Title: Role and regulation of the plant TOR/SnRK1 pathways in the trade-off between growth and defense. 

We are looking for a creative, motivated, and enthusiastic PhD student to join the Plant Physiology group at the University of Rome Sapienza, to investigate how plants fine-tune their growth and development in response to stress.

The project has two major aims: 1) using the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, decipher the molecular mechanisms that control the shift from skotomorphogenesis (growth in darkness) to photomorphogenesis (light-dependent growth) in response to different environmental cues; 2) investigate how two key nutrient-sensing kinases - TARGET OF RAPAMYCIN (TOR) and SNF1-RELATED PROTEIN KINASE 1 (SnRK1) - interact with signaling pathways triggered by pathogen-associated signals and cell wall damage. The project will help unravel how plants reprogram their development and balance growth- and defense-related responses depending on environmental conditions, with the goal of enhancing crop resilience to stress without compromising yields. To reach this goal, a combination of approaches (cell biology, genetics, molecular biology, transcriptomics, biochemistry) will be adopted.

About the position: A 3-years PhD position (expected starting date: November 2025) is available in the research group of Prof. Simone Ferrari, at the Department of Biology and biotechnologies “Charles Darwin” of the University of Rome Sapienza (Rome, Italy). More information about the group can be found here. The employment is full-time and limited to three years. Financial support include a personal monthly scholarship (for three years) and a personal budget for research, language courses and mobility activities (for stages, participation to conferences,…). In addition, research costs will be supported by the research funds of the Plant Physiology Group. Information about the PhD programme is available in the PhD course website. 

Please be aware that the admission to the PhD programme is subjected to a selection through an admission exam. Updated information about the admission exam procedure is expected to be available in May 2025, and can be found at the PhD course website in the upcoming section “Call for application (41° Cycle)”. 

Potential candidates for this position are required to contact Prof. Simone Ferrari (simone.ferrari@uniroma1.it) by e-mail before March 31st, 2025, including a CV and a motivation letter (single PDF file) and indicating, in the object of the email: “PhD position candidate”. 

Sapienza University and its Department of Biology e biotechnologies “Charles Darwin” values the qualities that an even gender distribution brings to the department, and therefore we particularly encourage women to apply for the position.