[Taxacom] PhD opportunity

[Julie A. Hawkins]

PhD Opportunity: Evolutionary Origin of Medicinal Properties in Plants
 
DNA sequence data have provided new and reliable phylogenetic hypotheses
for plants, but these new phylogenetic trees have yet to be related to
the diversity of medicinal plants. A recent analysis of the evolutionary
origin of economically important plants used a comprehensive
phylogenetic tree for the flora of the Cape of South Africa and an
inventory of useful plants, and showed that utility is not randomly
distributed but instead clumped within particular lineages and
locations1. Using this study as a proof of concept, we propose a project
that will investigate the power of phylogenetic hypotheses to explain
the origin and diversity of medicinal plants at two levels of the
taxonomic hierarchy (for the angiosperms and for a selected family), and
with respect to floras for which databases of plants with medicinal
properties have been compiled (Southern Africa, North America, and
India). The student will test the hypothesis that medicinal properties
are constrained by the phylogeny and shed light on the mechanisms
underlying this pattern (including the role of human traditions and an
evaluation of the constraints on chemical pathways for chemistries of
interest). The student will also test the hypothesis that
phylogeny-based conservation priorities are more efficient in preserving
the diversity of medicinal plants in a given location, region or
country. 

1. Forest et al. (2007) Preserving the evolutionary potential of floras
in biodiversity hotspots. Nature 445, 757-760. 

The three year PhD studentship for a UK/EU student is funded by the John
Spedan Lewis Foundation. The successful applicant will be co-supervised
by Dr Julie Hawkins, Dr Elizabeth Williamson and Dr Vincent Savolainen.
Drs Hawkins and Williamson are based at the University of Reading
(Schools of Biological Sciences and Pharmacy respectively); it is
expected that the student will be registered at the University of
Reading but spend significant amounts of his/her time at Kew and/or
Imperial College at Silwood Park (to be confirmed) with Dr Vincent
Savolainen.
 
Informal enquiries to Dr Julie Hawkins on 0118 378 6546. To apply please
submit a CV and covering letter to Miss Val Norris, School of Biological
Sciences, AMS Building, University of Reading, Reading, Berkshire, RG6
6BX. Closing date for applications 29th May 2007.