PhD Scholarship Opportunities

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Genetic Epidemiology is one of eight strategic priority areas for the University of Western Australia. The UWA Centre for Genetic Epidemiology and Biostatistics (CGEB) comprises a multi-disciplinary team of clinicians, genetic epidemiologists, biostatisticians, epidemiologists, informaticists, molecular biologists, software engineers and social scientists (www.genepi.org.au). The Centre is committed to developing ways of investigating the determinants of complex human disease and exploring ways of using genetic information to improve human health. The research team is also distinguished by close collaboration and integration with multiple clinical groups in Australia and overseas, and a focus on translational research.

Our strong national and international collaborations have allowed very large clinical and epidemiological studies to be devised and implemented, and existing resources to be bought ‘on line’ for genetic research. Together with our clinical collaborators, we have been pro-active in developing and leading new, world-class resources in National Priority and other disease areas. These include the WA Cardiovascular Disease Consortium, the WA Sleep Health Study, the WA Melanoma Health Study, and the WA Twin Register. Nationally, we have been active in leading the development of new research networks, including the National training program in medical bioinformatics, the Australasian Sleep Trials Network, the National Research Centre for Asbestos-related Diseases, and the Australian Genomics and Clinical Outcomes of High Grade Glioma Project.

Opportunities exist to join this young and dynamic research team. Applications are now sought for PhD Top-Up Scholarships (tax-exempt packages of $8,000 pa are available to qualified applicants to top-up a UWA scholarship) to work on complex disease genetics in collaboration with various clinical teams. Opportunities exist for both epidemiological and/or genetic research in a number of disease areas, including:

1. Ageing research (with the Busselton Healthy Ageing Study)
2. Brain cancer (glioma) (with the AGOG Project)
3. Cardiovascular and metabolic disease (with the WA Cardiovascular Disease Consortium)
4. The Developmental Origins of Health and Adult Disease (with the School of Medicine and Pharmacology and the School of Women's and Infants' Health)
5. Eye disease (AMD and glaucoma) (with the Lions Eye Institute)
6. Lung cancer (mesothelioma) (with the GUARD Project)
7. Melanoma (with the WA Melanoma Health Study Project)
8. Obstructive sleep apnea (with the WA Sleep Disorders Research Institute)

The academic environment in the Centre is energetic, rigorous, and conducive to multidisciplinary research. High-level informatic and statistical support is available. Strong links to European and North American research groups provide CGEB students with many opportunities to travel overseas during their PhD project.

For further details please contact Professor Lyle Palmer, lyle@cyllene.uwa.edu.au or +61-(0)8-9346 1061, and view our website at http://www.genepi.org.au . Applications to CGEB close MONDAY 27th OCTOBER 2008. UWA applications for 2009 Australian Postgraduate Awards, University Postgraduate Awards and University scholarships close FRIDAY 31 OCTOBER 2008.