An exciting opportunity is available for a PhD candidate to undertake a project in nicotinic acetyleholine receptor structure and function probed with conotoxins. The senior supervisor will be Prof David J. Adams: http://www1.rmit.edu.au/staff/david-adams. The candidate will enrol in program DR227 - Doctor of Philosophy through RMIT's School of Medical Sciences and will be based at the Bundoora West campus. This PhD project is part of an ARC Discovery Grant.

Nicotinic receptors are intrinsic membrane proteins that play a role in communication in excitable cells, particularly in the nervous system. The primary goals of this ARC Discovery project are (i) to define at a molecular level, the structural and functional determinants of nicotinic-conotoxin interactions using electrophysiological recording techniques, and (ii) develop new selective probes that advance neurophysiological research. The diversity and distribution of nicotinic receptor subtypes being uncovered through molecular biology and selective conotoxin probes presents an exciting opportunity for the discovery of new therapeutic agents.

Value and duration

The scholarship is valued at $28,849 p.a. for a 3.5 year duration. You must be able to commence in Semester 2, 2015.

Eligibility

To be considered for scholarship you must hold, or be currently completing:

• a Master by research or an a Honours degree achieving first class honours in biomedical sciences or a related discipline
• be an Australian/New Zealand citizen or Australian permanent resident

Further eligibility requirements are available at http://www1.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=hjs5cy41leld

How to apply and further information

Please send an expression of interest with a copy of your CV to Professor David Adams, david.adams@rmit.edu.au by Friday 1st May 2015.