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Project Summary

Area of Science:
Mathematical modelling and statistics
Duration:
4 Years
Closing Date/Time:
December 2nd 2026 at 00:00
Host University:
University of Exeter
Science Department:
Translating Biotic Interactions

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Project Description

This project is based at University of Exeter with placements based at Rothamsted Research, Harpenden.

The UK is seeing the impacts of climate change in wetter winters and hotter, drier summers. These extremes threaten food security through direct impacts on crops, and by altering crop disease risk. Take-all disease, caused by the soil-borne fungus Gaeumannomyces tritici, is the most serious root disease of wheat worldwide. Infection reduces nutrient and water uptake, leading to yield losses. With no resistant cultivars and limited chemical control options, management is challenging. Weather extremes can exacerbate the impact of take-all.

This project will address take-all in wheat through four objectives:

1. Map the distribution of take-all in the UK and quantify yield impacts.

2. Develop a dynamic epidemiological model incorporating climate variables.

3. Review global incidence in relation to climate and management.

4. Investigate the role of the soil microbiome in disease suppression and explore microbiome manipulation 
strategies. 

Field surveys across the UK will quantify prevalence and severity of take-all using molecular diagnostics and field assessments, linked to yield data. The surveys will also examine cultivar differences in building up soil inoculum (take-all inoculum build-up, TAB), a key factor for disease severity in following crops.A predictive epidemiological model will then be developed to simulate disease dynamics under varying soil moisture and temperature conditions. The model will incorporate pathogen biology, including survival in crop debris and infection responses to environmental conditions. Validation against field data will allow the model to forecast disease risk under future climate scenarios.A global review will assess take-all distribution, severity, and yield impact across different climatic zones and farming systems. Special focus will be given to “dryland” and “wetland” forms of take-all, providing insights into climate-driven disease 
variability and the development of adaptive management practices. The final objective will explore the soil  microbiome’s role in natural disease suppression. Certain beneficial fungi and bacteria are known to inhibit 
G. tritici. This work will characterise soil microbial communities across gradients of take-all severity, and test 
microbial inoculants and soil amendments in controlled experiments to enhance suppression. 

The project will deliver a robust epidemiological model, new insights into global disease patterns, and practical microbiome-based management strategies. These outcomes will improve forecasting and mitigation of take-all, supporting sustainable wheat production under climate change. The research has direct relevance to UK agriculture and global food security, and will contribute to developing resilient cropping systems less reliant on chemical control.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a fully-funded studentship, you must meet the below academic and residence criteria.

Academic criteria

Applicants for a studentship must have obtained, or be about to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class UK Honours degree, or the equivalent qualifications gained outside the UK, in an appropriate area of science or technology. Applicants with a Lower Second Class degree will be considered if they also have a Master’s degree or have significant relevant research or non-academic experience.

In addition, due to the strong quantitative component of the taught course in the first year and the quantitative emphasis in our projects, quantitative experience is needed.  We recognise this can be demonstrated through a number of options, and have included some examples below (this is not an exhaustive list):

  • Undertaking units as part of your degree or a course that have a significant quantitative component*
  • Applying quantitative techniques to a project (e.g. dissertation, research project, report) – this could be within an academic or professional setting.
  • Maths or Physics A-level

*Significant quantitative component examples include statistics, bioinformatics, maths, physics, data analysis, computation.

Of note: a limited number of our PhD projects may have a greater quantitative emphasis and require advanced quantitative experience.  These expectations will be outlined by the PhD project supervisor. 

Applicants must ensure they highlight their quantitative background within their application (i.e. the quantitative techniques used and how applied).

To support accessibility to PhD training opportunities, these studentships are only available to applicants that have not previously obtained or about to obtain a PhD degree (or equivalent).

Language requirements

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum English requirements for the programme.  Further information about these English requirements >>

We ask that the language requirements are met by 1st June at the latest, to allow adequate time to obtain any necessary documentation to allow you to study in the UK.  Further information about documentation required >>

Residence criteria

IMPORTANT: Residency requirements are complex and too detailed to capture in full below.  So please read alongside guidance provided on the GOV.UK website and UKCISA website to ensure you meet the criteria.  

Home students

Fully-funded studentships are available for Home students.  To be classed as a Home student, candidates must meet the following criteria:

  • Be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), or
  • Have settled status, or
  • Have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirement) or,
  • Have indefinite leave to remain or enter

International students

If you do not meet the above criteria, you will be classed as an International student.

A limited number (up to 30%) of UKRI fully-funded studentships are available through the SWBio DTP, that applicants who would be classed as an International student are eligible for.  This also means that there are normally no restrictions on applying to any project that is advertised (unless otherwise indicated). Please apply through our normal application route.

Note: A UKRI fully-funded studentship will only cover what is listed under the ‘UKRI-BBSRC funded studentship‘ section.  However there may be other costs that you may encounter and need to take into consideration which will not be covered by the studentship. For example, visa fees, healthcare surcharge and relocation costs .

Funding Details

UKRI-BBSRC funded studentship

Projects advertised during the main SWBio DTP recruitment period (this period will be indicated by an application deadline) are all 4 years fully-funded (subject to being made a studentship offer following the SWBio interview day).

A fully-funded four year SWBio DTP studentship will cover:

  • a stipend* (at the standard UKRI rate; £21,805 per annum for 2026-2027)
  • research and training costs
  • tuition fees **
  • additional ring-fenced funds to support your training, including a 3-month placement

A limited number (up to 30%) of UKRI fully-funded studentships are available through the SWBio DTP, that applicants who would be classed as an International student are eligible for.  This also means that there are normally no restrictions on applying to any project that is advertised (unless otherwise indicated).   Further information about residence criteria

* An enhanced stipend is available for students with a recognised veterinary degree qualification. There may also be enhanced stipends associated with projects that have a CASE partner (CASE projects are highlighted as *CASE in the project lists).

** International students will not be required to cover the difference between home and international tuition fees.

Please visit Funding – SWBiosciences Doctoral Training Partnership for further details on stipends and further details  for international students.

How to Apply

For further details on how to apply for this studentship project, please visit the SWBio web pages.