Stephanie Little

Circadian rhythms have evolved so that biological processes align with daily environmental changes. The circadian clock has an approximate 24-hour period in accordance with the Earth’s rotation. Seasonal changes in temperature and light influence oscillations of the circadian clock. Plants use environmental cues to monitor seasonal progression and optimise the timing of physiological processes to fall within specific seasonal windows.

Stephanie is interested in how temperature fluctuations influence circadian rhythms, using Arabidopsis as an experimental model. As the UK is experiencing progressively warmer winters, it is essential to understand how the circadian clock is involved in plant adaptation to changing environmental conditions.

Stephanie’s PhD is funded by the Norwich Research Park Doctoral Training Partnership.