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PhD Scholar - Genome Plasticity and Disease Group

Employer
Global Academy Jobs
Location
Australia
Closing date
Jan 31, 2019

Job Details

Mater Research Institute - The University of Queensland, Australia

We have an exciting fully-funded opportunity for an Australian or international Doctoral student to join the Genome Plasticity and Disease Group at the University of Queensland. Students will be based in the lab of Professor Geoff Faulkner at the state of the art Translational Research Institute (TRI) in Brisbane. The project will explore the roles and regulation of LINE-1 retrotransposons in cancer. The successful candidate will be supervised by Dr Cheetham and Professor Faulkner. The student will be funded by a PhD stipend awarded in conjunction with Dr Seth Cheetham's NHMRC Peter Doherty Fellowship.

Professor Faulkner's Genome Plasticity and Disease group is internationally recognised as a leader in the retrotransposons field. The group has a key focus on the roles of retrotransposons in human biology and disease, which has resulted in major publications in prestigious journals including Cell, Nature, Science, Nature Methods, Nature Communications and Genome Research.

Mater Research is a founding partner of the TRI, working together with The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Queensland University of Technology's Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, and the Princess Alexandra Hospital's Centres of Health Research to build a world-class facility supporting medical research and its translation into clinical practice.

The University of Queensland ranks in the top 40 universities worldwide for life sciences. Mater Research and The University of Queensland formalised a longstanding relationship to form Mater Research Institute - The University of Queensland (MRI-UQ), a collaborative alliance between two leading institutions working together to achieve the best possible research discoveries in health. 

The project

In cancer, but not healthy cells, ~100 L1 retrotransposons “jumping genes” can copy and paste themselves into the human genome. L1s can contribute to cancer initiation by activating oncogenes and inactivating tumour suppressor genes and can drive tumour evolution, underpinning resistance to chemotherapy. This project aims to determine the cause of L1 activation in cancer. The project will identify novel factors that regulate L1 expression in cancer, transforming our understanding of the mechanism of L1 activation. As L1 expression is highly correlated with cancer severity, these factors may hold important prognostic and diagnostic value.

The role

The successful applicant will belong to a multidisciplinary, international research team that has strong collaborations across Australia and internationally. This project will include the use of cutting-edge techniques including CRISPR, transcriptomics, single cell genomics and mass-spectrometry. This doctoral training will be an ideal opportunity for both domestic and international science graduates who are planning a research career.

The applicant

Prospective applicants will have a strong interest in molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry and genomics.

The ideal candidate will meet the following entry requirements:

  1. Applicants should possess a bachelor with first class honours or master's, or equivalent degree with distinguished academic records and relevant research experience.
  2. Applicants should be able to enrol full-time in the doctoral training program.
  3. Applicants should have excellent interpersonal skills and be able to work effectively within a research team.
  4. Applicants should have excellent scientific writing and communication skills
  5. Applicants should be highly self-motivated and able to work independently


Careful consideration will be given to letters of recommendation from faculty members or research mentors who have close first-hand knowledge of the applicant's academic and research abilities.

Remuneration

A stipend valued at $27,082 per annum tax free for three and a half years, with a possible six-month extension, will be awarded to the successful applicant.

In addition there will be a top-up stipend of $5000 per annum.

Enquiries and application

Queries and applications should be directed to Dr Seth Cheetham, Research Officer, Genome Plasticity Group, Mater Research Institute - UQ, via email seth.cheetham@mater.uq.edu.au.

To apply, please email Dr Seth Cheetham seth.cheetham@mater.uq.edu.au your up-to-date curriculum vitae including names and contact details of two academic referees, and a brief statement of your research experience and interests (maximum 1 page). Please include ‘PhD opportunity' in the subject line.

The closing date for applications is Thursday 31 January 2019 (11:55 PM) E. Australia Standard Time.

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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