Temperature-Dependent Alternative Splicing of Circadian Genes: A Cross-Kingdom Study of Molecular Adaptation to Climate Change
Supervisors:
Prof Matt Jones, School of Molecular Biosciences
Dr Nathan Woodling, School of Molecular Biosciences
Prof Tyler Stevenson, School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
Summary:
Climate change is breaking nature's timing: plants are flowering at the wrong time, animals are migrating when they shouldn't, and biological clocks that have kept life in sync for millions of years are failing to keep up. This project will uncover how life adapts to rising temperatures at the molecular level. You will work across species - from plants to insects to mammals - to find universal strategies that control temperature-dependent gene splicing to optimise protein production. Using circadian rhythms as an example, you will make a real impact by developing solutions that could help ecosystems adapt to our changing world.
Your research could directly contribute to:
- Helping crops and animals survive extreme weather
- Developing climate adaptation strategies for the future
Perfect For You if:
- You are passionate about climate science and molecular biology
- You love solving complex puzzles
- You want your research to make a real difference
- You want to develop skills for a future in impactful research
Ready to dive into the molecular mechanisms that could help save our planet's ecosystems?
Join us in understanding how life adapts, and in discovering what we can do for a better future.