PhD scholarship

Molecular Immunology of Malaria

The Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (AITHM) at James Cook University (Cairns) is a cross-disciplinary research institute spanning a range of research areas related to tropical health and medicine, including immunology, molecular biology, analytical chemistry, systems biology and bioinformatics. The scope of research encompasses basic science through to clinical translation and impact.

An opportunity exists for a PhD position in the molecular immunology of malaria. The focus of this project will be to apply cutting-edge technologies to understand the molecular basis of protective immunity to malaria. It will take advantage of controlled human infection models and cross-sectional and longitudinal field studies in malaria-endemic areas, as well as rodent models, to explore the mechanisms underlying protective immunity to malaria and immune responsiveness. Using a range of interdisciplinary approaches including immune profiling, transcriptomics, proteomics, and small molecule characterization, the project aims to define the critical cells and signalling pathways required for long-term protective immunity against malaria. It is anticipated that this research will have broad application to a wide range of infectious and chronic diseases, with important implications for vaccination.  

Applications close on 30 September 2019 - but get in contact ASAP to discuss opportunities.

For more information on scholarship details and application process see: https://www.jcu.edu.au/graduate-research-school/candidates/postgraduate-research-scholarships

Subject areas:
Immunology, Molecular immunology, Systems biology, Vaccinology, Malaria

Eligibility:
Entry: Bachelor degree with Honours Class I (or equivalent via outstanding record of professional or research achievements)
Experience/Background: laboratory-based experience in immunology, host-pathogen interactions, immune regulation and infectious diseases; excellent computer, communication, and organisational skills are required.

Supervisors:

Professor Denise Doolan – Professorial Research Fellow (Molecular Immunology), AITHM Deputy Director; Director of JCU Centre for Molecular Therapeutics https://research.jcu.edu.au/portfolio/denise.doolan/

Dr Claire Loiseau – Research Fellow (Molecular Immunology) https://research.jcu.edu.au/portfolio/claire.loiseau

Contact details:

Professor Denise Doolan: Denise.Doolan@jcu.edu.au; (61-7) 4232 1492

Dr Claire Loiseau: claire.loiseau@jcu.edu.au; (61-7) 4232 1157

Conditions of Scholarship:

The award of an AITHM scholarship is conditional upon:

• successful enrolment as a James Cook University PhD candidate. Applicants can familiarise themselves with entry requirements at: https://www.jcu.edu.au/graduate-research-school/candidates/prospective-students;
• application for alternative scholarship funding, including the JCU Postgraduate Research Scholarship, in each year of candidature. Should such an application be successful and that scholarship is of lesser value to the AITHM Scholarship, the scholarship holder will receive the balance of the AITHM Scholarship.