Defining the Gut-lung Axis in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Value
$32,500 per year (RTP Stipend rate, indexed annually); additional funds ($7.5k) during the course of the PhD for travel and other PhD-related expenses.
Duration
3.5 years.
Status
Closed
Opens
31/10/2022Closes
01/11/2023Overview
Outstanding candidates with a background in biomedical science, microbiology, or similar are invited to apply for a fully funded PhD scholarship in the Centre for Inflammation, School of Life Science, University of Technology Sydney, to study role of the gut-lung axis in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) under the supervision of Prof. Phil Hansbro.
During their PhD, candidates will learn and implement a number of important techniques spanning biology, microbiology and molecular science (particularly multiomics approaches) to study the pathology of COPD and how the microbiome may play a role in the development of this prevalent and severe lung disease. The ultimate aim of this project is to define the role of the gut-lung axis in COPD and test novel therapies to treat COPD via the manipulation of the gut-lung axis.
Who is eligible?
- Applicants must be either permanent Australian or New Zealand residents or citizens.
- Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree in a biomedical or biological science
- Have a strong academic record and prior laboratory experience
- Completion of Honours degree with First Class, or Second Class Division 1; or MSc Research; or MSc Coursework with a research thesis of at least 6 months.
Selection process
- be highly motivated and capable of independent work
- have a strong team focus
- possess excellent communication skills and the ability to work with a diverse range of people and within established collaborative teams
- have knowledge of a research/laboratory environment and requirements
- be computer literate in standard research software
- be able to maintain thorough laboratory records
- experience with standard lab techniques such as ELISA, RNA extraction, reverse transcription, qPCR, western blotting, cell culture, aseptic technique, histological analysis, Immunohistochemistry, Immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, and primer design.
- Be able to conduct in vivo mouse models
Need more information? Contact...
Please contact Prof. Phil Hansbro for further information.
Other information
COPD and lung diseases are enormous clinical issues and effective treatments are urgently needed. They are driven by local and systemic inflammation but most studies focus on the lung. There is infectious and immune crosstalk between the gut and lungs. Gut diseases induce lung inflammation and are linked to COPD and asthma, and vice versa. New approaches that manipulate gut microbiomes/metabolites have enormous potential as new therapies for lung diseases. This project will synergise our skills to progress our pioneering studies of the gut-lung axis (GLA) to therapeutically manipulate microbiomes and immunity in the gut to treat COPD.
