2021/2022 CSIRO PhD Top-Up Scholarship - Protecting neuronal health in rabies infection and disease

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• Apply for a CSIRO PhD Top-Up Scholarship now!

CSIRO PhD Top-Up Scholarships provide enhanced opportunities in science and engineering for outstanding graduates enrolling in a PhD at Australian tertiary institutions.  

CSIRO PhD Top-Up Scholarship is a supplementary award, which adds to the student’s support from a principal scholarship awarded by another body, e.g. RTP scholarship.  In all respects recipients of awards will be regarded as students of the University at which they are registered, and all rules relating to degree candidature and the primary award will apply. In particular, recipients will undertake research at CSIRO as a student of the university concerned and will not be employees of CSIRO.

The Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) is offering a CSIRO PhD Top-Up Scholarship in the following research area:

Project Title:  Protecting neuronal health in rabies infection and disease

Project Details:   Using molecular biology, virology and confocal imaging approaches, we aim to investigate how the rabies virus is able to maintain neuronal health during infection to effectively spread through the host nervous system. We will aim to use this information to devise novel strategies to protect neurological functioning in infections and diseases.

Contact:  For more information on the research project please contact Vinod Sundaramoorthy on 03 52275210 or email [email protected]

This Top-Up scholarship is being offered in collaboration with full PhD scholarship currently offered through Deakin University. For information on the PhD scholarship with Deakin please see HDR Scholarship - Research Training Program Scholarship (RTP) / Deakin University Postgraduate Research Scholarship (DUPR)

• Location:  Geelong, VIC
• Scholarship:  Top-Up Scholarship of $10,000 per annum, plus a learning and development budget of $5,000 over the term of the studentship
• Tenure:   3 years
• Reference:  77805

Pre-Requisites/Eligibility:

To be eligible to apply you must have (or expect to gain):

• first or upper second-class honours or equivalent in a relevant research area;
• admission to an Australian University as a PhD student;
• hold an appropriate visa to study in Australia (if international)*
• be no further than one year (FTE) into a PhD on commencing at CSIRO
• hold a primary scholarship; for example, a Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship or other primary scholarship of similar value
• not be in receipt of any other Top-Up Scholarship; and
• a university supervisor who is willing and able to supervise you. 

* International applicants must be residing in Australia and have the appropriate immigration approvals to allow them to take up the scholarship. 

The successful applicant will be required to obtain and provide a National Police Check or equivalent; undergo a National Health Security Check; and be able to adhere to the microbiological security requirements of our Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) facility.

Applications will be assessed on:

1. Quality and relevance of student project:  The primary assessment criterion for a CSIRO PhD Top-Up Scholarship is the quality and relevance of the project being proposed.  The research must be aligned with the advertised priority research area.
2. Academic calibre of the student:  The quality of the student is also critical to the assessment of a scholarship and candidates must hold (or expect to gain) a relevant first or upper second class honours (or equivalent) degree from a recognised university.
3. Availability of appropriate university supervision:  The relevance of the university supervisor’s research background and their willingness to supervise the student in collaboration with the CSIRO supervisor should also be made clear. 

How to apply:

You will be required to:

1. submit a Resume/CV and Cover Letter (as one document) in the ‘Resume/CV’ field which includes:
   • the names and contact details of two previous supervisors or academic/professional referees; and
   • a one-page proposal stating how your research interests align with the project aims.
2. upload your academic results in the ‘Cover Letter’ field.

If you experience difficulties applying online call 1300 984 220 and someone will be able to assist you. Outside business hours please email: [email protected].

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