Download UTS:C3 Plant Molecular Biology PhD Scholarship application details

PhD scholarship in Plant Molecular Biology/Plant
System-based Biology available now
The Plant Functional Biology and Climate Change Cluster (C3) addresses global questions
related to climate change and its subsequent impacts on a wide range of plant-based
ecosystems, using high-throughput sequencing approaches such as transcriptomics assisted
gene-targeting techniques, advanced photobiology, optics and molecular microbial ecology.
Project background:
We are seeking a PhD candidate, who is motivated to apply extensive bench-based assays to
validate biological hypotheses examining the ecological adaptations of seagrasses to their
complex and changing environment. The PhD project will focus specifically on light and
CO2 mediated stress on seagrass.
The successful applicant should
- have a background in plant molecular biology
- be well versed in techniques relevant to molecular biology such as DNA/RNA extraction,
electrophoresis, primer design for PCR, gene cloning, western blots, heterologous gene
expression cassette, protein purification and expression.
- experience in designing stress experiments would be well regarded
Extensive bioinformatics training will be provided to the PhD candidate. They will have full
access to the state-of-the-art plant molecular biology and bioinformatics facilities within C3;
allied capacity in photobiology and metabolomics are also available.
Eligibility:
 Available to start as soon as possible (no later than June, 2015)
 Australian and New Zealand applicants preferred; overseas applicants will need to be
competitive for an international postgraduate research scholarship at UTS, which
covers tuition fees for 3 years; this usually means a Masters degree (or equivalent)
with several publications.
 No prior knowledge of bioinformatics is required, although motivation to learn
bioinformatics will be necessary.
 Candidate should be motivated to publish in high impact journals.
The successful candidate will be eligible for a full scholarship ($25,849AUD p.a.) and a
generous research allowance from C3 ($2,500 p.a.).
How to apply: Academic and informal inquires should be addressed to Prof. Peter Ralph
([email protected]) and Dr. Gaurav Sablok ([email protected]) by 17 th April
and should include:
 Full CV, including names of two referees
 One page summary of relevant research experience and how you contributed to the
research
 One page research proposal, including a novel approach for this project that will
result in a better understanding of seagrass ecosystems