PhD Scholarship in Vaccine Adjuvant Discovery

Job No.: 690645

Location: Clayton campus

Employment Type: Full-time

Duration: 3.5-year fixed-term appointment

Remuneration: The successful applicant will receive a Research Living Allowance, at current value of $37,145AUD per annum 2026 full-time rate (tax-free stipend), indexed plus allowances as per RTP stipend scholarship conditions at: www.monash.edu/graduate-research/study/scholarships/fees-scholarships/scholarship-policy-and-procedures.

Organisational Context

At Monash, work feels different. There’s a sense of belonging, from contributing to something groundbreaking – a place where great things happen. You know you’re part of something special and purposeful because, like Monash, your ambitions drive you to make change.

We have a clear purpose to deliver groundbreaking intensive research; a world-class education; a global ecosystem of enterprise – and we activate these to address some of the challenges of the age, Climate Change, Thriving Communities and Geopolitical Security.
We welcome and value difference and diversity. When you come to work, you can be yourself, be a change-maker and develop your career in exciting ways with curious, energetic, inspiring and committed people and teams driven to make an impact – just like you.

Together with our commitment to academic freedom, you will have access to quality research facilities, infrastructure, world class teaching spaces, and international collaboration opportunities.

We champion an inclusive workplace culture for our staff regardless of ethnicity or cultural background. We have also worked to improve gender equality for more than 30 years. Join the pursuit of our purpose to build a better future for ourselves and our communities – #ChangeIt with us.

The Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute (BDI) is one of the largest and most dynamic biomedical research and teaching environments in Australia. The Institute and its cognate Departments of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Pharmacology and Physiology comprise over 120 research groups and deliver discipline-focused teaching into our flagship Bachelor of Biomedical Science Degree, the Bachelor of Science Degree, as well as the Medical School and various Health-related Degree Programs.

The BDI comprises seven inter-disciplinary health-focused research Programs, each led by a renowned leader in the field. The BDI programs include Infection, Immunity, Cancer, Cardiovascular Disease, Development and Stem Cells, Metabolism, Diabetes and Obesity and Neuroscience. The BDI works closely with clinical and drug development precincts at Monash and has a number of major industry partnerships to facilitate the translation of our research. For more information about the BDI please visit our website at www.monash.edu/discovery-institute.

The Department of Microbiology is one of five departments in the Monash BDI within the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science at Monash University, with more than 150 research, academic and professional staff. The department teaches undergraduate students at a variety of levels in a broad range of courses, but most of our students are undertaking degrees in Biomedical Science, Science or Medicine. We have a strong research training culture and provide excellence for undergraduate and graduate training in Microbiology, Virology and Immunology. We have 17 research groups, all of which have national competitive research funding, mainly from the National Health and Medical Research Council and/or the Australian Research Council. Further details about the department can be found at: www.monash.edu/discovery-institute/departments/microbiology.

The Opportunity

A PhD student is expected to contribute towards the research effort of the University and to develop their research expertise through the pursuit of defined projects relevant to the particular field of research.

The Department of Microbiology is currently recruiting for a PhD student to work under the supervision of Professor Diana Hansen. In this role, the successful candidate will participate in a multidisciplinary consortium, with research partners at Griffith University in Queensland. This NHMRC-funded project will pursue a systems biology approach to investigate immune mechanisms of action of vaccine-adjuvant candidates identified via a thorough high-throughput screening process conducted at Griffith University. The candidate will be also involved in studies analysing immune responses to P. falciparum malaria vaccines.

Candidate Requirements

Applicants will be considered provided that they fulfil the criteria for PhD admission at Monash University and demonstrate excellent research capability. Details of the relevant requirements are available at www.monash.edu/graduate-research/future-students/apply. A degree in Science, Biomedicine, or relevant area.

Applicants must show excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and the ability to conduct self-motivated research within a group high-performing and target-driven group of researchers. They should have research-based Honours or Master’s Degree (or equivalent) in the relevant research areas. Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed, over Zoom if necessary. The interviews will be conducted in English.

• Honour’s or Master’s degree in a relevant field (immunology, infectious diseases), with a significant research component and with first-class honours/H1 awarded

Details of eligibility requirements, including English-language proficiency skills, to undertake a PhD in the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences are available at www.monash.edu/arts/graduate_research/how-to-apply. Applicants should ensure they familiarise themselves with these requirements before deciding whether they should apply. Please note: applicants who already hold a PhD will not be considered. Scholarship holders must be enrolled full-time and on campus.

During their doctoral studies, the student will be expected to conduct research under supervision either as a member of a team or, where appropriate, independently and produce research material contributing towards conference, seminar papers and publications. Attendance at meetings associated with research or the work of the organisational unit to which the research is connected and/or at departmental, school and/or faculty meetings is expected.

The successful applicant will be expected to be enrolled before June 2026.

Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) which shall comprise:

• A cover letter that includes a brief statement of the applicant's suitability
• A curriculum vitae, including a list of published works
• A full statement of academic record, supported by scanned copies of relevant certified documentation
• Contact details of two academic referees
• Evidence of English-language proficiency (if you have)
• A one-page write-up on your scientific understanding of vaccine adjuvants

Please submit your EOI to Professor Diana S Hansen, diana.hansen@monahs.edu, preferably in a single PDF attachment.

Enquiries: Professor Diana Hansen, Department of Microbiology, +61 3 9905 3721, diana.hansen@monash.ed

Applications Close: Friday 20 March 2026, 11:55pm AEDT