Status: Closed
Applications open: 7/07/2023
Applications close: 25/08/2023
About this scholarship
Normal genes responsible for cell growth, development, and differentiation can cause cancer when their activity or expression is increased, so called "oncogenes". Other genes that normally act to stop the uncontrolled growth of cells - "tumour suppressor" genes - can also cause cancer if mutations or reduced gene expression lower their activity. Therefore, cancer is fundamentally a disease of defective genes and gene expression.
This project will use cutting edge synthetic biology approaches to create new technologies to control gene expression, providing new ways to understand cancer targets and new protein-based therapies to modulate gene expression in cancers that resist current treatment regimes.
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 proteins to target key oncogenes, tumour suppressors and other critical cancer drivers.
Over 8 million people die each year from cancer, and there is predicted to be a 70% increase in new cases of cancer in the next two decades (World Health Organization). To date, finding treatments that effectively target metastatic cancers has proven difficult and developing innovative gene editing approaches provides an exciting new therapeutic avenue.
There will be opportunity to undertake an Internship. Being part of the ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology enables applicants to join a network of Australia’s best synthetic biologists with unique opportunities in associated biotechnology spinouts and infrastructure facilities, providing travel, collaboration and mentorship to enhance their careers.
- Future Students
- Faculty of Health Sciences
- Higher Degree by Research
- Australian Citizen
- Australian Permanent Resident
- New Zealand Citizen
- Permanent Humanitarian Visa
- International Student
- 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 at the 2023 RTP rate valued at $32,250 p.a. for up to a maximum of 3 years, with a possible 6 month completion scholarship. Applicants are determined via a competitive selection process and will be notified of the scholarship outcome in November 2023.
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 synthetic biology in medicine
• 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. Please note you should apply as soon as possible, as once a suitable candidate has been identified this opportunity will no longer be available to receive an EOI.
Enrolment Requirements
Eligible to enrol in a Higher Degree by Research Course at Curtin University by March 2024.
Recipients must complete their milestone 1 within 6 month of enrolment and remain enrolled on a full-time basis for the duration of the scholarship.
Enquiries
To enquire about this project opportunity that includes a scholarship application, contact the Project lead, Oliver Rackham via the EOI form above.
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