PhD Scholarship in Correlative Light and Electron Microscopy

Macrophages are specifically designed to kill invading pathogens by employing a diverse arsenal of anti-microbial agents. Despite that important human pathogens such as Legionella and Leishmania survive long-term within specialized compartments of macrophages. The project will use sophisticated advanced optical imaging in combination with electron microscopy to reveal the molecular nature and dynamics of these cellular structures. Correlated light and electron microscopy approaches will be applied that provide a powerful technique in molecular cellular imaging by combining the advantages of light microscopy such as live-cell imaging with the high-resolution of structural details visible by electron microscopy. This research program involves a multidisciplinary collaborative team with skills in Molecular Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Cellular Imaging, Bioinformatics, Microbiology and Immunology. The team is located in the Biosciences precinct at MonashUniversity.

Applications are invited for PhD positions in this research consortium that will seek to understand the survival of pathogens such as Legionella and Leishmania in phagolysosomal compartments of macrophages by correlative light and electron microscopy. Particular project areas will be identified to suit the skills and ambitions of the successful candidate.

Essential Criteria

An H1 Honours degree, or Masters by Research degree, or Master by Coursework degree with a minor thesis. The Honours/Masters degree should be in a relevant discipline such as: Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Genetics, Computer Science. The student nominated for this scholarship must:

  • have completed a four year undergraduate degree or equivalent, with an H1 assessment;
  • be eligible for full-time enrolment in a PhD – a curriculum vitae should be submitted with the applicant's candidature form to enable this to be assessed;
  • be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or an Australian permanent resident;
  • not have previously enrolled in an equivalent degree.

The PhD stipend rate is $22,860 p.a. in 2011.

For enquiries and further information, please contact:
Dr. Georg Ramm: or

Dr. Thomas Naderer: