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PhD CandidateBuilding 20, Room 10
Molecular Genetics Laboratory James Cook University Townsville QLD 4811 Australia Phone: +61 7 4781 5395 Email: sarah.gierz@my.jcu.edu.au |
PhD project |
Thermal stress acclimation and light-harvesting complex expression in Symbiodinium
Symbiodinium species form symbiotic associations with corals and a variety of other organisms, however, these relationships are extremely sensitive to stressors. My PhD aims to investigate the impact of prolonged thermal stress on Symbiodinium. By utilising temperatures below the bleaching threshold and prolonged time frames we hope to investigate the responses of Symbiodinium under future climate conditions. Physiological responses of Symbiodinium are characterised using microscopy, spectrophotometry and by assessing the cells photo-physiology. The physiological data is supported by molecular data using both targeted and whole transcriptome analysis approaches and western blotting for protein expression analysis. My project has also focussed on a specific family of genes called light-harvesting complexes. Light-harvesting complexes are of particular interest as they have roles in both enhancing light capture and in photo protection and have been implicated in the bleaching response of Symbiodinium to thermal stress. |
Qualifications
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BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. James Cook University (Australia)
BSc in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. James Cook University (Australia) |
Research skills |
Biochemistry and Cell & Molecular Biology skills:
Computer and Statistics skills:
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