Griffith University is a progressive, values-led university dedicated to learning, leadership, and innovation. This is your chance to help us achieve our vision to transform lives and add to human knowledge and understanding in a way that creates a future that benefits all.

Since opening in 1975, Griffith has grown from one campus and 451 students to become a comprehensive, multi-campus institution, with 50,000 students and more than 200,000 graduates.

The Opportunity

Investigations into clinical, immunological, and ion channel targets as health outcome measures in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Long COVID patients during clinical trial.

Griffith Health and NCNED are looking to invest in the future of health research with higher degree by research scholarships. A PhD position is available to undertake research at the NCNED led by Professor Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik.

The primary focus of this role is to elucidate the potential therapeutic benefit of treatment targets in ME/CFS and Long COVID patients during a clinical trial commencing in 2023. This project aims to utilise a multi-disciplinary approach to investigate changes to quality of life/disability, and immunological and ion channel disturbances. This project will employ novel laboratory approaches, such as patch clamp electrophysiology and microscopy, in addition to analysis and collection of epidemiological data. Importantly, this project aims to improve the health outcomes of Australians living with ME/CFS and Long COVID.

About you 

• Applicants must have completed, or expect to complete, a Bachelors degree with honours (Class I) or a Masters degree (AQF Level 9) incorporating a substantial research component of a standard comparable to a Bachelor honours degree (Class I) or be regarded by Griffith University as having an equivalent level of attainment.  Applicants who have completed a Bachelors degree with honours (Class IIA) or a Masters degree of a comparable standard together with research experience and/or research outputs (e.g. published research papers or been awarded research funding) will be considered. These degrees should incorporate a research component in biomedical science or related.
• This scholarship is open to new and current domestic and international applicants.
• To be successful within this role, you must be able to develop technical laboratory and methodology skills, data analysis, and scientific writing.
• A competitive candidate will have knowledge of ME/CFS and Long COVID, statistical software packages, and laboratory techniques.

International applicants should ensure that English Language Proficiency requirements for the program are met before formally applying. Applicants to research programs will need to show they meet:

1. A minimum overall band score of 6.5 on the IELTS (Academic) with no band score less than 6.0 OR
2. A minimum score of 575 on the paper-based TOEFL including a score of no less than 5.0 on the TWE OR
3. A score of 79 on the internet-based (iBT) TOEFL with no sub-score less than 19

About us

The National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases (NCNED) is a world-class research facility focusing on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Long COVID.

Our research is world-leading in the area of identification of the pathology, development of a screen/diagnostic test and drug treatments for ME/CFS and Long COVID patients. Our aim is to translate our research to improve patient outcomes in the area of preventative medicine, social and clinical care, and public health.

Further, the NCNED is committed to ensuring the success of higher degree research students and early career researchers. The NCNED has been successful in training and fostering up-and-coming researchers resulting in employability of candidates.

About the scholarship

The successful applicant will receive a stipend of $32,192 a year for up to 3 years of full-time study.

A successful International applicant will also be awarded a Griffith University International Postgraduate Research Scholarship to cover tuition fees for up to three years. Please see the GUIPRS Conditions of Award for more information.

What we offer

As a scholarship holder, you will study with a University that ranks among the top 2% worldwide and spans across campuses in South East Queensland. At Griffith University, we’ve worked hard to create a culture that will challenge you to be curious, creative and courageous. We also support the professional and personal development of all our HDR candidates and invest in the skills of our people. Griffith University values diversity, inclusion and flexibility and we encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and people of all backgrounds to apply. Griffith's strategic goals are to also increase the proportion of women in senior academic and administrative roles and in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM).

Further info

For project related enquiries please contact:

Dr Natalie Eaton-Fitch

Phone: (07) 567 89282

Email: [email protected]

Dr Kiran Thapaliya

Phone: (07) 567 80961

Email: [email protected]

For administration enquiries please contact:

Griffith Graduate Research School

Phone: (07) 3735 3817

Email: [email protected]

EoI process

Please do not select the “APPLY” button. All expressions of interest must be submitted to [email protected] containing:

• Statement addressing your suitability for the project/scholarship
• Transcript of latest degree completed that included a research component / dissertation.
• A curriculum vitae (CV) using the Griffith CV template.

The closing date for expressions of interest is: 11:59pm on 15/05/2023

The preferred applicant will then be invited to apply for the program and scholarship on-line