Supervisors:

dr hab. Piotr Rozpądek, prof. UJ
dr Justyna Łabuz (project leader)

Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology (MCB)

Project description:

Alpine plants must adapt to rapid changes in sunlight that can reach very high irradiances at high elevations. This may confer alpine plants with particular photosynthetic traits that are not found in benign habitats. One such adaptation involves the alignment of chloroplasts with the leaf to maximise photosynthesis under low light and maximise photoprotection under high light. This Ph.D. project will identify the impact of UV-A radiation on chloroplast movements in a broad physiological context, with the goal of understanding how solar radiation affects chloroplast positioning over short and long-term scales. The photochemical properties of the photoreceptor as well as chloroplast responses to UV radiation will be investigated in the laboratory to understand the mechanisms behind these processes and in field conditions using wild-growing species in the Tatra Mountains to estimate how these processes affect plant performance in nature. You will learn how to employ techniques, including chlorophyll fluorescence (PAM), HPLC, laser scanning confocal microscopy, and measurements of optical properties of the leaves. This project combines the benefits of hiking to alpine meadows to monitoring plants high in the mountains and modern techniques in plant physiology practiced in the lab

Required professional qualifications:

The candidate appointed to the position of Ph.D. researcher should:

• hold a Master's (M.Sc.) degree in the Life Science discipline. (If you believe that you qualify but do not hold an M.Sc. please contact the PI directly before applying.)
• have a good knowledge of (written and spoken) English.
• have practical laboratory experience
• have letters of recommendation from their academic tutor.

Desirable professional qualifications:

The ideal candidate appointed to the position of Ph.D. researcher should

• be prepared to learn new scientific techniques and protocols
• be creative with a responsible attitude, and have good communication skills and willingness to work as part of a dynamic team
• have the physical fitness necessary to reach high mountain field sites and willingness to work outdoors in sometimes inclement weather.