Student network

HDR opportunities

two woman talking in the hallway

Postgraduate training scholarship program opportunities

Charles Sturt University – RNA regulation of histone removal during genome reprogramming

Supervisor(s)

  • Primary Supervisor: Prof Jade Forwood (CSU)
  • Co-Supervisor: A/Prof Tanya Sobeleva (ANU)

Collaborating Partners

Australian National University

Project Description

This project will investigate fundamental mechanisms controlling genome reprogramming during sperm development. In most cells, DNA is packaged by histone proteins, but during spermatogenesis these must be extensively reorganised to enable genome compaction and successful inheritance. While key structural transitions are known, how RNA regulation contributes to this process remains poorly understood. Emerging evidence suggests that coordinated changes in RNA metabolism are critical for enabling chromatin remodelling and maintaining genome integrity. This project will explore how RNA processing and turnover are integrated with chromatin dynamics during this specialised developmental transition. Using a combination of molecular, structural, and cellular approaches, we will investigate the interplay between RNA regulation and genome organisation. The project will focus on identifying regulatory principles and key molecular interactions that underpin these processes, without being restricted to a single pathway. Functional studies will assess how perturbation of RNA regulatory processes influences genome stability and developmental outcomes. Overall, this research will define new conceptual links between RNA biology and chromatin organisation, providing fundamental insights into genome packaging, inheritance, and reproductive biology.

Project Impact

This project will uncover a previously unknown mechanism controlling RNA turnover during genome reprogramming, addressing a major gap in our understanding of fertility and inheritance. By defining how histone RNA is regulated during sperm development, the work has potential to inform new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for male infertility. More broadly, the findings will advance RNA biology by revealing how RNA decay is coordinated with chromatin structure. This will position Australia at the forefront of RNA research and strengthen capability in molecular biology, reproductive health, and genome regulation.

Eligibility

Students with a background in molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, or RNA biology, particularly those interested in gene regulation, chromatin biology, or reproductive biology.

Charles Sturt University – Developing RNA therapeutics to target host pathways key to viral infection

Supervisor(s)

  • Primary Supervisor: Dr Brian McSharry (CSU)
  • Co-Supervisor: Prof Jade Forwood (CSU)

Collaborating Partners

A/Prof Megan Steain (The University of Sydney and Vaxosome)

Project Description

The project will focus on developing RNA based therapeutics that will be used to target a conserved host pathway (nuclear localisation) that is essential to multiple viral infections. We have recently identified specific components of nuclear localisation pathway that play a key role in supporting efficient viral infection. We will further characterise this pathway in the context of RNA virus infection facilitating the design and development RNA based approaches to deliver targeted inhibitors. Such candidates can then be tested in both in vitro and in vivo settings for efficacy.

Project Impact

The project aims to develop specific RNA based inhibitors that can be used to target multiple viral infections with a focus on inhibitors of important viral pathogens that use the nuclear import pathway e.g. influenza virus.

Eligibility

Prospective HDR students that have or will have completed/or are completing an Honours year or Masters training.

The University of Newcastle – AI Integrated Rational Design of Zwitterionic Ionizable Lipids for Extrahepatic Nucleic Acid Delivery

Supervisor(s)

  • Primary Supervisor: A/Prof Roger Liang (UoN)
  • Co-Supervisors: Prof Nathan Bartlett (UoN)

Collaborating Partners

A/Prof Defang Ouyang (University of Macau)

Project Description

Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are the leading delivery platform for RNA therapeutics, yet their broader clinical translation is hindered by liver‑biased biodistribution, inefficient endosomal escape, and inflammation arising from positively charged lipid surfaces at physiological pH. This project seeks to overcome these limitations through the rational design of zwitterionic ionizable lipids (ZILs) that remain electrically neutral in circulation but become cationic within acidic endosomes, enabling efficient cytosolic RNA release while minimizing protein corona formation, ApoE binding, and reactogenicity.
We will establish an AI‑integrated design and discovery platform that combines generative molecular modelling, property prediction, and experimental feedback to systematically explore ZIL chemical space under realistic synthetic constraints. Candidate ZILs will be prioritized for optimal apparent pKa (6.5–6.8), promotion of fusogenic, non‑lamellar membrane transitions, and reduced serum protein interactions. High‑throughput combinatorial synthesis and biophysical screening will define mechanistic relationships between molecular structure, membrane phase behavior, and endosomal escape efficiency.

Lead ZILs will be formulated into simplified LNP systems and evaluated in vitro and in vivo, with an emphasis on extrahepatic delivery, particularly lung targeting. Through iterative AI‑driven optimisation, this project will yield predictive design rules and next‑generation LNPs with enhanced safety, potency, and tissue specificity, accelerating the development of extrahepatic nucleic acid therapeutics.

Project Impact

This project delivers clear translational value by enabling RNA therapeutics that are safer, more effective, and deployable beyond the liver. Rationally designed zwitterionic ionizable lipids will reduce inflammation, improve tolerability, and enhance therapeutic windows – key barriers to clinical adoption. Simplified LNP formulations lower manufacturing complexity, improve batch‑to‑batch robustness, and accelerate scale‑up. The AI‑driven design framework shortens development timelines and de‑risks candidate selection, directly benefiting industry pipelines. Critically, enhanced extrahepatic delivery, particularly to the lung, unlocks new indications in respiratory, immunological, and infectious diseases currently under-served by existing LNP technologies.

Eligibility

Domestic or international candidates with background in chemistry, biomedical science, pharmaceutical science, biotechnology, or a related field.

The University of Newcastle – Media representation and public perception of RNA vaccines and therapeutics in Australia

Supervisor(s)

  • Primary Supervisor: Dr Elaine Xu (UoN)
  • Co-Supervisors: A/Prof Caragh Brosnan (UoN), Dr Lex Xia (UoN)
  • Affiliated Supervisor: Prof Nathan Bartlett (UoN)

Collaborating Partners

To be confirmed

Project Description

Declining vaccination rates and inadequate immunisation investments have led to overburdened healthcare systems and increased outbreaks of vaccine‑preventable diseases. Yet, how mRNA vaccines, and RNA therapeutics more broadly are perceived and understood by specific publics is under-researched. Establishing how different publics perceive and understand RNA science and technology is of great importance to gauge social acceptance and future uptakes. Understanding and addressing public concerns about science also requires moving beyond the ‘deficit discourse’ where publics are conceived as ‘anti-science’ or lacking knowledge of science.

This PhD project will investigate how Australian publics perceive and understand RNA vaccines and therapeutics, addressing critical gaps in vaccine communication research. It combines a content analysis of media reports, online surveys, and message testing with public health experts and journalists to understand how messages about RNA science and technology developments are received and interpreted in Australia. By generating evidence-based understanding of effective scientific communication in relation to RNA vaccines and therapeutics, this research will contribute to addressing these critical knowledge gaps and supporting improved health outcomes.

Project Impact

The project's findings will identify shifts in public discourse and media representations of vaccine safety and its importance in Australia over time, revealing how the media shapes vaccine attitudes and behaviours and how ethical debates and regulations are embedded into media coverage of vaccine and vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks. By analysing representations of RNA therapeutics alongside vaccines, the project will yield insight into how public perceptions of vaccine safety may influence, or differ from, perceptions of RNA’s wider therapeutic potential. Findings will provide evidence-based insights into the effective messaging strategies for RNA vaccine and therapeutics communication that can enhance public trust in RNA-science communication.

Eligibility

High calibre students who are passionate about public health messaging, social science, media analysis, and science communication. Applicants should have a background in Communication Studies, Public Health or Sociology (or cognate disciplines relevant to the project’s focus). It will be ideal to have knowledge of, or experience in, qualitative and/or quantitative methods, such as content analysis, surveys, and message testing.

University of New England – Synthesis of Thermostable Trehalose-Based Amphiphilic RNA Vaccine Carriers for use in Agriculture and Medicine 

Supervisor(s)

  • Principal Supervisor: Dr Brendan Wilkinson, School of Science & Technology, UNE 
  • Co-Supervisor: Associate Prof. Nick Andronicos, School of Science & Technology, UNE 
  • Co-Supervisor: Professor Stephen Walkden-Brown, School of Environmental and Rural Science 
  • External Co-Supervisor: TBC (RRTN partner institution)
  • Industry Partner: Poultry Hub Australia (TBC)

Project Description

Australia's $5.5 billion poultry industry faces ongoing biosecurity threats from viral pathogens such as Newcastle disease, and infectious bronchitis, which impacts animal health and human food security. RNA-based vaccines potentially offer protection against viral diseases but suffer from instability, requiring -80oC ultra-cold storage. This requirement hinders on-farm deployment of these vaccines in Australian agricultural settings where reliable ultra cold-chain infrastructure is lacking. This project will define technology to overcome this barrier by developing a trehalose-based liposomal formulation that combines RNA delivery and thermostabilisation into a single self-assembling vehicle. Trehalose, a natural disaccharide, stabilises macromolecules through glass formation and water replacement. The goal is to design formulations that eliminate ultra-cold chain requirements of RNA vaccines thereby allowing their distribution and storage (-20oC to 4oC), or ambient temperatures, which are compatible with Australian farm infrastructure. 

  • Chemical Component: synthesis of a trehalose-based Janus dendrimers (JD) of 2+2, 1+2 and 2+1 JD) and characterisation of the resulting molecular structures using NMR, MALDI-ToF MS, and LC-MS, including characterisations of size, morphology, and stability using DLS, TEM/cryo-EM, and zeta potential measurements. 
  • Biological Component: the encapsulation efficiency and thermostability of the RNA cargo as well as release profiles using in vitro chemical and biological cellular assays and the establishment of proof-of-concept for poultry vaccine antigens via industry collaboration. 

This interdisciplinary project is ideal for candidates with interests in developing and translating novel chemical compounds that are applicable to veterinary immunology.

Project Impact 

Potential new vaccine candidates against viral pathogens can be rapidly designed after viral sequencing, yet their use in agricultural settings remains untenable because of the reliance on ultra cold-chain distribution and storage requirements to maintain efficacy. This project will address this critical technological gap by developing RNA vaccine vehicles that are thermostable thereby eliminating or /reducing ultra cold-chain requirements for these vaccines. Once defined, this technology is expected to reduce the dosage cost of RNA vaccines, which is an important consideration for the global veterinary vaccine market with poultry vaccines having the major share. This project will equip the candidate with skills directly translatable to the growing RNA therapeutics as well as the veterinary biotechnology sector. 

Eligibility

  • Australian or New Zealand citizen, or Australian permanent resident. 
  • Meets UNE admission requirements for a Doctor of Philosophy. 
  • Background in chemistry, biochemistry, pharmaceutical science, or a related discipline. 
  • Willingness to perform animal experiments approved by the university Animal Ethics Committee. 
  • Experience in organic synthesis and/or formulation science is desirable but not essential. 

University of New England – Development of Fluorescent Janus Dendrimer Nanocarriers for RNA-Based Glaucoma Therapy  

Supervisor(s)

  • Principal Supervisor: Dr Nitin Chitranshi, School of Science & Technology, UNE 
  • Co-Supervisor: A/Prof Kirstan Vessey, School of Science & Technology, UNE 
  • • Co-Supervisor: Dr Brendan Wilkinson, School of Science & Technology, UNE 
  • External Co-Supervisor: TBC (RRTN partner institution) 

Project Description

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, affecting over 80 million people including 300,000. The incidence of glaucoma is expected to increase with our aging population. While current treatments focus on lowering intraocular pressure (IOP), they do not address the progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), the neurons whose death ultimately causes vision loss. RNA-based therapeutics offer a powerful new approach to directly protect and potentially rescue RGCs. However, delivering RNA safely and efficiently to the posterior segment of the eye remains a critical unmet challenge. 

This project will develop a novel class of fluorescent nanocarrier based on a Janus dendrimer (JD) architecture, which integrates RNA delivery, endosomal escape, and intrinsic imaging capability into a single molecular architecture. Specifically, the project will entail the synthesis of trehalose-histidine hybrid nanocarriers for combined intraocular delivery and fluorescent bioimaging. A fluorescent PDI core will enable real-time tracking of the nanocarrier using confocal microscopy without the need for external fluorescent labels. 

The PhD candidate will synthesize, characterise and perform biological delivery experiments including: 

  • Design and production of PDI-cored Janus dendrimers bearing trehalose and polyhistidine functionalities, optimising the molecular architecture for self-assembly, RNA binding, and biocompatibility and characterise these dendrimer formulations, especially RNA encapsulation and release. 
  • Image cellular uptake and intracellular trafficking in RGC and trabecular meshwork cell models using confocal microscopy, exploiting the intrinsic PDI fluorescence to track endosomal escape and cell-type selectivity and assess neuroprotective or gene-silencing efficacy of RNA-loaded dendrimers in glaucoma-relevant in vitro models. 
  • Evaluate biocompatibility and retinal cell tolerance of dendrimer formulations across a range of concentrations in RGC and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell models, assessing cytotoxicity, inflammatory markers, and cell viability and assess retinal penetration and distribution of fluorescent dendrimers in ex vivo retinal tissue models using confocal imaging 

This interdisciplinary project spans synthetic chemistry, nanomaterial science, cell biology, and ocular pharmacology, and will equip the candidate with skills directly translatable to the growing RNA therapeutics sector. The candidate will undertake a 3-month industry internship with a pharmaceutical or biotechnology partner, ensuring exposure to the translational pipeline for RNA therapeutics. 

Project Impact 

RNA-based therapeutics have the potential to enhance patient outcomes by delivering neuroprotective factors (e.g., BDNF via mRNA) or silencing disease-driving genes. However, safe and effective non-viral delivery to retinal neurons remains a major barrier to clinical translation. This project addresses this barrier through a fundamentally new molecular design: a Janus dendrimer that combines delivery, biocompatibility, and built-in imaging in a single architecture. 

Eligibility

  • Australian citizenship or permanent residency (or equivalent visa status) is preferred; however, outstanding international applicants will be considered
  • Meets UNE admission requirements for a Doctor of Philosophy. 
  • Background in chemistry, biochemistry, pharmaceutical science, or a related discipline. 
  • Willingness to perform animal experiments approved by the university's Animal Ethics Committee. 
  • Experience in organic synthesis and/or formulation science is desirable but not essential

University of Wollongong – RNAi Delivery for pancreatic cancer

Supervisor(s)

  • Primary Supervisor: A/Prof Kara Vine-Perrow (UoW)
  • Co-Supervisor(s): Samantha Wade (UoW)
  • Affiliated Supervisor(s): Morteza Aghmesheh (UoW, Prince of Wales Hospital)

Collaborating Partner(s)

  • FivepHusion Pty Ltd (industry partner)
  • Prince of Wales Hospital
  • Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF-Materials, UoW Node)

Project Description

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal cancers, in part due to the dense fibrotic stroma that limits the delivery and efficacy of systemic chemotherapy. To overcome this, my laboratory has developed a polymeric implant (ResectAssist™) for the localised delivery of chemo- and immuno-therapeutic drugs directly into the tumour bed, demonstrating superior safety and marked tumour regression in murine PDAC models. This project will expand this platform to deliver RNA interference (RNAi) molecules targeting oncogenic drivers and stromal components that promote PDAC resistance. Using advanced hydrogel formulations, the PhD candidate will design and characterise a biodegradable RNAi-loaded implant capable of sustained, local release while maintaining RNA integrity and bioactivity. The research will integrate RNA formulation chemistry, biomaterials engineering and molecular oncology to evaluate gene silencing efficiency, tumour microenvironment modulation, and therapeutic efficacy in vitro and in vivo. This project directly addresses a major translational gap in RNA delivery, offering a scalable approach for localised RNA-based therapies with reduced off target effects.

Project Impact

This project will pioneer a next-generation platform for local RNAi delivery in solid tumours, advancing the application of RNA therapeutics beyond systemic administration - with high potential for generating new IP. By combining polymer science with RNA nanotechnology, this research will provide new insights into biomaterial–RNA interactions and enable the development of more precise, safe and effective treatments for pancreatic cancer. The project will build cross-disciplinary capability in RNA therapeutics and drug delivery within NSW, contributing to the growing RNA innovation ecosystem and strengthening partnerships between academia, healthcare and industry.

Eligibility

Domestic or international PhD candidate with background in molecular biology and biomedical engineering.

University of Wollongong – treatments for Pulmonary Fibrosis

Supervisor(s)

  • Primary Supervisor: Professor Haibo Yu (UoW) and Professor Chris Hyland (UoW)
  • Co-Supervisor(s): Lisanne Spenkelink (UoW)
  • Affiliated Supervisor(s): Dr Dieter Hamprecht (Syntara), Dr Felix Rizzuto (UNSW)

Collaborating Partner(s)

  • Syntara Pharmaceuticals (industry partner)
  • School of Chemistry, UNSW

Project Description

Much of our DNA is transcribed into RNA but only about 1.5% of the genome is translated into proteins. This means there is likely to be significantly more RNA drug targets than protein targets. While small molecules have been discovered that can modulate cellular RNAs, the binding of these molecules is often too weak to bring result in biological activity. One solution to this challenge is to conjugate these small molecules with an effector molecule to give a heterobifunctional molecular that cleave RNA. This emerging approach has the potential for addressing many currently undruggable diseases.

In this project we will use heterobifunctional small molecules known as Proximity Induced Nucleic Acid Degraders (PINADs) to target non-coding RNAs implicated in pulmonary fibrosis - a therapeutic area of potential interest to our industry partner Syntara.  We will combine computational techniques to identify small molecule binders and prepare these using traditional and data-driven automated synthetic chemistry. The systems tested for activity and a detailed understanding of the exact nature of the ligand binding to the RNA will be studied with collaborators at UNSW and the Molecular Horizons Research Institute at UoW.

Project Impact

As idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) has limited treatment options this project will have a future impact by delivering new avenues to explore development of therapeutics that can reverse or cure this debilitating diseases rather than just slow it down. The project will also deliver new understanding of how small molecules interact with and degrade RNA. The interdisciplinary nature of the project will allow provide guidance on how to design Proximity Induced Nucleic Acid Degraders (PINADs) that can be expanded to other unmet disease areas.

Eligibility

Domestic or international PhD candidate with background in organic synthesis/medicinal chemistry and molecular modelling. This would suit researchers at the interface of synthetic chemistry, biology and informatics.

University of Wollongong – Sequence-specific targeting of endogenous retroviral RNAs

Supervisor(s)

  • Primary Supervisor: Dr Dezerae Cox (UoW)
  • Co-Supervisor: Prof Heath Ecroyd (UoW)

Collaborating Partners

University of Wollongong – NERVLAB led by Dr Dezerae Cox (NHMRC Investigator, ARC DECRA with expertise in neurodegenerative disease, endogenous retroelements, and programmable RNA technologies) and Prof Heath Ecroyd (expertise in neurodegenerative disease, cell models).

Project Description

This project will deliver a versatile, scalable RNA-targeting workflow applicable to difficult or repetitive sequences. The focus is on sequence-specific targeting of human endogenous retroviral (HERV) transcripts, which comprise 8% of the human genome and are emerging as critical regulators of health and disease. By exploiting the therapy-ready humanised CRISPR-Cas-Inspired RNA Targeting System (CIRTS) technology, this project will generate a validated toolbox for the design and screening of targeting RNAs at scale, primed for translation.

The successful PhD candidate will design and validate sequence-specific CIRTS guide RNAs amenable to therapeutic modulation of divergent HERV-K loci, including those implicated in neurodegeneration. Aim 1 will produce a user-friendly pipeline for the design and construction of high-confidence guide RNAs. This will incorporate bioinformatic modelling and modular cloning approaches to streamline guide design across repetitive loci. Integration of transcriptomic and structural prediction data will enhance guide precision, establishing a robust experimental and computational framework applicable to a wide range of RNA-targeting studies. Aim 2 will establish a novel dual-fluorescence reporter system enabling high-throughput screening of guide efficacy and specificity, overcoming the limitations of immunoblotting and qPCR for repetitive sequences. Finally, Aim 3 will evaluate CIRTS-mediated modulation of HERV-K transcripts in human cells.

Project Impact

This project will establish a next-generation RNA-targeting toolkit with broad applicability to RNA therapeutic discovery. Targeting HERV-K in neuronal cells will provide a compelling proof-of-concept with immediate applications against Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. However, the impact of this project will readily transcend this disease; alone, up- or down-regulating other HERVs will reach across neurological, oncogenic, and inflammatory diseases. Other challenging disease-associated targets, such as long non-coding or repeat-derived RNAs, are extremely promising secondary objectives. Embedding this work within the NSW-RRTN will directly enhance the state’s capacity to design, test, and translate RNA-based technologies – bridging academic discovery and future therapeutic development.

Eligibility

Domestic and international PhD candidates with experience or interest in merging laboratory and computational techniques.

Western Sydney University – RNA treatment for Alzheimer's

Supervisor(s)

  • Primary Supervisor: Mourad Tayebi (WSU)
  • Co-Supervisor(s): Monique David (WSU), Slade Jensen (WSU)
  • Affiliated Supervisor(s): Daniel Fernandez Ruiz (UNSW)

Project Description

This PhD project will develop and evaluate next-generation RNA-based therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer’s disease, sitting at the intersection of molecular neuroscience, RNA biology, and translational therapeutics. 

The candidate will be primarily based at Western Sydney University’s School of Medicine, embedded within a multidisciplinary team spanning Alzheimer’s biomarkers, therapeutic discovery, and RNA innovation. 

The project is closely linked with the NSW RNA Research and Translation Network (RRTN), enabling access to state-wide RNA synthesis, delivery technologies, and analytical capabilities to accelerate translation. 

The research program will focus on: (1) designing and optimising RNA constructs targeting pathological pathways implicated in Alzheimer’s disease; (2) characterising therapeutic effects using relevant cellular models; (3) validating biomarker responses using ultrasensitive platforms; and (4) contributing to in vivo proof-of-concept studies. 

The student will also be encouraged to explore complementary approaches such as RNA-based modulation of neuroinflammatory pathways. 

Through this training, the candidate will build strong skills in molecular cloning, RNA design and delivery, cell culture, neurodegeneration assays, advanced imaging, and multi-omics data interpretation, alongside exposure to industry, clinical, and regulatory perspectives. 

Outcomes will generate preclinical evidence to support future clinical translation and commercialisation, contribute to NSW’s ambition for a globally competitive RNA ecosystem, and help open new treatment avenues for a disease with major societal burden.

Project Impact

This project aims to generate preclinical proof-of-concept for novel RNA therapeutics targeting early Alzheimer’s disease, by advancing RNA construct design, delivery, and biomarker-linked efficacy testing. Successful outcomes will (i) help open new treatment avenues for a condition with major societal burden, (ii) strengthen NSW’s strategic ambition to build a globally competitive RNA ecosystem, and (iii) produce the preclinical evidence base needed for future clinical translation and commercialisation, while also training the candidate to become a leader in RNA-based neurological therapeutics.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

  • Be a domestic student – Only Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens may apply.
  • Hold qualifications and experience equivalent to one of the following: – An Australian First Class Bachelor (Honours) degree; Masters degree with at least a 25% research component; or a Research Masters degree; or Equivalent overseas qualifications assessed as comparable.
  • Demonstrate strong academic performance in subjects relevant to: Molecular biology, neuroscience, biochemistry, biomedical science, immunology, or RNA biology.
  • Show foundational understanding of neurodegeneration, particularly: Alzheimer’s disease mechanisms, biomarker research, or neuroinflammation (or willingness to learn these areas).
  • Be willing to learn advanced methodologies, including: RNA design and delivery, neurocellular models, biomarker assays, or related analytical techniques.
  • Demonstrate enthusiasm, motivation, and capacity for independent research at an advanced level within a multidisciplinary environment. 
  • Meet English language proficiency requirements, if applicable to domestic applicants from non-English-speaking backgrounds.

Western Sydney University – Reprogramming the Rumen Microbiome Using RNA Vaccines and Probiotics to Suppress Methanogenesis and Enhance Livestock Health

Supervisor(s)

  • Primary Supervisor: Mourad Tayebi (WSU)
  • Co-Supervisor(s): Monique David (WSU), Slade Jensen (WSU)

Collaborating Partners

NSW Department of Primary Industries

Project Description

Enteric methane emissions from cattle represent a major contributor to agricultural greenhouse gases and a significant loss of dietary energy, adversely affecting livestock productivity and health. Current mitigation strategies offer limited durability, scalability, or biological specificity. This project proposes a next-generation, biologically targeted solution that combines precision RNA-based vaccines against key methane-producing rumen microbes with beneficial probiotic consortia to sustainably reprogram the rumen ecosystem.

The project will focus on the identification and validation of species-specific methanogenic bacterial targets responsible for methane production in cattle. Using advanced molecular and immunological approaches, tRNA-based vaccines will be designed to elicit selective immune responses against these microbes, reducing methanogenesis without disrupting overall rumen function. In parallel, native and health-promoting probiotic strains will be developed to stabilise rumen microbial communities, enhance feed efficiency, and support animal health and immune resilience.

The research will integrate in-silico antigen discovery, in-vitro rumen fermentation models, and controlled in-vivo validation to assess methane suppression, microbial ecosystem dynamics, animal performance, and safety. This dual-intervention strategy is designed to achieve durable methane reduction while avoiding the ecological instability often associated with single-target approaches.

Project Impact

By addressing methane emissions at their biological source while improving livestock health, this project directly supports Australia's Net Zero ambitions, strengthens the circular bioeconomy, and positions Australian agri-biotechnology at the forefront of global climate-responsive livestock innovation.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

  • Be a domestic student – Only Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, or eligible New Zealand citizens may apply.
  • Hold qualifications and experience equivalent to one of the following: – An Australian First Class Bachelor (Honours) degree; Masters degree with at least a 25% research component; or a Research Masters degree; or Equivalent overseas qualifications assessed as comparable.
  • Demonstrate strong academic performance in subjects relevant to: Molecular biology, neuroscience, biochemistry, biomedical science, immunology, or RNA biology.
  • Show foundational understanding of neurodegeneration, particularly: Alzheimer’s disease mechanisms, biomarker research, or neuroinflammation (or willingness to learn these areas).
  • Be willing to learn advanced methodologies, including: RNA design and delivery, neurocellular models, biomarker assays, or related analytical techniques.
  • Demonstrate enthusiasm, motivation, and capacity for independent research at an advanced level within a multidisciplinary environment.
  • Meet English language proficiency requirements, if applicable to domestic applicants from non-English-speaking backgrounds.

University of Sydney - 2 PHD scholarship opportunities

Supervisor(s)

TBD

Project Description

Two scholarships have been established to support two high-calibre PhD candidates undertaking research aligned with the NSW RNA Research and Training Network. The program provides enhanced training opportunities, including specialised RNA-focused coursework, professional development activities, and access to the Network’s internship and industry engagement components.

Holders of the Scholarship will receive a stipend of $42,754 per annum (indexed on 1 January each year using University of Sydney’s Research Training Program stipend rate), subject to satisfactory academic performance.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

  • be a domestic or an international student
  • must apply for admission and submit all required documentation for admission to commence or be currently enrolled in a PhD at the University of Sydney
  • submit the scholarship application form available on the Scholarships Office website
  • participate in NSW-RRTN training modules, workshops, and networking events as part of their scholarship obligations.

An applicant without an unconditional offer of admission may apply and be selected, however, no scholarship offer will be sent until the applicant has an unconditional offer of admission.