Consider a future in research and help fight diseases of global impact
Did you know that more than 17 million people die from infectious diseases and over 9 million people die from cancer worldwide every year?
Do you want to help reverse these alarming statistics? Do you want to contribute to a future free from cancer? A future free from diseases like influenza and COVID-19? So do we.
The Institute for Glycomics, based at Griffith University on the beautiful Gold Coast, offers a range of exceptional Honours, Masters and PhD opportunities for the nation's future scientists. Study alongside some of the world's most experienced and well-known research leaders and scientists. Help us fight for a healthier future for all!
Explore the options for research study below and if you have any further questions, please contact us to find out more.
Institute for Glycomics is offering Doctor of Medicine Student Scholarships
Higher Degree Research opportunities
Explore our research programs and current research opportunities to see if they align with your research interests.
PhD scholarships now available
Developing single cell glycomics methodologies
PhD scholarship opportunity to undertake research in developing single-cell glycomics methodologies using mass spectrometry. The primary focus of this role is to establish a technologically advanced platform designed for the detailed mapping of glycans in individual cells derived from both tissue samples and cell suspensions. It aims to tackle existing challenges within the realm of functional glycomics.
Project Leads: Dr Arun Everest-Dass and Professor Mark von Itzstein
Vaccines for human and animal pathogens
Postgraduate Research Scholarship working with Professor Johnson Mak on a recently funded Australian NHMRC Idea Grant. The PhD project is on vaccines for human and animal pathogens. The primary focus of this role is to interrogate how viral proteins traffic inside the cell to support virus release and cell-cell transmission.
Project Lead: Professor Johnson Mak
Rapid point-of-care molecular diagnostics
Postgraduate Research Scholarship working with Professor Johnson Mak on an externally funded project on rapid point-of-care molecular diagnostics on pathogens. The primary focus of this role is to interrogate how a platform molecular diagnostic can be applied to a wide range of human and animal pathogens that are relevant to Australians, plus low- to middle-income countries.
Project Lead: Professor Johnson Mak
Development of a babesiosis vaccine
PhD scholarship opportunity within the Laboratory of Vaccines for the Developing World at the Institute for Glycomics working with Associate Professor Danielle Stanisic to develop a next-generation vaccine targeting the Babesia parasite, which causes babesiosis in humans, cattle, and companion animals and can result in severe illness and death.
Project Lead: Associate Professor Danielle Stanisic
Neurodegenerative disorders
2 x Griffith merit-based scholarship working with Dr Thomas Ve contributing towards characterising a novel class of enzymes involved in protecting bacteria against viral infection and destruction of nerve fibres (axons) in humans, or the biology and translational potential of SARM1.
Project Lead: Dr Thomas Ve
Gene regulation in bacterial otopathogens
Griffith merit-based scholarship working with Dr John Atack on a project to understand gene expression and virulence factor regulation in the bacterial pathogens non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) in order to direct and inform vaccine development against these organisms.
Project Lead: Dr John Atack
Early detection of head and neck cancer
Griffith merit-based scholarship working with Prof. Daniel Kolarich and Prof. Chamindie Punyadeera on the development, application and integration of multi-omics liquid biopsy techniques for the early detection and differentiation of the different forms of head and neck cancer.
Project Leads: Prof. Daniel Kolarich and Prof. Chamindie Punyadeera (GRIDD)
Therapeutic drugs to improve patient outcomes
Griffith merit-based scholarship working with Dr Ian Peak on a project aimed at improving delivery and availability of therapeutic drugs for infections, chronic diseases (eg diabetes, dementias) or cancers.
Project Lead: Dr Ian Peak
Glycan-based prebiotic approaches
Griffith merit-based scholarship working with A/Prof. Thomas Haselhorst and Dr. Chris Day on the development of a cost-effective antibiotic- and vaccine-independent prebiotic animal feed supplement strategy. Outcomes of this project will decrease the risk of human food-borne illnesses and reduce the overuse of antibiotics in the agriculture sector and therefore promoting food safety and public health in Australia.
Project Leads: A/Prof. Thomas Haselhorst and Dr. Chris Day
Future-proofing COVID-19 vaccine
Griffith University Postgraduate Research Scholarship opportunity working with Dr Manisha Pandey to work on a 2nd generation combination B-and T-cell epitope vaccine aimed at future-proofing the COVID-19 vaccine.
Project Lead: Dr Manisha Pandey
Early-stage diagnostics for colon and lung cancer
Griffith University Postgraduate Research Scholarship working with Professor Daniel Kolarich and team to devise novel diagnostic strategies that increase the specificity of early detection diagnostics for colon and lung cancer, which will lead to improved long-term outcomes for cancer patients. The successful candidate receives an additional $10,000 annually (for up to three years) Top-Up Scholarship and a generous project support package of $15,000 annually, made available through generous philanthropic support.
Project Lead: Professor Daniel Kolarich
Decoding bacterial epigenetic regulation
We are currently looking for a PhD candidate to work on an Australian Research Council (ARC)-funded Discovery Project Grant. The primary focus of this PhD project is to characterise bacterial epigenetic regulation by mediated by DNA methylation.
Project Leads: Professor Mike Jennings and Professor Kate Seib
Developing a vaccine for gonorrhoea
We are currently looking for a PhD candidate to work on a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMCR)-funded Investigator Grant. The primary focus of this role is to contribute to development of a vaccine to protect against bacterial infection caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
Project Lead: Professor Kate Seib
Want to know more?
Get in touch to find out more about studying with the Institute for Glycomics.
Research project opportunities
The Institute for Glycomics has a range of Glycomics Research Projects available, which are geared towards prospective Honours, Masters and PhD students.
Undergraduate students are also encouraged to look at the list of projects and contact the appropriate staff member(s) in the projects list, to discuss third year projects and work experience opportunities.
The full list of research projects can be downloaded via the link below in PDF format OR interested candidates can browse our current projects by Research Group Leader.
Browse research projects by Group Leader
Glycomics Student Scholarships
The Institute for Glycomics offers a number of prestigious student scholarships to undertake glycomics research at Griffith University on the Gold Coast. The following schemes are open to both Honours & Masters students wishing to undertake a research project within the Institute for Glycomics.
Sally & Warren von Bibra Student Scholarships valued at $5,000 each. Sally & Warren von Bibra are strong supporters of the Institute for Glycomics and have been generously sponsoring this honours scholarship scheme since 2003.
Glycomics Circle Student Scholarships valued at $5,000 each. The Glycomics Circle was established in 2015 and is a group of successful women in the local community who are driven to raising funds for Glycomics, in particular to support young women in science. One of their interests is to contribute funds to the Glycomics Student Scholarship scheme.
Glycomics Student Scholarships valued at $5,000 each.
Prospective students are requested to contact potential Institute supervisors to discuss suitable research projects, prior to submitting an application.
Applications for the 2024 Glycomics Student Scholarships have now closed.
Summer Scholarships
The Institute for Glycomics offers Summer Scholarships worth $1,000 each to Griffith University students to undertake research within the field of glycoscience.
The research project must be undertaken during the summer holidays for at least four weeks full-time (or equivalent if completed part-time).
Summer Scholarship 2023-24 Application Form
Applications for 2023-24 Summer Scholarships are now closed. Our next round of Summer Scholarships will open in September 2024.
Dr Lucy Shewell's Experience
"I have been working as a research scientist at the Institute for Glycomics since November 2009. I was awarded my PhD from Griffith University in the field of Molecular Microbiology in July 2011. I also studied my Bachelor of Biomedical Science with Honours at Griffith University. I knew that the Institute for Glycomics was a leading research institute in the field of glycobiology and was attracting high calibre scientists. I have witnessed the Institute grow so much over the last 10 years and this positive growth and the expanding facilities has encouraged me to stay."
Higher Degree Research study
Find all you need to know about research study at Griffith, from degrees to scholarships and how to apply. Our Griffith Graduate Research School also offers a range of opportunities to enhance your graduate experience.
Why study with us?
Griffith University is a comprehensive, research-intensive university, ranking in the top 2% of universities worldwide, and the Institute for Glycomics is a great contributor to its research excellence, and its strong ties to industry.
This is easily demonstrated by our already impressive track record of taking new drugs to market, not to mention our discoveries of new diagnostics and therapeutics in the areas of infectious disease and cancer.
By choosing to study with us, you would be paving your way to becoming truly Remarkable.