Degree type
PhD
Closing date
1 April 2025
Campus
Hobart
Citizenship requirement
Domestic / International
Scholarship
$33,511pa for 3.5 years
About the research project
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a form of motor neuron disease, is a rare and fatal neurodegenerative disorder. Progressive degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons is characteristic of ALS, and results in eventual paralysis, with respiratory failure the most common cause of death. While much remains unknown about the cause and pathophysiology of ALS, it is well established that it has an important genetic component that is polygenic (many genes), ranging from large-effect size, ultra-rare genetic risk variants that can display Mendelian inheritance patterns to smaller-effect size common frequency risk variants uncovered by genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Large-scale genomic datasets for ALS offer a unique opportunity to further unravel the biological complexity of this disorder and develop improved pharmacotherapies and clinical management strategies.
Despite this progress, there remains a dichotomy in the wider ALS field whereby the disorder is categorised as either 'familial' or 'sporadic' based on the presence of family history. This has led to the perception that genetics is not important for the 'sporadic' presentations of the disorder; however, there is a clear contribution of genetic risk overall in these individuals, with sometimes even the same large-effect size genes impacted in sporadic ALS cases as seen in ALS disease pedigrees. Moreover, we also suspect that more common genetic risk factors could modify the penetrance of ALS in families with multiple cases, as well as environmental factors. In this project, we seek to bridge the divide between rare and common frequency genetic risk associated with ALS to better capture the polygenic nature of the disorder and unpack disease heterogeneity. This will include leveraging state-of-the art genetics approaches with large-scale population biobanks to study the interplay between different types of genetic risk for ALS, as well as identifying subsets of individuals with more similar genetic risk profiles. Moreover, this project has scope to leverage laboratory approaches to interrogate the effect of ALS risk genes implicated by common-variant GWAS in the molecular background of large-effect size mutations seen in families with multiple cases of ALS. Prospective applicants should have experience or an interest in developing skills in bioinformatics, and ideally, interest in the inclusion of laboratory approaches in the project (dependant on the candidate's experience).
Primary Supervisor
Funding
The successful applicant will receive a scholarship which 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
- An undergraduate degree with first class honours in any of the following: science, medical science, engineering, psychology, computer science, and/or a masters degree in one of those disciplines (or equivalent)
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:
- Willingness to learn and apply coding
Additional desirable selection criteria specific to this project:
- Willingness to perform some laboratory work
- Previous research experience in motor neuron disease or another neurological/psychiatric disorder
- Experience with statistical genetics and/or functional genomics
- Experience coding using languages including R and python, with previous experience in a high-performance computing environment also an advantage
- Some laboratory experience with either in vivo or in vitro methods (if of interest to the candidate)
Application process
- Select your project, and check that you meet the eligibility and selection criteria, including citizenship;
- Contact Dr William Reay 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 April 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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