PhD Student Opportunity in Chemical Pharmacology

The role:
The successful candidate will have opportunities to work in an interdisciplinary environment at the interface of Peptide Chemistry, Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Development. As part of an international research team, the PhD candidate will purify and analyse peptides from natural sources (plants, insects, venomous animals), prepare and express G protein-coupled receptors in cellular model systems, and determine molecular and pharmacological parameters aiming to design and synthesize optimized peptide ligands for therapeutic applications.

The person:
Applicants will have a First Class Honours degree in Molecular or Biochemical Sciences, or equivalent and should be eligible for an Australian Postgraduate Award or equivalent.

Applicants should have a strong interest in receptor pharmacology, be highly motivated and have a strong desire to develop their personal research skills, including presentation of data, preparation of manuscripts and publication of results in high-impact journals. Strong academic performance demonstrated at a world-class Higher Education institute, and ability to work independently is an asset. Publication output in peer reviewed international journals is highly desirable. Applicants will need to meet the PhD entry requirements of the UQ Graduate School (www.uq.edu.au/grad-school/our-research-degrees), including UQ language criteria (www.uq.edu.au/grad-school/english-language-proficiency-requirements).

Remuneration:
The candidate will be expected to apply for an Australian Postgraduate Award (APA), International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (IPRS), or equivalent funding (see www.uq.edu.au/grad-school/scholarships-and-fees). The current APA scholarship rate is AUD$26,288 per annum (2016 rate, indexed annually) tax-free for three years, with a possible six month extension in approved circumstances. A top-up scholarship ($2,000 per annum) may be available to the successful candidate.

Assistance with the application process will be provided. Postgraduate scholarships are awarded competitively based on merit, to students of exceptional research potential undertaking a research higher degree. This appointment is conditional upon the applicant receiving an APA Scholarship or equivalent.