PhD Scholarship in Correlative Light and Electron Microscopy
Macrophages are specifically designed to kill invading pathogens by employing a diverse
arsenal of anti-microbial agents. Despite that important human pathogens such as
Legionella and Leishmania survive long-term within specialized compartments of
macrophages. The project will use sophisticated advanced optical imaging in
combination with electron microscopy to reveal the molecular nature and dynamics of
these cellular structures. Correlated light and electron microscopy approaches will be
applied that provide a powerful technique in molecular cellular imaging by combining the
advantages of light microscopy such as live-cell imaging with the high-resolution of
structural details visible by electron microscopy. This research program involves a
multidisciplinary collaborative team with skills in Molecular Cell Biology, Biochemistry,
Cellular Imaging, Bioinformatics, Microbiology and Immunology. The team is located in
the Biosciences precinct at Monash University.
Applications are invited for PhD positions in this research consortium that will seek to
understand the survival of pathogens such as Legionella and Leishmania in
phagolysosomal compartments of macrophages by correlative light and electron
microscopy. Particular project areas will be identified to suit the skills and ambitions of
the successful candidate.
Essential Criteria
An H1 Honours degree, or Masters by Research degree, or Master by Coursework degree
with a minor thesis. The Honours/Masters degree should be in a relevant discipline such
as: Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Genetics, Computer Science. The
student nominated for this scholarship must:
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have completed a four year undergraduate degree or equivalent, with an H1
assessment;
be eligible for full-time enrolment in a PhD – a curriculum vitae should be
submitted with the applicant's candidature form to enable this to be assessed;
be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or an Australian permanent resident;
not have previously enrolled in an equivalent degree.
The PhD stipend rate is $22,860 p.a. in 2011.
For enquiries and further information, please contact:
Dr. Georg Ramm: georg.ramm@monash.edu or
Dr. Thomas Naderer: thomas.naderer@monash.edu