We are thrilled to announce a fully funded PhD scholarship opportunity in the NERVLAB, supported by the NSW RNA Research & Training Network (RRTN). This is a fantastic opportunity for an ambitious, motivated researcher to join our team and tackle one of the most challenging problems in motor neuron disease (MND) biology — from an entirely new angle.
RNA is at the heart of this project. Many of the transcripts implicated in MND are notoriously difficult to study: they are alternatively spliced, repeat-containing, or arise from genomic regions that conventional tools struggle to resolve. This PhD will develop new RNA-targeting methods designed specifically to interrogate these challenging transcripts — building experimental approaches that don’t yet exist, for questions that can’t yet be answered.
The project sits at the intersection of RNA biology, molecular tool development, and neurodegeneration research. The successful candidate will gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge RNA technologies and will benefit from the broader training ecosystem provided by the RRTN, including access to network events, workshops, and a collaborative community of RNA researchers across New South Wales.
We are looking for someone who is curious, technically ambitious, and excited by the idea of building new methods to push biological discovery forward. A background in molecular biology, biochemistry, or a related discipline is required — experience with RNA biology is a bonus, but enthusiasm and drive matter most.
The scholarship covers tuition fees and provides a living allowance stipend for the duration of the PhD. Candidates must be eligible to enrol in the University of Wollongong Higher Degree Research program.
Interested? Reach out to us using to contact form with a brief note on your research background and why this project excites you. We’d love to hear from you — and we encourage you to get in touch well before your preferred start date to allow time for the enrolment process.
Image credit: Photo by Sangharsh Lohakare on Unsplash