PhD Scholarship – Neuroscience
Job No.: 669728
Location: Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute (with a 12-month placement at Newcastle University, UK)
Employment Type: Full-time
Duration: 3.5-year fixed-term appointment
Remuneration: The successful applicant will receive a tax-free stipend, at the current value of $35,013 per annum 2024 full-time rate, as per the Monash Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend www.monash.edu/study/fees-scholarships/scholarships/find-a-scholarship/research-training-program-scholarship#scholarship-details
- Amplify your impact at a world top 50 University
- Join our inclusive, collaborative community
- Be surrounded by extraordinary ideas - and the people who discover them
The Opportunity
We have an exciting opportunity to undertake a PhD within the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute. The PhD project is a collaboration between Monash University and Newcastle University, UK. The successful candidate will spend up to 12 months at Newcastle University and the remainder of the time will be spent at Monash.
Mitochondrial encephalomyopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) is a maternally-inherited mitochondrial disorder that predominantly affects the nervous system. In severe cases, MELAS appears in childhood and causes progressive, life-limiting neurological impairment for which cures are currently lacking.
The severity of disease symptoms is largely determined by the level of heteroplasmy for the pathogenic mtDNA m.3243A>G variant present in eggs at the time of conception.
The goal of this project is to determine how transmission of the m.3243A>G variant is shaped by the biochemical demands of generating and transmitting a haploid maternal genome during mammalian oogenesis.
Unravelling the interplay between accurate transmission of the maternal nuclear genome and transmission of the m.3243A>G variant will shed new light on the selection pressures that shape heteroplasmy levels and hence the risk of MELAS in the human population. The findings will also underpin the development of tailored approaches to improve reproductive outcomes for women undergoing MD treatment to reduce transmission of the m.3243A>G variant.
We are seeking expressions of interest from enthusiastic PhD applicants to join a supportive research team. The successful candidate will be highly motivated to contribute to the fields of female reproduction and mitochondrial disease research.
Eligibility requirements:
Candidates will need to fulfil the Monash University minimum requirements for admission to a PhD detailed here:
www.monash.edu/admissions/entry-requirements/minimum
How to apply
For general instructions on how to apply for roles at Monash, please refer to "How to apply for Monash Jobs".
To express your interest in this scholarship and PhD research opportunity, we request candidates provide:
- A cover letter describing your research interests and why you would like to undertake a PhD (maximum one page)
- A CV including qualifications, academic achievements, list of publications, work history and references
- A copy of your academic transcript(s)
- Any other requirements you may have
Enquiries
Professor Mary Herbert, mary.herbert@monash.edu
Closing date
Friday 8 November 2024, 11:55pm AEDT
COVID 19 vaccination is recommended for all persons attending a Monash University location. Staff located within a healthcare setting and students on placement in a healthcare setting must comply with the COVID-19 vaccination direction of the host organisation.
For the latest information on COVID-19 at Monash, please visit our website.
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