Mathematical Models in Immuno-Epidemiology PhD scholarship

Amount

$28854
Per annum, for three and a half years. Fee relief additional.

Opening date

Closing date

Status

Closed

Who is it for?

Future PhD candidates, Australian Citizen, International Student, New Zealand Citizen, Permanent Resident

Where is it available?

Melbourne

How is it paid?

Fortnightly stipend

Background

The spread of a pathogen (for example, a virus or bacteria) through a population is a multi-scale phenomena, influenced by factors acting at both the population and within-host scales. At the population scale, transmission is influenced by how infectious an infected host is. Infectiousness in turn depends on the balance between pathogen replication within the host and immune/drug control mechanisms.

This project aims to develop new mathematical frameworks for simultaneously modelling these two scales. This will provide a platform for the rigorous study of complex biological interactions – such as the emergence and combat of drug-resistance – that shape society's ability to control infectious diseases in human, animal and plant systems.

This PhD is funded by an Australian Research Council Discovery Project led by Prof James McCaw and A/Prof Nic Geard at the University of Melbourne, and Dr Rebecca Chisholm at La Trobe University. The successful applicant will be based at La Trobe Bundoora Campus and work closely with all investigators.

Graduates with a strong background in applied mathematics and with strong programming skills in either Python, Matlab, or R are encouraged to apply. Experience in infectious disease modelling is preferred, but not essential.

Benefits of the scholarship include:

  • a La Trobe Research Scholarship for three and a half years, with a value of $28,854.00 per annum, to support your living costs (2022 rate)
  • a fee-relief scholarship for up to four years
  • relocation allowance and publication/thesis allowance
  • opportunities to work with La Trobe’s outstanding researchers, and have access to our suite of professional development programs.


Are you eligible to apply?

To be eligible to apply for this scholarship, applicants must:

  • meet the entrance requirements for the proposed course
  • not be receiving another scholarship greater than 75 per cent of the stipend rate for the same purpose.

In selecting successful applicants, we prioritise applications from candidates who:

  • will be enrolled full-time and undertaking their research at a La Trobe University campus
  • have completed a Masters by Research or other significant body of research, such as an honours research thesis or lead authorship of a peer-reviewed publication, assessed at a La Trobe Masters by research standard of 75 or above

How to apply

  • review details on how to apply for candidature
  • contact the project supervisor, Dr Rebecca Chisholm (r.chisholm@latrobe.edu.au), with any enquiries or to express an interest in the project.
  • when you have received in-principle agreement for supervision, complete and submit your application by 31 May 2022 for admission into La Trobe’s PhD program, indicating you wish to be considered for this scholarship on the application.

The University will carefully review your application and consider you for this scholarship. You will be advised of an outcome in June-July 2022.

Who to contact for further information

Dr Rebecca Chisholm, r.chisholm@latrobe.edu.au