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Graduate research opportunities

HDR students are an integral part of fostering an innovative and collaborative research culture within the Centre and with its collaborators. Joining the Centre as a HDR student will see you embed in a thriving research culture and give you the opportunity to be supervised by researchers with proven track records in producing high-calibre HDR graduates with timely completions and excellent outcomes.

We have ongoing collaborations with clinicians through existing funded research programs, well-established participant recruitment pipelines and access to large cohort studies. You will be provided with extensive supervisory mentorship, cutting-edge research projects with significant academic/industry networking opportunities, as well as grant and professional development opportunities.

For more information about PhD studies, view the links in 'See Also' or to find out about our Masters by Research course view the flyer in the 'Downloads'.

Hear from one of our PhD Alumni students

Current research programs actively recruiting HDR students:

Neurological conditions

Understanding genetic contributions to disease progression in Alzheimer's disease

Leveraging extensive existing genome wide genetic and longitudinal clinical phenotype (brain imaging, cognition) data combined with bioinformatic approaches, this program of research will further our understanding of the genetic contributions to Alzheimer's disease development and progression.

Identifying DNA methylation patterns as biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease

Leveraging extensive longitudinal epigenetic (genome wide methylation) and clinical phenotype (brain imaging, cognition) data combined with bioinformatic approaches, this project will contribute significantly to understanding epigenetic changes that occur during the development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

Exploring gene-lifestyle interactions to allow for the personalisation of intervention approaches in Alzheimer's disease

This research program investigates the interaction of genetics and lifestyle/modifiable risk factors (sleep, physical activity, diet, and metabolic factors) in the context of Alzheimer's Disease with the aim of furthering our understanding of gene-lifestyle interactions (Lifestyle Genomics (LGx)) and development of individualised lifestyle interventions and preventative strategies.

Contact for above projects: Professor Simon Laws (s.laws@ecu.edu.au)

Cancer

Identifying blood biomarkers predictive of therapeutic response to immunotherapy

The overarching aim of this study is to assess the clinical utility of blood derived biomarkers such as circulating tumour cells (CTCs), circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) and extracellular vesicles for predicting and monitoring response to immune checkpoint blockade in melanoma and lung cancer.

It is expected that a suitable candidate has a background in bioinformatic analysis.

Contact: Professor Elin Gray (e.gray@ecu.edu.au)

Identifying mechanisms of liver metastasis and effective treatment strategies in uveal melanoma

Contact: Dr Vivian Chua (v.chua@ecu.edu.au)

The identification of autoantibodies for the diagnosis and monitoring of non-melanoma skin cancers

Contact: Dr Pauline Zaenker (p.zaenker@ecu.edu.au)

Chronic and metabolic conditions

Deciphering the IgG glycosylation code of Crohn's disease

Contact: Dr Xingang Li (xingang.li@ecu.edu.au

Towards personalised medicine via population-based study of variability of the human IgG glycome

This ongoing research project aims to develop precise screening and diagnostic N-glycan biomarker panels, over multiple complex phenotypes, and the investigation of their inter- and intra-population validity.

Profiling IgG N-glycans as biomarkers of the ageing process: The Busselton Healthy Ageing Study

The group are one of the founding members of the Human Glycome Project. The N-glycome may be able to stratify individuals who are at risk of developing more serious chronic diseases, during a window where changed behaviours may have the greatest impact.

Suboptimal health: A new instrument for chronic disease assessment

The group has ongoing research focusing on Suboptimal Health Status in diverse populations differing in age range, socioeconomic status, ethnicity and lifestyle behaviours.

Contact for above 3 projects: Professor Wei Wang (wei.wang@ecu.edu.au)

For further information about postgraduate opportunities please contact one of the below supervisors:

Neurological conditions - Professor Simon Laws

Cancer - Professor Elin Gray

Chronic and metabolic conditions - Professor Wei Wang

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