Rooted in history

Plant Sciences annual contribution to Cambridge University's Science Festival:

Rooted in history
14 March 10:00 - 16:00

Become a plant hunter and journey into the world of plants. Discover exciting plant species and look inside to discover extraordinary details. A hands on event for all ages. No need to book, just turn up at the marquee in front of the Department of Plant Sciences.
Read more at Cambridge News Online.

There are many more events at the Science Festival.

Fully-funded PhD position in Stress Signalling

Applications are being accepted for a PhD position in Dr Alex Webb's laboratory investigating plant stress signalling. The PhD position is funded in full by a BBSRC-Industrial Case award to Alex Webb. The successful candidate will receive training both in Dr Webb's laboratory at Cambridge and also with our industrial partner in Belgium. This is an exciting opportunity to perform fundamental research with potential real-world applications and receive world-class training in both an academic and industrial environment. Applicants should in the first instance contact directly Dr Alex Webb (alex.webb@plantsci.cam.ac.uk)

The post is funded for 4 years. UK Citizens are elgible for funding for fees and living expenses. EU citizens are elegible for fee-sonly funding. Funding is not availible for non-European Union Citizens.

Floral Iridescence, Produced by Diffractive Optics, Acts As a Cue for Animal Pollinators

Heather Whitney and Beverley Glover have been published in Science: http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1166256.

News report in The Daily Telegraph.

News report in The University of Cambridge.

Five crop researchers who could change the world

Julian Hibberd has been identified as one of 'Five crop researchers who could change the world' by Nature, the top interdisciplinary scientific journal (volume 456, 563-569). The Nature news feature covers the work of five ambitious scientists determined to stop the world from going hungry. Julian's research programme, with funding from the International Rice Research Institute, will attempt to produce rice with the C4 photosynthesis pathway, potentially increasing grain yield by up to 50%.

Read the Article.

PhD studentship applications now being accepted

Click here to visit the studentship webpage

The Department is the premier University Centre for research in plant and microbial sciences. It offers unrivalled research and training opportunities in the following areas of plant and microbial science:

• Bioenergy


• Cell Biology and Development


• Crop Improvement and Protection


• Epidemiology, Ecology and Evolution


• Systems Biology and Mathematical Modelling

Herchel Smith Postdoctoral Research Fellowships

(THREE POSTS; ref HSFBC001)

The Managers of the Herchel Smith Postdoctoral Research Fellowships Fund invite applications in the general fields of biochemistry, molecular biology and molecular genetics to be held in the appropriate Department at the University of Cambridge from 1 October 2009 or otherwise by negotiation. Fellowships are available for between two or three years. These Fellowships provide an opportunity for independent research, although the holders will usually work in close collaboration with an established research groups. Information relating to the School of Biological Sciences can be found at http://www.bio.cam.ac.uk/.

In accordance with Dr. Smith’s will, applications are restricted to candidates who have completed their PhD degree, or equivalent, within the last three years at any university but normally excluding Cambridge and Harvard.

The stipend will be on the University’s Postdoctoral Research Associate scale which currently is between £25,888 to £33,780 per annum (pay award pending). Appointment will be at an appropriate point on this scale. Fellows also receive £10,000 p.a. for research expenses.

Closing date for applications: 1 December 2008. Further details and application pack are available from the Secretary to the Fund Managers, Tel. +44 (0)1223 761507, e-mail jw312@admin.cam.ac.uk.

David Baulcombe awarded ‘America’s Nobel’ Prize for medical research

David Baulcombe, the Professor of Botany at Cambridge University, is being honoured with the 2008 Lasker Award for Basic Medical Research for his discovery of how tiny RNA molecules govern gene activity through a process known as RNA silencing.

Article by David Baulcombe
The Lasker Foundation award description
Download the press resease
David Baulcombe's research page