Sex hormones & cardiac arrhythmia risk: Evaluating cardiac effects of steroids on mechanisms of arrhythmia and failure

Applications are invited for a 3-year joint PhD studentship at the University of Melbourne (Australia; supervisors, Dr James Bell & Prof Lea Delbridge) and University of Birmingham (UK; Dr Davor Pavlovic & Prof Paulus Kirchhof) in the field of cellular and molecular cardiac research. This fully-funded APA PhD scholarship will involve pre-clinical experimental research to investigate the role of sex steroids in determining cardiac arrhythmia and heart failure vulnerability.

For both women and men, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death. Sex steroids are implicated in cardiac disease development, yet molecular mechanisms driving sex steroid-mediated cardiac disease are unclear and identification of targets for potential therapeutic intervention has not yet been possible. The levels of estrogen and testosterone are reciprocally linked by the action of aromatase, which synthesizes estrogens from androgen precursors. We have recently shown that aromatase is present in the heart, and thus is capable of affecting cardiac exposure to sex steroids. The experiments planned for this project focus on evaluating cardiac effects of steroids on mechanisms of arrhythmia and failure using protein analysis tools, genetic manipulation methods, involve tissue bath experiments to perform electrical mapping procedures, and single cell recording techniques.

The studentship is funded through a University of Melbourne/University of Birmingham U21 Joint PhD programme, and is available for immediate award. As the host institution, University of Melbourne provides tuition waiver and a stipend (approx. $26,000AUD). Students are co-enrolled at both Universities. At the University of Melbourne, the project is undertaken at the Department of Physiology, School of Biomedical Science. It is expected that student will spend one year at the Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham. This period may be arranged as a single period or as multiple visits, and will involve high-end optical mapping experiments in the mouse heart.

The preferred applicant will have an undergraduate background in a bioscience/biomedicine field with strong cardiovascular physiology content. Experience in research (at undergraduate or postgraduate level) involving cardiac and/or cardiovascular themes would be considered favourably.


Applications are welcomed from applicants who meet the following criteria:

1) Are Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens or Australian permanent residents
2) Have completed tertiary studies that are equivalent to a 4 year Honours undergraduate or 3 years undergraduate + 1 year Masters programmes, achieving a minimum first class/Honours grade result


Informal enquiries and applications should be directed to Dr James Bell ([Email Address Removed]). To apply, please send:

• A detailed CV, including details on nationality and country of birth
• Academic transcripts for all degrees completed (including grading scales)
• Names and addresses of two referees
• A covering letter highlighting your research experience/capabilities and key publications