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PhD Scholarships

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The NHMRC Program in Cellular Microbiology investigates the mechanisms by which bacterial pathogens cause human diseases. Cellular Microbiology combines Cell Biology, Microbiology and Molecular Biology to investigate the impact of microbes on host cells and to understand the cell biology of the microbes themselves. Scholarships are available for studies at the three nodes: at Monash University, The University of Queensland and The University of Melbourne. Prospective students could choose projects co-supervised by two of the Chief Investigators of the Program.

Pathogens provide very important probes for normal cellular function - co-evolution of pathogen and host has led pathogens to develop some remarkable ways of manipulating normal cell biology, and provide many novel insights into how cellular processes might be manipulated in the major wider context eg. in cancer. Our research program involves a multidisciplinary collaborative team with skills in Molecular Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Bioinformatics, Microbiology and Immunology.

Applications are invited for PhD positions in this research consortium that will seek to understand the molecular cell biology of bacterial pathogens, studying the assembly of the membrane-located machines that bacterial pathogens use to recognize and colonize tissues of their human hosts, the membrane trafficking pathways of human cells perturbed by bacterial pathogens and the consequences of this cellular reprogramming in cellular and animal systems. Particular project areas will be identified to suit the skills and ambitions of the successful candidate.

Essential Criteria

Current Honours/Masters students should consider applying now. Successful applicants for these PhD scholarships would need to attain an H1 Honours degree, or Masters by Research degree, or Master by Coursework degree with a minor thesis. The Honours/Masters degree should be in a relevant discipline such as: Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Chemistry, Genetics, Computer Science. Award of the scholarship will require:

  • Completion of a four year undergraduate degree or equivalent, with an H1 assessment;
  • That the student be eligible for full-time enrolment in a PhD at one of the three Universities;
  • That the student be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or an Australian permanent resident;
  • The student has not previously enrolled in an equivalent degree.

The PhD stipend rate is $22,860 p.a. in 2011.


For enquiries and further information, please contact:
Professor Trevor Lithgow: trevor.lithgow@monash.edu
Professor Jennifer Stow: j.stow@imb.uq.edu.au
Professor Rohan Teasdale: r.teasdale@uq.edu.au
Professor Elizabeth Hartland: hartland@unimelb.edu.au
Professor Richard Strugnell: rastru@unimelb.edu.au