PhD Scholarship - Improving clinical outcomes in lung cancer and mesothelioma

Lung cancer is the most common cancer worldwide, with nearly 2.5 million cases diagnosed in 2022. Mesothelioma, a rare cancer affecting the lungs' lining, had about 30,000 cases globally in the same year. These lung-related cancers cause a high number of cancer deaths and are often related to occupational exposures. Detecting and treating these cancers early on can greatly improve health outcomes and reduce deaths. The PhD candidate will work on a project aimed at developing novel strategies for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment monitoring in lung cancer and mesothelioma. The project is focused on developing minimally invasive techniques using blood-based and sputum-based biomarkers. 

Research Environment

Our laboratories are based within the Flinders Health Precinct at Flinders Medical Centre and in close proximity to the Health and Medical Research building and Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer.

This PhD Scholarship offers:

• $35,010 per annum tax free with annual indexation, for a period up to 4 years
• Opportunity to gain expertise in a range of state-of-the art research techniques whilst supporting a fully funded complex research project
• Work in a well-supported and collaborative environment
• Work with human primary samples
• Presentation of findings at national and international conferences
• Opportunity to learn techniques including but not limited to, culture of cell lines and primary patient-derived organoids, flow cytometry including immunophenotyping, isolation, characterization and analysis of extracellular vesicles, digital PCR, tumour metabolism assays, confocal and electron microscopy

• Be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or permanent resident;
• Meet Flinders University entry rules: hold a Honours degree Class 1 or 2A, or evidence of equivalent research experience 

Knowledge and Experience

• Understanding of cancer biology is required.

Skills and competencies

• Good oral and written communication skills in English
• Good organisational and planning skills
• Ability to work both independently and in a team environment, with a sense of responsibility
• Highly motivated with strong interest in cancer research

Supervisory team

Principal Supervisor: Professor Sonja Klebe

Associate Supervisor: Dr Zivile Useckaite