Project Information
Mode
Internal
Study As
Full Time
Principal Supervisor
Professor Benjamin Thierry
Main Campus
Mawson Lakes - Future Industries Institute
Applications Close
28 Jan 2025
Study Level
PhD
Applications Open To
Domestic Candidate or International Candidate
All domestic students are eligible for a fee waiver. International students who receive a stipend are eligible for a fee waiver. Find out more about fees and conditions.
Project Stipend:
$35,200 p.a (2025 rate) available to domestic and international applicants
Are you passionate about a career in bioengineering and keen to contribute to better understanding of how tumours resist treatment? The University of South Australia – Australia’s University of Enterprise – is offering a scholarship for an exciting PhD project in our Future Industries Institute, in partnership with the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, the Institut Curie in France, and cancer precision treatment company Ferronova. The project aims to develop a lab-based model of aggressive brain tumours (brain tumour on a chip) that mimic their ability to become resistant to treatment including radiotherapy.
The core hypothesis is that lab-based tumour models should mimic the cellular complexity and plasticity of real tumours especially their ability to evolve and become resistant to treatment. To this end, bioengineered perfusion devices will be designed to enable the long-term co-culture of brain tumour cells obtained from patients with non-tumour brain microenvironment cells. This brain tumour on a chip model will be used to gain critical radiobiological insights on cutting edge radiation therapy modalities including FLASH (through Institut Curie in France) and Proton beam radiotherapy (initially through Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan pending the commissioning of the Bragg Centre in Adelaide). In the second phase of the project, the model will be used to guide the optimisation of Ferronova’s FerroTrace theranostic agent.
You will have access to cutting-edge facilities and resources and will have excellent opportunities to interact with industry and academic partners.
What you’ll do
In this highly inter-disciplinary research project, you will develop a bioengineered model of aggressive brain tumours and apply it to investigate the mechanisms of acquired treatment resistance. Working in close collaboration with precision treatment cancer company Ferronova, you will also use this model and knowledge to accelerate the development of effective radiosensitisation strategies. The new radiobiological knowledge and technologies you will deliver during this PhD project have the potential to contribute improving both oncological outcome and survivors’ quality of life.
The project will provide you with opportunities to work within a world-class research environment and to gain critical skills and knowledge in bioengineering, microfabrication and cancer biology. You will also have opportunities to spend time in the academic and industry partners of the project, as well as to present your research at international conferences.
Where you’ll be based
You will be based within the University of South Australia/Adelaide University Bioengineering group under the supervision of Prof Benjamin Thierry, Prof Cedric Bardy (SAHMRI), and Dr Guillaume Bort (Institut Curie). The Bioengineering group is highly inter-disciplinary and has access to a vast array of facilities relevant to the project, including via the network of the ANFF. Yu will also benefit from co-localisation with the R&D team of Ferronova, a dynamic start-up company developing theranostic nanomedicine.
Supervisory team
Financial Support
This project is funded for reasonable research expenses. Additionally, a living allowance scholarship of $35,200 per annum is available to eligible applicants. Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants will be eligible to receive an increased stipend rate of $52,352 per annum (2025 rate). A fee-offset or waiver for the standard term of the program is also included. For full terms and benefits of the scholarship please refer to our scholarship information for domestic students or international students
Eligibility and Selection
This project is open to applications from both Domestic and International applicants.
Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria for entrance into a PhD. Additionally, applicants must meet the project selection criteria:
- Abilities to problem solve
- Experience in bioengineering research
All applications that meet the eligibility and selection criteria will be considered for this project. A merit selection process will be used to determine the successful candidate.
The successful applicant is expected to study full-time and to be based at our Mawson Lakes Campus in the north of Adelaide. Note that international students on a student visa will need to study full-time.
Essential Dates
Applicants are expected to start in a timely fashion upon receipt of an offer. Extended deferral periods are not available. Applications close on 28 January 2025.
How to apply:
Applications must be lodged online, please note UniSA does not accept applications via email.
For further support see our step-by-step guide on how to apply , or contact the Graduate Research team on +61 8 8302 5880, option 1 or email us at research.admissions@unisa.edu.au. You will receive a response within one working day.
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