Professor Rob Jackson

Supervisor Details

Contact Details

School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham

Scientific Background

Research Interests

Bacterial plant pathogens, beneficial bacteria, plant-bacteria interactions, insect-bacteria interactions, gene networks, horizontal gene transfer, bacterial evolution.

Scientific Inspiration

My PhD and postdoc mentors, Professors Alan Vivian, John Mansfield, Paul Rainey: their passion and enthusiasm combined with inquisitiveness and critical thinking (including challenging paradigms) really inspired me to love the area I work in and to think outside the box to solve the problems I faced. Based on this, I really want to pass these on to those I work with.

Research Groups

Plant Science and Food Security

Supervision Style

In three words or phrases: Supportive, collaborative, inclusive.

Provision of Training

My preference is to meet regularly to discuss strategy and provide guidance, whilst letting the postdocs provide technical training. I would expect independence will gradually build up.

Progression Monitoring and Management

I like to be kept up to date on progress and to discuss progress regularly. I would typically set out expectations from the outset and then allows these to develop with new ones emerging as the project progresses. I am always available for guidance and support and it is important to me to help with progression and completion.

Communication

Communication is the keystone for good working and I try very hard to get communication correct. This will develop professionally via regular meetings of the research group and use of email and Teams to make regular contact. I am always available to discuss issues and work through them.

In a group meeting

At least once per fortnight

In year 1 of PhD study

At least once per week

In year 2 of PhD study

At least once per fortnight

In year 3 of PhD study

At least once per fortnight

The meetings will be a mixture of face to face, via video chat or telephone and although I have an open door policy my pattern of being contactable for an instant response is not predictable.

Working Pattern

The timing of work in my lab is completely flexible, and (other than attending pre-arranged meetings), I expect students to manage their own time. However, where activities are scheduled for set times, then I expect attendance at that time. Students need to be able to commit to a rota/timetable shared with other members of the team.

Notice Period for Feedback

I need at least 1 week’s notice to provide feedback on written work of up to 5000 words.

MIBTP Project Details

Primary supervisor for:

Time, Trees, and Disease: Exploring how metabolic variation in cherry influences Pseudomonas syringae pathogens

See the PhD Opportunities section to see if this project is currently open for applications via MIBTP.

Please Note: The main page lists projects via BBSRC Research Theme(s) quoted and then relevant Topic(s).

Time, Trees, and Disease: Exploring how metabolic variation in cherry influences Pseudomonas syringae pathogens

Secondary Supervisor(s): Dr Diana Vinchira-Villarraga

University of Registration: University of Birmingham

BBSRC Research Themes:

Understanding the Rules of Life (Microbiology, Plant Science)

Project Outline

Bacterial canker represents one of the most damaging diseases of cherry trees (Prunus spp.). The causal agents of this disease are specific pathogenic varieties of Pseudomonas syringae (Pss and Psm) that infect leaves, wood, buds, and fruits. Symptoms on leaves and fruits are observed during summer, whilst cankers on wood are evident at the end of tree dormancy. In the UK, Pss and Psm show variable distribution across cultivated and wild cherries, with different strains exhibiting varying pathogenicity, which is associated with the presence of effector genes and/or toxin biosynthetic gene clusters that contribute to Pss and Psm fitness and pathogenicity in a tissue- and host-dependent manner. The diversity in symptom development, the differential population of Pseudomonas strains across plants, and the disease cycle itself are indicative of a finely tuned interaction between the pathogen's biology and the host's phenology. Such interaction may be influenced by seasonal changes in plant metabolism, which occur to support growth and developmental transitions. The availability of specific nutrients may affect Pss/Psm growth, metabolism, and gene expression, ultimately impacting disease development. However, these changes have not been evaluated in detail yet in the Pss/Psm-cherry pathosystem. It is still not well understood how the metabolic profiles of ornamental and wild cherry differ, and whether this impacts the Pseudomonas population. Additionally, there is limited information on how the chemical profile of cherry varies across phenological stages. This PhD project will address these gaps by integrating plant and bacterial untargeted metabolomics, transcriptomics, and plant disease phenotyping. Through a combination of field sampling, controlled glasshouse experiments, in vitro assays, and omics approaches, the project will provide new insights into the role of the cherry metabolic interface in shaping Pss/Psm behaviour and influencing bacterial canker development.