UNSW Applicant Login Job Alert PhD Scholarship Opportunity in Australia
We are looking for an enthusiastic PhD student with a background in dietetics to join our liver cancer research team led by A/Prof Amany Zekry at the Microbiome Research Centre (MRC), St George Hospital in Sydney. It is a great opportunity to join a multidisciplinary team of researchers in a supportive environment to help you achieve your research goals. Our research group at the MRC focusses on the role of the microbiome in the pathogenesis of liver disease and liver cancer.
Project:
Emerging exciting data support a key role for dietary composition in shaping the gut microbiome and its metabolites in patients with liver disease. As such, dietary composition is emerging to be a key player in determining outcomes of liver disease, liver cancer and response to immunotherapy. Through a nationally funded project, we have a large cohort of patients with liver disease that are being longitudinally followed up, forming the basis for an exciting PhD project to elucidate the role of dietary composition in modulating gut microbiome and its metabolites in liver disease and liver cancer, as well as response to immunotherapy. This will form the basis for precision nutritional intervention studies informed by patient specific gut microbiome/metabolite profile to improve outcomes of patients with liver disease and liver cancer. Your expertise in dietetics will be required to collect, interpret and analyse diet-related data in relation to the microbiome and metabolomic profile of participants recruited to the study. You will also participate in pilot clinical interventional studies to modulate gut microbiome and its metabolites through dietary interventions. Your research will play a pivotal role in other ongoing projects such as the development of a microbial-based biomarker model for the early detection of liver cancer in Australia (a $4 million grant awarded to A/Prof Amany Zekry by the Medical Research Future Fund).
About you:
We are looking for domestic and international applicants that are passionate about research in the field of nutrition and liver disease. All applicants must meet the UNSW PhD admission criteria and hold an appropriate bachelor’s degree in nutrition, science, or an equivalent qualification from a tertiary institution as determined by the Faculty Higher Degree Committee (HDC).
Benefits of the position:
- A full stipend of $35,000 per year for 3 years (open to domestic and international candidates)
- An opportunity to join a multidisciplinary team leading microbiome research across several disciplines of medicine
- Be in an environment that encourages growth and development
- Access to a large cohort of participants
- Experience the UNSW culture of equity, diversity and inclusion
How to apply:
To apply, please submit a cover letter detailing your research experience and interest in the project, your academic transcript and CV as well as contact details for two referees. Any applications sent by email will not be accepted.
For enquiries only:
Dr Barbra Toplis, Research Project Manager
For more details on the Microbiome Research Centre: https://microbiome.org.au/
Advertised: 16 Feb 2023 AUS Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: 16 Mar 2023 AUS Eastern Daylight Time