PhD Projects, Programmes & Scholarships for UK Students in Dunedin

University of Otago Department of Chemistry

Design and synthesis of chemical tools to interrogate cannabinoid receptors - synthetic, medicinal chemistry

Research project. We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to join an interdisciplinary team at the University of Otago, to undertake research developing chemical probes for the cannabinoid receptor, a type of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR). Read more

Supervisor: Dr AJ Vernall

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

University of Otago Department of Chemistry

Synthesis of Carbon-rich Molecular Materials

New carbon-rich molecular materials, based on well-defined nanographenes and other novel polyaromatic architectures, will be rationally synthesised to better understand structure-property relationships. Read more

Supervisor: Dr N Lucas

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

University of Otago Department of Pathology

Cancer Epigenetics project

Broad Project Summary: Cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Epigenetic changes are now recognised as a hallmark feature of cancer, but our understanding of factors that are responsible for tumour spread still remains limited. Read more

Supervisor: Assoc Prof A Chatterjee

Year round applications PhD Research Project Awaiting Funding Decision/Possible External Funding

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 Department of Chemistry

Primordial Cooperative Biological Systems

This project is in our laboratory at the Department of Chemistry, University of Otago, led by Nick Green. Read more

Supervisor: Dr N Green

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

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)