Establishing a cross-country multipronged approach to prepare for the pandemic of antimicrobial resistance (MAPP-AMR)

About this project

Develop novel ways of tackling antimicrobial-resistant pathogens

If you are motivated to accelerate your career in biomedicine and passionate about finding solutions to pressing global health problems, the University of South Australia – Australia’s University of Enterprise – is offering a hands-on project-based PhD within Health and Biomedical Innovation (HBI), in partnership with the Cooperative Research Centre for Solving Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in Agribusiness, Food and Environments (SAAFE), Water Research Australia and SA Pathology. 

The rise in antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) pathogens is a global health crisis of pandemic proportions. Nearly 5 million people died of causes related to AMR in 2019 and this number is set to rise. 

The burden of AMR falls disproportionately on low to middle-income countries, particularly in East Asia. Many of these countries lack comprehensive surveillance systems to track and respond to the threat of AMR. We urgently need to improve laboratory capacity and complementary approaches for AMR testing and surveillance. 

Our goal is to build regional research capacity for cost-effective AMR surveillance using an innovative combination of approaches. We aim to combine genomic surveillance of pathogens from patients with wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) that correlates the incidence of AMR and antimicrobial use in hospitals with that found in hospital-generated wastewater. 

We want to establish genomic surveillance to track the origin and dissemination of AMR and then establish WBE as a tool for whole facility surveillance of antimicrobial use and the incidence of AMR. We will then validate the two approaches for a cost-effective, scalable AMR surveillance solution.

While this program will initially be established in well-resourced hospitals with the necessary facilities in Adelaide (the Royal Adelaide Hospital, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Flinders Medical Centre), Fiji (Colonial War Memorial Hospital) and the Philippines, this will generate the momentum for wider adoption of a sustainable surveillance program throughout East Asia. 

You’ll be based within HBI, which offers a collegial and collaborative environment in which you can thrive in your studies. You will have access to worldclass mentorship, training and resources and gain valuable real-world experience that will give you a competitive edge in the job market. 

Our project gives you an opportunity to gain international exposure and start building an enviable and wide-reaching professional network. 

What you’ll do

In this project-based research degree, you will help establish a cross-country, cost-effective, and scalable AMR surveillance programme. We will provide you with extensive training in cross-disciplinary fields such as molecular microbiology, whole genome sequencing, metagenomics WBE, and basic bioinformatics. 

You will participate in the Cooperative Research Centre for Solving Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in Agribusiness, Food and Environments (SAAFE) professional development program to enhance your transdisciplinary exposure, communication and future-oriented skills. The program will also help you to understanding AMR and One Health and develop your leadership potential and cross-sectoral proficiency. 

There will be an opportunity for you to undertake a placement with our international collaborator – the WHO in Suva, Fiji. We are currently tracking AMR in Fiji using a genomics and WBE as a way to accurately project the need for new treatments.

You will also be able to engage with industry bodies such as SA Water and SA Health and other end-users through our partnerships.

We will support you to develop and submit articles to high impact journals and encourage you to attend and present at national and international conferences and seminars.

Where you’ll be based

You will be based within the Health and Biomedical Innovation concentration. We study the complex workings of the body and its interaction with environment. Our goal is to address fundamental questions about how the body and its environment work and to integrate this knowledge to increase our understanding of the human body as a whole, in both health and disease. This approach involves measuring changes in the body with disease and the impact of interventions and allows us to discover biomedical pathways to improve health while providing the foundational knowledge required for translation into clinical practice. We achieve this through initiating, and being sought for engagement with, strong partnerships with other national and international thought leaders in academia, clinical practice, industry, government and our community.  

Our work is disseminated through production of high-quality publications, engagement with end-users and the community at conferences and with public presentations. Our fundamental approach to science provides a strong basis for student engagement across all health science programs, integrating our research into our teaching practices to develop industry ready graduates and engage them in our research endeavours. 

Our research pillars represent a new direction in health and chronic disease research, focusing on strong engagement with government, industry, regulatory bodies, policy-makers and the community. Financial Support  

This project is funded for reasonable research expenses. Additionally, a living allowance scholarship of $35,200 (2025 rate) per annum is available to Australian and New Zealand citizens, permanent residents of Australia. 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 this group. For full terms and benefits of the scholarship please refer to our scholarship information. International applicants will not be eligible to receive the scholarship.

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: 

• Experience in Molecular Microbiology and the isolation and characterisation of bacterial pathogens from various sources. 
• Experience in genomics and metagenomics will be an advantage

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 City East Campus in the east 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 Tuesday 3 December 2024.