biodegradation rates of macromolecule biopesticides in agricultural soils.

7. Bioefficacy and consumer acceptance of vitamin D enriched eggs for human health.

We will explore the potential for vitamin D enriched eggs to improve vitamin D status and improve health in UK consumers. This will be done by conducting: (i) a dietary intervention study in high risk population subgroups viz. young Caucasian and South Asian adults and (ii) an in-depth qualitative exploration of their attitudes and acceptance of such foods as part of the diet.

To learn more about each of our current PhD projects and the value they can bring to industry please contact us below.

Bioprospecting and pathovar profiling of plant pathogenic bacteria using novel high throughput technology platforms

Plant pathogenic bacteria are a valuable but under-exploited bio-resource. This project will explore the biotechnological potential of the National Collection of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria using advanced microarray and enzyme discovery platforms to bio-prospect for novel enzyme activities and polymers. We will also seek to identify pathovar-specific biomarkers for diagnostics development.

Rose viruses: Understanding the current status and protecting the future of the UK rose sector

Using diagnostics to better understand the taxonomy and aetiology of rose viruses in the United Kingdom to improve plant health resilience. Assessing the epidemiological factors critical to the management of Rose rosette virus in the UK (including host susceptibility, symptomology, and potential vectors).