2023 RTP round - Insulin sensing at liquid-liquid interfaces

Curtin University, Australia

Updated: over 1 year ago
Location: Perth, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Deadline: The position may have been removed or expired!

Status: Closed

Applications open: 8/07/2022
Applications close: 18/08/2022

View printable version [.pdf]
About this scholarship

Management of diabetes requires measurements of blood glucose concentrations combined with delivery of insulin. Although glucose sensing provides a reasonable degree of control, a crucial missing piece of this biomedical feedback system is the ability to measure insulin directly. It is widely recognised that measurement of both glucose and insulin together would enable a better control and hence an improved management of diabetes. The detection of insulin (and other proteins) by electrochemistry at liquid-liquid interfaces offers a sensitive and label-free approach to bioanalytical challenges such as in detection in disease diagnosis and disease management. However there is limited knowledge at present on the basis of these electrochemical reactions and on sensitivity and selectivity in assays. 
In this project you will investigate the electrochemical behaviour of insulin at liquid-liquid interfaces. Such behaviour will be useful in the design of biosensors for disease management (e.g. investigated via simple paper-based biosensors). A combination of electrochemical and spectroscopic methods will be employed to assess structural changes (e.g. to design an in situ spectroelectrochemistry approach for biomolecule structural analysis at the interface) and to devise new measurement approaches at these interfaces. Expected outcomes include new methods to analyse insulin at interfaces, new ways to fold or unfold insulin, and understanding of insulin structural changes as a result of its interactions at interfaces. 
The project has ample scope to be adapted to the research interests of the student and will be jointly supervised by Prof. Damien Arrigan and Dr Mark Hackett. Opportunities to visit the international collaborator laboratories as well as industry placements will be developed. 

An Internship opportunity may also be available with this project.


  • Future Students

  • Faculty of Science & Engineering
    • Science courses
    • Engineering courses
    • Western Australian School of Mines (WASM)

  • Higher Degree by Research

  • Australian Citizen
  • Australian Permanent Resident
  • New Zealand Citizen
  • Permanent Humanitarian Visa

  • Merit Based

The annual scholarship package (stipend and tuition fees) is approx. $60,000 - $70,000 p.a.

 

Successful HDR applicants for admission will receive a 100% fee offset for up to 4 years, stipend scholarships, valued at $28,854 p.a. for up to a maximum of 3.5 years, are determined via a competitive selection process. Applicants will be notified of the scholarship outcome in November 2022. 

 

For detailed information, visit: Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarships | Curtin University, Perth, Australia.


Scholarship Details

1


All applicable HDR courses


Applicants should have completed a BSc(Honours) or Master degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry or a related subject, e.g. applied chemistry, bioengineering before commencement of this project, and they should be interested in investigating new ways to measure biochemical substances (bioanalytical chemistry). 


Application process

If this project excites you, and your research skills and experience are a good fit for this specific project, you should contact the Project Lead (listed below in the enquires section) via the Expression of Interest (EOI) form.


Enrolment Requirements

Eligible to enrol in a Higher Degree by Research Course at Curtin University by March 2023


Enquiries

To enquire about this project opportunity that includes a scholarship application, contact the Project lead, Professor Damien Arrigan via the EOI form above.



Scholarships Email Alert
Sign up now

Similar Positions