Defining novel roles for blood vessels in the origin and treatment of craniofacial birth defects

About the project

Improve outcomes for those born with craniofacial defects

If you are ready to launch your career in biology and driven to help identify the causes of craniofacial defects, the University of South Australia – Australia’s University of Enterprise – is offering a hands-on project-based PhD with important community impact within the Centre for Cancer Biology, in partnership with the Women’s and Children’s Hospital. 

Birth defects affect over 1 in 40 pregnancies and are the major driver of child mortality and life-long disability. Structural alterations of the head and face (i.e., craniofacial defects) form a significant proportion of these birth defects, with affected children often requiring life-saving surgery at birth and multiple rounds of reconstructive surgery throughout life. 

As the biological origins of these disorders are unknown, highly invasive surgical techniques remain the only form of treatment. It is imperative to understand how these disorders arise so that less invasive treatment options can be developed. 

Our project will use fish and mouse models that replicate the disease process to identify how craniofacial birth defects arise. By uncovering the biological defects at play, we will identify new pathways that can be targeted for preventative treatment or develop interventional therapies post-birth. New treatment strategies will be tested using in vivo animal models.

You will be based within the Neurovascular Research Laboratory located within the CCB. Our laboratory is internationally recognised for work in neural crest and craniofacial development. 

As part of the CCB, a hub of research excellence supporting fundamental discoveries in a wide range of human pathologies, you will have access to cutting-edge resources for animal work, microscopy and gene editing. Importantly, you’ll also be supported with mentoring and join a vibrant cohort of research degree students that create a highly engaging and collegial environment.

What you’ll do

In this project-based research degree, you will be trained in several cutting-edge technologies, including lineage tracing in animals, gene editing with CRISPR and Chimeric Receptor Trap technologies, production of transgenic animals, confocal, spinning disc and lightsheet microcopy, microCT, multiplexed spatial trancriptomics (RNAscope) and single cell bioinformatics analyses. 

There is potential for you to travel to other collaborative research centres within Australia.

Upon completion, you will be equipped with a broad set of employment-ready skills in molecular and cellular biology, animal science, embryology, high-end microscopy, spatial transcriptomics and bioinformatics analysis of single cell expression data. 

The CCB provides the ultimate environment for specialised training in these cutting-edge technologies and provides you with unique and dedicated access to South Australia’s largest zebrafish facility. You will be well positioned for further careers in academia, bioinformatics and industry.

Where you’ll be based

You will be based at the CCB, which is a Medical Research Institute which carries out a world-class program of innovative research, making breakthrough discoveries in the fundamental causes of cancer, and translating these discoveries into new ways to prevent and treat this group of diseases.

The CCB is an alliance between SA Pathology and the University of South Australia and boasts the largest concentration of cancer research in South Australia, currently hosting 22 full-time research group leaders and their teams.

CCB laboratories carry out research in leukaemia, breast cancer, prostate cancer, skin cancer, brain cancer and colon cancer, focussing in the specialised areas of gene regulation, molecular signalling, translational oncology and cancer genomics. In addition to these laboratories, our ACRF cancer Genomics Facility is providing access to state-of-the-art genomics research equipment, computing technology and bioinformatics expertise to Adelaide BioMed Precinct and the wider research community.

Translation of new discoveries into clinical practice is strengthened by the co-localisation of the laboratories within a single Institute, as well as its proximity and close collaboration with the Royal Adelaide Hospital, the University of South Australia, the University of Adelaide and SAHMRI.

The CCB also has alliances with leading pharmaceutical companies to rapidly exploit new discoveries. The Institute aims to be a hub of internationally recognized cancer research excellence, achieving tangible outcomes for cancer patients.

The CCB is a member of the Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes (AAMRI). Financial Support 

This project is funded for reasonable research expenses. Additionally, a living allowance scholarship of $35,200 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 application 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: 

• Willingness to work with animals

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 West Campus in the heart 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.