Plant and Microbial Biology

Research plants and microbes in the School of Biosciences or take an industrial placement as part of this research-focussed course.

Course description

Plants and microbes are fundamental to food security, as well as being central to global ecosystems. At Sheffield we study them from every angle: from the molecular level up to whole organisms, in the context of ecosystems, industry and major global challenges.

Our world-class research expertise spans topics including plant development, plant biotechnology, soil health, genomics, food security, sustainable agriculture, photosynthesis, plant-microbe interactions, plant immunology, and climate change biology, allowing you to examine the effects of past, present and future climates on plants and the wider environment.

It is possible for students with a particular interest in agricultural or horticultural research to complete their MRes project at other organisations, including Enza Zaden in the Netherlands or Rothamsted Research in the UK.

Research Experience

This research-focused MRes course allows you to spend an academic year embedded in one of our research groups, working alongside students and staff who are at the forefront of their research field. Throughout your course, you’ll develop your research skills, giving you the opportunity to contribute new knowledge in your chosen area.

Whether you complete your research in the field, the lab or in industry, in the UK or abroad, you’ll be provided with a research budget for your project. Previous students have conducted research in conjunction with our industrial partners, as well as in research groups at the University of Sheffield.

Example research projects include:

• Leaf anatomy contributes to the control of leaf water content and subsequent adaptation to low temperature in C4 grasses
• CO2 fertilisation limited by multiple factors in two phosphorus deficient grasslands
• Characterisation of novel desaturation in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi