Topics:

1. Open Canopy: open-source monitoring of whole-canopy water use

This thesis investigates an open-source, low-cost sensor system designed to monitor water vapour dynamics throughout a plant canopy and evaluate its usefulness for studying whole-canopy transpiration. Plant transpiration is a major component of ecosystem water fluxes and strongly influences climate, energy balance, and crop performance. Traditional methods—such as sap flow sensors, eddy-covariance towers, or commercial gas-exchange systems—provide high-quality data but are expensive, technically demanding, and poorly suited for large-scale screening or fine-scale spatial resolution within the canopy. Recent improvements in inexpensive humidity sensors create an opportunity to measure vertical patterns of water vapour and infer transpiration in a more accessible way. In this project, the student will deploy vertical arrays of humidity, temperature, and potentially light sensors in crop or greenhouse systems to collect time-series microclimate data. The work will test whether the system can distinguish differences in transpiration patterns across genotypes or environmental treatments, and assess its suitability for breeding programs targeting improved water-use efficiency and drought resilience. By advancing open-source microclimate monitoring, this thesis contributes to more scalable, affordable tools for both environmental research and sustainable agricultural management.

For more information, please contact Ludovico Caracciolo (ludovico.caracciolo@jii.org)

2. Miniature sensor for real-time photosynthesis tracking

This thesis focuses on improving and validating a miniature open-source leaf-clip sensor capable of monitoring plant photosynthetic activity in real time. Enhancing agricultural sustainability requires crops that produce more with fewer resources, yet measuring photosynthetic efficiency—one of the best predictors of plant productivity—remains a major bottleneck. Existing tools such as fluorometers and absorbance-based devices are costly, difficult to deploy at scale, and not optimized for continuous field use or large breeding trials. The project aims to expand the capabilities of a low-cost sensor that measures chlorophyll fluorescence signals linked to electron transport, providing an accessible proxy for photosynthetic performance. The student will collaborate with engineers, plant scientists, and programmers to build and refine hardware, develop simple firmware or software for data collection, and test the device in greenhouse or field conditions. No prior electronics experience is needed, but motivation and curiosity are essential. By enabling high-throughput, real-time measurements of photosynthetic efficiency, this work supports the development of crop varieties better suited to climate-resilient food production. The thesis merges engineering with plant physiology and contributes to democratizing advanced research tools for scientists and breeders worldwide.

For more information, please contact Ludovico Caracciolo (ludovico.caracciolo@jii.org)

3. Genetic Diversity in Miscanthus Photosynthesis and Carbon Partitioning Perennial grasses, like Miscanthus, play a key role as sustainable biomass feedstock for the upcoming bioeconomy. Reduced photosynthesis during the growing season has been suggested as a potential driver of Miscanthus long-term productivity decline, however, the underlying mechanisms behind these declines are still unknown.

Previous research has identify decreased carbon allocation to belowground storage as a potential limitation to photosynthesis, however, these results are based on only one genotype and limited environmental conditions. We hope to expand this approach to a larger variety of Miscanthus genotypes. Data from this project will help breeding programs to better associate photosynthesis and final yield.

The aim of this project is to characterize Miscanthus genetic diversity in seasonal photosynthesis and its interaction with development. Within the project, you will have the opportunity to expand on the physiological and developmental response to the environment, the underlying biochemical limitations, and/or genetic variability across genotypes, depending on their own interests.

For more information, please contact Mauricio Tejera (mauricio.tejera@jii.org).

4. Quantifying Sink Limitations in Photosynthesis

While photosynthesis is the primary driver of plant growth and yield, it is not always the main limiting process. During plant development and under certain environmental conditions, photosynthetic performance can become constrained by the downstream consumption of carbohydrates—so-called sink limitations—rather than by carbon assimilation itself. Identifying when sink limitations become the primary bottleneck is key for efficiently improving photosynthetic performance.

To address this challenge, the JII aims to develop fast, reliable, and scalable instrumentation capable of measuring relevant photosynthetic traits and diagnosing sink limitations. Such tools could facilitate the integration of photosynthetic traits into breeding programs and accelerate the development of higher-yielding, climate-resilient crops.

The aim of this project is to test and validate fast protocols to quantify downstream metabolic limitations of photosynthesis (sink limitations) and identify key developmental stages. The project will investigate how sink limitations change during plant development and how different environmental or weather conditions influence the balance between carbon assimilation and carbohydrate utilization.

For more information, please contact Mauricio Tejera (mauricio.tejera@jii.org).

5. Genetic Diversity in Barley Photosynthesis and Radiation Use Efficiency

Increased photosynthetic efficiency represents a promising frontier for achieving substantial improvements in crop yield and agricultural sustainability. However, the underlying mechanisms that link photosynthesis to yield remain unclear. A better understanding of this link has large implications in crop production, management and breeding.

Grain yield is the result of the seasonal integration of light interception, the efficiency of the plant to convert light energy into biomass, and carbon allocation to grain, however, these processes are rarely studied together in the context of genetic variability. Within this project we seek to characterize how the genetic variability in radiation use efficiency and grain yield affect photosynthesis during the season.

The aim of this project is to characterize the relationship between photosynthesis and radiation use efficiency across a wide range of Barley genotypes. Within the project, you have the opportunity to expand on the physiological link between photosynthesis and RUE, the interactions with development, and/or genetic variability across genotypes depending on their own interests.

For more information, please contact Mauricio Tejera (mauricio.tejera@jii.org).

6. Spectroscopic Signals Beyond the light reactions: Capturing Biochemical Limitations and Photorespiratory Capacity

Increased photosynthetic efficiency represents a promising frontier for achieving substantial improvements in crop yield and agricultural sustainability. However, the lack of reliable high-throughput tools limits its integration into breeding programs. To address this challenge, the JII aims to develop fast, reliable, and scalable instrumentation capable of measuring relevant photosynthetic under field conditions.

The aim of this project is to test and validate fast protocols to quantify biochemical limitations and photorespiratory capacity. Within the project, you will have the opportunity to expand on sensor design, the environmental and developmental effects on the photosynthetic processes, or the genetic variability across barley and potato genotypes, depending on your interests.

For more information, please contact Mauricio Tejera (mauricio.tejera@jii.org).