Position title: PhD Student Research Opportunities in Amphibian and Fungal Genomics and Synthetic Biology

Employer: University of Melbourne

Closing date: 31-March-2022

Brief position description: Want to help save frogs declining from a pandemic disease?
Interested in studying functional genomics and using the latest methods in synthetic biology?

The One Health Research Group at the University of Melbourne is recruiting PhD students to investigate advantageous genetic traits against the disease chytridiomycosis and develop synthetic biology methods to increase disease resistance in declining frog species, and/or decrease virulence in the fungus. Our research includes a Genome Wide Association Study and developing RNA interference approaches.

The projects are funded through the Australian Research Council, and PhD scholars will be advised by Drs Lee Skerratt, Tiffany Kosch, Lee Berger and members of the One Health Research Group and collaborators including Zoos Victoria. The project will be based at the Melbourne Veterinary School at the Werribee campus.

Emerging infectious diseases are a major threat to ecosystems and new methods are needed to fight them. Chytridiomycosis is the most devastating disease of vertebrates, causing population declines in over 500 amphibian species worldwide. The project is focused on improving disease resilience in ecosystems using genetic approaches, but the specific aims of the PhD research can be determined by the student. The expected outcomes of the project are improved understanding and increased immunity of frogs to chytridiomycosis and restoration of frogs into the environment.

To be eligible,
Must be living in Australia. Sorry, we are not currently accepting applicants living overseas.
Expertise needed: Ideal applicants will have experience with molecular biological or biomedical research such as molecular and synthetic biology, microbiology, computational biology, animal breeding, genetics, or immunology. Skills or interest in genomics, population genetics, conservation genetics, disease ecology, HPC computing, statistical analyses, and animal husbandry are an advantage.
Scholarship applications are competitive – applicants must have first-class Honours, Master’s by research (1 year full-time) or equivalent and an excellent academic record. Peer reviewed publications are beneficial. Post Graduate Research Scholarships for stipends are available through University of Melbourne, for which the applicant will need to apply separately by the 30st of April.

The project will commence in mid 2022

Please submit a CV, cover letter, transcripts, and contact information for two referees to Dr Tiffany Kosch tiffany.kosch@unimelb.edu.au by 31 March 2022.

For more information about our research team please visit our websites:
Lab: blogs.unimelb.edu.au/one-health-research
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/pg/onehealthresearchgroup
Twitter: twitter.com/OneHealthRes
AdLink:www.dropbox.com/s/s7f...f?dl=0

Job website: fvas.unimelb.edu.au/research/graduate-research

Contact name: Tiffany Kosch

Contact email: tiffany.kosch@unimelb.edu.au