Scholarship on Molecular Biology and Machine Learning

Supervisor

Dr Erica Todd (Principal) and Prof. Antonio Robles-Kelly (Associate)

Location

Waurn Ponds Campus (Geelong, Victoria)

Eligibility

Only for onshore applicants. Unfortunately, with travel restrictions preventing offshore international students commencing in Australia, the higher degree by research admissions team is not currently be considering applications from offshore international students

Description

Outstanding and motivated PhD candidates, with very good first Masters or honours degree in relevant discipline such as molecular biology/genomics, bioinformatics, machine learning, aquaculture and/or reproductive biology are being sought to work as part of a research team on developing methods for molecular biology. Using cutting-edge transcriptome profiling and powerful machine learning approaches, this project will combine experimental induction of male-female sex change in the Australian barramundi with existing datasets of female-male sex change in wrasses, to elucidate the common molecular triggers and orchestrators of sexual plasticity. The project is a collaborative effort with the School of Life and Environmental Sciences and the Machine Intelligence Research Lab at Deakin University, Australia.

Research environment

The research environment available to the project is world-class. Deakin University has a strong and internationally focused research culture. It is ranked ranked in the top 1% of universities globally by the Academic Ranking of World Universities 2020. This rating indicates world-class facilities, research and teaching, as well as employability, innovation and inclusiveness.

The School of Life and Environmental Sciences houses state-of-the-art facilities. The School of Life and Environmental Sciences research focuses on national priorities. These are important for future social, economic and environmental development and the wellbeing of Australia and the rest of the world. Much of our research is done in collaboration with government departments, as well as industry and leading international scientists. The Machine Intelligence Lab actively pursues interdisciplinary research within the areas of pattern analysis, machine learning and AI. The lab has collaborative ties with partners in Australia and internationally. You will join a research group currently composed of 24 academic and research staff members (including one full professor and an associate professor) and over 30 PhD students. Members of the group have a successful track record of publishing in top conferences and journals. 

The successful candidate will be based at the Waurn Ponds campus, in Geelong. Geelong is the second city in Victoria after Melbourne and it is strategically located within one hour’s drive south-west of Melbourne within a short drive from popular beach-front communities on the Bellarine Peninsula as well as being the gateway to the famous Great Ocean Road

How to Apply

To apply, please send your Expression of Interest form (download from this link) and CV to Dr Erica Todd at [email protected].

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