Field of study / Research area
620 - Agriculture, forestry and fishery (broad programmes)

Level
PhD

Name of the Programme
Doctorate in Conservation and Sustainable Use of Forest Systems

Website (URL) of the Programme
https://doctorado-sistemas-forestales.uva.es/en/home/

Name of the offer / activity
Development of new RNA-based biofungicides for plant disease management

Brief description of the activities to be carried out
The main objective is to develop safe double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) molecules for controlling fungal diseases in plants. To achieve this, several methodologies will be employed, including:
• Isolation of miRNAs involved in plant-pathogen interactions.
• An integrated bioinformatics approach to predict essential genes in pathogens.
• Production of dsRNA molecules using microorganisms.
• Testing the half-life and processing of dsRNA molecules through sequencing and confocal microscopy.
• Evaluating their disease control capacity via plant infection assays.
• dsRNA encapsulation

Working language(s)
Spanish, English

Host University
University of Valladolid

University Department / Unit
Plant Production and Forest Resources

Duration in months
6

Comments on duration
Preferably with a minimum duration of 6 months

Starting
January 2026

Ending
August 2028

Academic responsible for the offer
Jonatan Niño Sánchez
jonatan.nino@uva.es