Degree type
PhD
Closing date
1 February 2025
Campus
Hobart
Citizenship requirement
Domestic / International
About the research project
Identifying hotspots of parasite diversity and microbial transmission pathways is vital for effective disease management, allowing for targeted surveillance and interventions to mitigate disease spread. Genetic and genomic data play a crucial role in understanding microbial diversity and transmission and have been readily used for this purpose.
In parallel, understanding the interactions between microbiomes and parasites is an emerging area of research with significant implications for disease ecology. The microbiome plays a crucial role in host health by influencing immune responses, nutrient absorption, and pathogen resistance. Studies have shown that alterations in microbiome composition can affect susceptibility to parasitic infections, with certain microbial communities either inhibiting or facilitating parasite establishment and proliferation. Investigating these complex microbiome-parasite interactions in wildlife is essential for developing holistic approaches to disease management and conservation.
The unique and extreme environment of the Southern Ocean and Antarctica provides a critical context for studying these interactions. The harsh climatic conditions, isolated ecosystems, and distinct wildlife populations offer a unique opportunity to explore how environmental pressures influence parasite transmission and microbiome dynamics, while also establishing baselines of pathogen prevalence in this understudied region. Research in this region can uncover novel insights into the adaptation mechanisms of microbes and parasites, contributing to our broader understanding of disease ecology in extreme environments.
In this PhD, you will focus on parasite and microbial diversity in Southern Ocean marine predators, including birds and pinnipeds. You will use cutting-edge genomic methods to provide new insight into microbial transmission and establish a foundation for integrating genomic and epidemiological information with microbiome and parasite diversity analysis. You will investigate the drivers of parasite diversity across Antarctic marine predators, query how microbiome community assembly differs across pinniped and avian taxa, and identify microbial transmission pathways across the Southern Ocean.
Please email Jane (Jane.Younger@utas.edu.au) or Nick (Nick.Fountainjones@utas.edu.au) for further project details.
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Primary Supervisor
Funding
Applicants will be considered for a Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship or Tasmania Graduate Research Scholarship (TGRS) which, if successful, provides:
- a living allowance stipend of $33,511 per annum (2025 rate, indexed annually) for 3.5 years
- a relocation allowance of up to $2,000
- a tuition fees offset covering the cost of tuition fees for up to four years (domestic applicants only)
If successful, international applicants will receive a University of Tasmania Fees Offset for up to four years.
As part of the application process you may indicate if you do not wish to be considered for scholarship funding.
Other funding opportunities and fees
For further information regarding other scholarships on offer, and the various fees of undertaking a research degree, please visit Scholarships and fees.
Eligibility
Applicants should review the Higher Degree by Research minimum entry requirements.
Ensure your eligibility for the scholarship round by referring to our Key Dates.
Additional eligibility criteria specific to this project/scholarship:
- Applicants must be able to undertake the project on-campus.
Selection Criteria
The project is competitively assessed and awarded. Selection is based on academic merit and suitability to the project as determined by the College.
Additional essential selection criteria specific to this project:
- molecular lab experience
- bioinformatics experience
- coding in Python and/or R
Application process
- Select your project, and check that you meet the eligibility and selection criteria, including citizenship;
- Contact Dr Jane Younger to discuss your suitability and the project's requirements; and
- In your application:
- Copy and paste the title of the project from this advertisement into your application. If you don’t correctly do this your application may be rejected.
- Submit a signed supervisory support form, a CV including contact details of 2 referees and your project research proposal.
- Apply prior to 1 February 2025.
Full details of the application process can be found under the 'How to apply' section at Research degrees.
Following the closing date applications will be assessed within the College. Applicants should expect to receive notification of the outcome by email by the advertised outcome date.
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