Status: Open
Applications open: 8/07/2022
Applications close: 18/08/2022
About this scholarship
The ability to alter the genomes of living cells is key to understanding how genes influence all the functions of organisms and will be critical to modify living systems for useful purposes. However, this has long been limited by the technical challenges involved in genetic engineering. Recent advances in gene editing have bypassed some of these challenges but they are still far from ideal. Our laboratory has established new protein-based therapies that can target single stranded DNA and RNA in a programmable manner, which are now moving towards clinical trials. In this project the successful applicant will build expertise in synthetic biology and capitalize on the established skills in the laboratory of European Inventor Hall of Fame inductee Professor Oliver Rackham to engineer gene editing systems capable of efficient genetic modifications that are not possible with current systems.
Improved gene editing will be vital to basic science laboratories to reveal the genetic basis of molecular, organelle, cellular and organismal function. While in medicine, gene editing is poised to revolutionize pharmaceutical development, xenotransplantation, the development of gene and cell-based therapies, as well as approaches to control of insect-borne diseases and preventing the inheritance of disease-causing mutations. The gene editing approaches developed in this project will be focused on enabling new gene therapies for childhood metabolic and neuromuscular diseases.
An Internship opportunity may also be available with this project.
- Future Students
- Faculty of Health Sciences
- 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
• Undergraduate degree in Biochemistry, Genetics, Bioinformatics, Molecular Biology, Microbiology or a related discipline
• A passionate student, interested in synthetic biology and the potential of gene editing for health
• Willingness to learn new skills
• Good problem-solving skills
• Ability to work well independently or in a team
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. ahead of the closing date.
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 Oliver Rackham via the EOI form above.
Scholarships Email Alert
Sign up now
Similar Positions
-
Vice Chancellor’s Research Fellow Ph D Scholarship – Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes, Edith Cowan University, Australia, about 7 hours ago
The Centre for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Care Outcomes is excited to offer a PhD scholarship for the project "Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes: Immediate and Long-Term Morbidity - A Life Course Appr...
-
Grdc – Snail Biology Ph D Scholarship, Murdoch University, Australia, 1 day ago
GRDC – Snail Biology PhD Scholarship In Australia, four snail species of European-Mediterranean descent have become entrenched as major agricultural pests, specifically targeting grain crops. Thes...