Research Higher Degree Opportunities
We always have openings for high quality research students. UQ accepts research students any time of the year through a streamlined process with one application form.
Potential applicants should start by submitting the Expression of Interest form located on the UQ Graduate School site. The form collects all the information we need to help guide you through the process of applying for admission, enrolment as well as scholarships. Once this form has been assessed and our ability to provide you with a place established, you will receive detailed instruction on the application process.
Most students will study on general scholarships and projects will be developed in collaboration between the student and supervisor. A few project examples are presented below, but the list is by no means comprehensive and students are encourage to discuss interests with the supervisor. Occasionally, we have scholarships for specific projects and these will be listed below the project examples. If you are interested in one of these scholarships, you should apply directly to us by following the instructions listed.
Project examples
Development of aromatics producing yeast using systems and synthetic biotechnology
Systems and Synthetic biotechnology is the corner stone of metabolic engineering in the 21st century. The Nielsen lab has long standing expertise in this area and strong collaborations with international biotech and chemical companies. On this background we offer a PhD thesis project, which will focus on metabolic engineering of Saccharomyces cerevisiae as an industrial producer for aromatic chemicals from renewable resources as a replacement of existing petrochemical processes. The core of the project will be genetic engineering of the yeast guided by synthetic biology along with systems biotechnological characterization of the strains (transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, fluxomics) with support by other related PhD projects.
Advanced fluxomics – an enabling technology for metabolic engineering
Metabolic engineering today uses systems and synthetic biotechnology to design new strains. Within this approach, fluxomics is the only technique that can predict as well as quantify a metabolic phenotype. The information gained from flux analysis is invaluable for rational strain design. We offer a PhD thesis project, focusing on development and application of advanced fluxomics within metabolic engineering projects for complex systems. Over the last years we have established advanced computational and analytical capabilities that will support the project. The student will especially focus on modelling aspects and will work closely together with students focussing on development of other parts of systems and synthetic biotechnology.
CE/MS based metabolomics – high resolution quantitative analytics for systems biotechnology
As an integral part of Systems Biotechnology, the Nielsen lab has established strong expertise in metabolomics and fluxomics. One of the most promising technological platforms for quantitative metabolomics and fluxomics is Capillary Electrophoresis coupled to Mass Spectrometry (CE/MS). We offer a PhD thesis project, which will focus on development and application of CE/MS to metabolomics / fluxomics within metabolic engineering projects focusing on highly relevant mammalian cell systems (e.g. Hek293, CHO) growing on complex media. The student will work closely together with other projects focussing on other aspects of systems and synthetic biotechnology.
In silico reconstruction of haematopoietic cell signalling networks
Despite several decades of research, the ability cultivate blood stem cells in vitro and produce large numbers of differentiated progeny remains limited. Cell fates (e.g., self-renewal and differentiation) are regulated by external stimuli such as the presence/absence of growth factors and binding to extracellular matrix components. These stimuli are sensed and transmitted to the cell via complex networks of intercellular signalling molecules that ultimately regulate gene expression and cell phenotype. The development of in silico models will help to unravel the complexities of these networks, and provide a rational framework for identification of promising strategies to enhance in vitro cultivation.
PhD scholarships
There are currently no specific projects with scholarships advertised.