University of Otago Biological Sciences PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships

Charting new neuronal survival pathways in Parkinson’s disease

Supervisors: Dr S Hughes, Dr IB Basik

The Neurodegenerative and Lysosomal Disease Laboratory is interested in uncovering the unknown molecular and cellular mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly in the development of Parkinson’s disease and Batten disease. Read more

Year round applications PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Genetic causes of novel neurodevelopmental disorders

Supervisor: Assoc Prof L Bicknell

The Rare Disorder Genetics / Bicknell lab is interested in characterising novel genetic syndromes, with three core motivations. -the difference we can make to families with rare disorders, through providing them with more information. Read more

Year round applications PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Novel disease genes in brain development and decline

Supervisor: Assoc Prof L Bicknell

The Rare Disorder Genetics / Bicknell lab is interested in characterising novel genetic syndromes, with three core motivations. -the difference we can make to families with rare disorders, through providing them with more information. Read more

Year round applications PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Exploring a novel neurodevelopmental disease gene using a zebrafish model

Supervisor: Assoc Prof L Bicknell

The Rare Disorder Genetics / Bicknell lab is interested in characterising novel genetic syndromes, with three core motivations. -the difference we can make to families with rare disorders, through providing them with more information. Read more

Year round applications PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

University of Otago Microbiology & Immunology

Identify novel approaches to combat multi drug resistant pathogens

Our research is focused on recalcitrant ESKAPE (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, andEnterobacter species) pathogens; especially hard-to-treat clinical isolates involved in multidrug resistance, biofilm infections and persistence. Read more

Supervisor: Dr D Pletzer

Year round applications PhD Research Project Self-Funded PhD Students Only

Protecting Mum: how hormones act on neural circuitry to regulate postpartum mood and behaviour

Year round applications PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Mammals give birth to dependent offspring and significant parental involvement is required to ensure offspring survive. During pregnancy and in the early postpartum period, hormones act on neural circuitry to bring about key changes in a mother's mood and behaviour. Read more

Supervisor: Dr R Brown

Role of RyR2 posttranslational modification in arrhythmias

Supervisor: Assoc Prof P Jones

Cardiac arrhythmias remain the leading cause of death in patients with heart disease. An important trigger for arrhythmias is the inappropriate opening of the cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2). Read more

Year round applications PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Sex differences in epicardial fat modulation of cardiac function

Supervisor: Assoc Prof R Lamberts

This project will aim to determine whether structural and physiological properties of epicardial adipose tissue are responsible for the sex differences in human myocardial function and cardiac arrhythmogenicity. Read more

Year round applications PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Oxytocin neuron activity in lactation

Year round applications PhD Research Project Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)

Pulsatile secretion of the hormone, oxytocin, is essential for milk delivery during suckling and its secretion from the posterior pituitary gland is triggered by coordinated bursts of action potentials across the population of oxytocin neurons. Read more

Supervisor: Prof C Brown

Understanding the underlying pathological mechanisms to find a cure for Batten disease

Supervisors: Dr S Hughes, Dr IB Basik

The Neurodegenerative and Lysosomal Disease Laboratory is interested in the molecular and cellular basis of neurodegenerative disease, particularly how lysosome dysfunction influences the development of Batten disease and Parkinson’s disease. Read more

Year round applications PhD Research Project Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)