Are you interested in getting a PhD in Australia? Monash U. is located in
Melbourne, Australia and they are looking for PhD candidates. See below.
PhD Scholarship No 1.
Title:
Understanding risks derived from Campylobacter
in recreational waters
The project:
Cities rely on their river systems to provide multiple benefits to
communities, including provision of: drinking water, flood mitigation, cultural
traditions, aesthetic appeal and recreational opportunities. However, due care
is required; recreational waterborne disease outbreaks are common and can cost
communities 100s of million dollars per year. Many of these outbreaks arise
from contact with pathogens derived from faecal pollution.
Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessments (QMRA) are applied to
attempt to characterise hazards and estimate their associated human health
risks associated with recreational water contact. Several QMRAs have determined
that bacterial pathogens are a major source of risk to recreational water
users, with Campylobacter alone shown to represent a risk of illness per
swimming event twice that of protozoa and enteric viruses. However, these studies
have assumed the majority of Campylobacter isolated from recreational
waters were infective; an assumption which needs verification.
The aims of this project are to apply a multiple lines of evidence
approach through the application of whole genome sequencing (WGS), and in vitro
assays to define the human health risk of Campylobacter isolated from
recreational waters.
The project will focus on the use of a multi-pronged approach,
combining WGS-based genetic typing, toxicity and other in-vitro assays to
characterise a subset of Campylobacter collected taken from rivers,
animal and clinical sources within Australia. In combination, the results will
allow the student to infer potential infectivity and estimate the proportion of
infectious Campylobacter within our recreational waters. The data will then
be applied by our industry partners, Melbourne Water and the Environmental
Protection Authority, to update existing QMRAs to better define human health
risks associated with these environments.
The opportunity:
One scholarship is potentially available in the Department of Civil
Engineering, Monash University, Clayton Campus. The position would be for 3
years full-time research towards a PhD. A tax-free stipend is provided (roughly
$28,000/year). There is potential for the applicants to earn an extra $3,000
(not-tax free) per annum through assistance in undergraduate teaching.
Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, or New Zealand
citizens, are exempt from the full tuition fee costs for the duration of
candidature. International students are eligible to apply on the condition the
awardees have the ability to meet full tuition fee costs for the duration of
candidature.
Attendance at both national and international conferences could be
provided during the course of the degree.
The start date is as soon as possible, but must be before February
2017.
Selection Criteria:
1.
Bachelor of Science or
Biomedical Science degree with H1 Honours (majoring in Microbiology, Chemistry,
Biology, Biochemistry or related field)
2.
An excellent academic track record,
including having published in peer reviewed journals or conferences
3.
Outstanding ability to use a
range of computer packages. In your application, please provide proof that you
have outstanding ability to use word processing, data management tools and
statistical programs
4.
Current driver’s license and
ability to swim (or partake in driving/swimming lessons)
5.
Experience or at least interest
in working as part of a multi-disciplinary applied research team, including a
paired PhD student who will be working on the same project but on slightly
different topics.
Applications:
Your application should include:
·
Cover letter which specifically
outlines how you meet each of the key selection criteria
N.B. applications without
this cover letter will not be considered.
·
Up-to-date CV; inclusive of employment
history and any journal publications and conference attendance
·
A copy of your academic
transcript
N.B. applications submitted without academic
transcripts from all your completed degrees will not be considered.
·
Contact details of three
referees
Send your application to david.mccarthy@monash.edu
Closing date: 31st September
2016
Enquires:
·
A/Prof David McCarthy,
Department of Civil Engineering
o
Telephone: 03 9905 5068
o
Email: david.mccarthy@monash.edu
·
Dr Rebekah Henry, Department of
Civil Engineering
o
Telephone: 03 9902 9885
o
Email: rebekah.henry@monash.edu
PhD Scholarship No 2.
Title:
Development of microbial source tracking
techniques for recreational waters.
The project:
Cities rely on their river systems to provide multiple benefits to
communities, including provision of: drinking water, flood mitigation, cultural
traditions, aesthetic appeal and recreational opportunities. However, due care
is required; recreational waterborne disease outbreaks are common and can cost
communities 100s of million dollars per year. Many of these outbreaks arise
from contact with microbial pathogens derived from faecal pollution, which is a
main cause for waterway degradation. Understanding faecal contamination, and
hence risks, is therefore required to fully exploit (or remediate) our rivers.
The aims of this project are to develop
and validate a microbial source-tracking approach to identify pollutant sources
within the Yarra River, and to prioritise the mitigation of key pollutant
sources. The successful PhD student will further our
current research into source tracking using microbial community profiles
(further info: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0043135416300884).
The results will be used by our industry partners, Melbourne Water
and the Environmental Protection Authority, to make decisions about how to
protect their recreational assets, and if required, inform them of what sources
of contamination need to be mitigated.
The opportunity:
One scholarship is potentially available in the Department of Civil
Engineering, Monash University, Clayton Campus. The position would be for 3
years full-time research towards a PhD. A tax-free stipend is provided (roughly
$28,000/year). There is potential for the applicants to earn an extra $3,000
(not-tax free) per annum through assistance in undergraduate teaching.
Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents, or New Zealand
citizens, are exempt from the full tuition fee costs for the duration of
candidature. International students are eligible to apply on the condition the
awardees have the ability to meet full tuition fee costs for the duration of
candidature.
Attendance at both national and international conferences could be
provided during the course of the degree.
The start date is as soon as possible, but must be before February
2017.
Selection Criteria:
1.
Bachelor of Science or
Biomedical Science degree with H1 Honours (majoring in Microbiology, Chemistry,
Biology, Biochemistry or related field)
2.
An excellent academic track
record, including having published in peer reviewed journals or conferences
3.
Outstanding ability to use a
range of computer packages. In your application, please provide proof that you
have outstanding ability to use word processing, data management tools and
statistical programs
4.
Current driver’s license and
ability to swim (or partake in driving/swimming lessons)
5.
Experience or at least interest
in working as part of a multi-disciplinary applied research team, including a
paired PhD student who will be working on the same project but on slightly
different topics.
Applications:
Your application should include:
·
Cover letter which specifically
outlines how you meet each of the key selection criteria
N.B. applications without
this cover letter will not be considered.
·
Up-to-date CV; inclusive of
employment history and any journal publications and conference attendance
·
A copy of your academic
transcript(s)
N.B. applications submitted without academic
transcripts from all completed degrees will not be considered.
·
Contact details of three
referees
Send your application to david.mccarthy@monash.edu
Closing date: 31st September
2016
Enquires:
·
A/Prof David McCarthy,
Department of Civil Engineering
o
Telephone: 03 9905 5068
o
Email: david.mccarthy@monash.edu
·
Dr Rebekah Henry, Department of
Civil Engineering
o
Telephone: 03 9902 9885
o
Email: rebekah.henry@monash.edu
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