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PhD Candidates

Employer
Global Academy Jobs
Location
Australia
Closing date
Aug 26, 2016

Job Details

The University of Queensland's Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) is a leading global life sciences research institute committed to improving quality of life through research. IMB was established in 2000 as UQ's first research institute and is the cornerstone of one of the largest bioscience research precincts in Australia.

The Institute is home to more than 450 researchers, postgraduate students and support staff from more than 40 countries who work in partnership with their academic, industry and clinical colleagues around the world to advance knowledge in areas including pain, rare diseases, inflammation, superbug infection, cardiovascular disease, environmental research, drug discovery and development, cancer, diabetes and obesity, and reproductive health. Our mission is to drive the bioeconomy and create better health; our vision is to be a life sciences institute with global impact.

By investigating how we grow and develop at the genetic, molecular, cellular and organ levels, IMB researchers can better understand the development processes and pathways involved in human and animal health and disease. The institute also has the technical capacity to translate its new knowledge into drugs, diagnostics and technologies to more effectively prevent, detect and treat disease; and pursue opportunities in a range of biotechnology applications for health, industry and the environment.

IMB's research outcomes are protected and commercialised by UQ-owned technology transfer group UniQuest.

The positions are available in Prof David Craik's research group at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience (http://www.imb.uq.edu.au/david-craik). These projects will involve the design of peptides as novel therapeutics and/or mode of action studies. Peptide chemistry, structural biology, plant molecular biology, protein expression, cell culture, model membranes, biochemical, biophysical and structural elucidation techniques might be employed.

The role

We are seeking dynamic, intelligent, highly motivated PhD students to work on projects that will be further developed with input from the successful applicants, but will focus on the following projects:

1) Peptide toxins, peptide synthesis, NMR structure and drug design. We have a range of projects involving the design, synthesis and the structure determination of cyclic peptides drugs for cancer, pain, infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases. The PhD candidate should have a keen interest in peptide chemistry and structural biology.

2) Production of therapeutics in plants. This project focus on expressing pharmaceutically active peptides in plants and in using plants as biofactories for producing drugs. The PhD candidate should have a keen interest in peptides and plant molecular biology.

3) Use of cell-penetrating peptides to target and monitor a cancer biomarker. We aim to develop a new generation of ultra-stable cyclic peptide with the ability to cross cell membranes in cancer cells that will be engineered to target a cancer biomarker. The PhD candidate should have a keen interest in peptide drug design, drug delivery and cell membrane biology.

4) Use cyclic peptides scaffolds to deliver nucleic acids inside model organisms with cell wall. We aim to develop a new generation of ultra-stable cyclic peptide scaffolds as tools to breach cell membranes of model organisms with cell wall (e.g., bacteria, yeast and algae) to deliver nucleic acids and modulate intracellular pathways. The PhD candidate should have a keen interest in peptide design, cell membrane biology and molecular biophysics.

All projects are multidisciplinary, and will suit PhD candidates interested in both developing peptides as therapeutics or delivery tools, and being exposed to cutting edge biochemical and biophysical techniques in one of Australia's premier structural biology facilities.

The Candidates

Both Australian and international applicants are welcome to apply. Candidates should have a First Class Honours Degree or Masters Degree (or equivalent) in biology, biophysics, chemistry, biochemistry or a related discipline. Strong academic performance, good oral and written communication skills, and published output will be additional assessment criteria.

Applicants must be eligible to enrol in a PhD with the University of Queensland. For a complete list of the University of Queensland's minimum entry requirements please refer to: http://www.uq.edu.au/grad-school/our-research-degrees.

Scholarship and Remuneration

Award of a scholarship will be conditional upon the applicant applying for and obtaining an unconditional offer for entry to the PhD program at UQ, under the supervision of members of Prof Craik's research group and being assessed in the next available UQ scholarship round.

Enquiries and Application

For queries please contact

Professor David Craik (projects 1&2) email: d.craik@uq.edu.au and phone +61-7-3346 2019

Dr Sónia Henriques (projects 3&4), email: s.henriques@imb.uq.edu.au and phone +61-7-3346 2026

For application, please upload a cover letter and a full resume.

Application closing date

11:55pm 26th August 2016 Eastern Australian Standard Time

Reference: 499406

Company

Global Academy Jobs works with over 250 universities worldwide to promote academic mobility and international research collaboration. Global problems need international solutions. Our jobs board and emails reach the academics and researchers who can help.

"The globalisation of higher education continues apace, driving in turn the ongoing development of the global knowledge economy, striving for solutions to the world’s problems and educating a next generation of leaders and contributors."

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