James Cook University (JCU) is one of the worlds leading institutions focusing on the tropics. With campuses in Townsville, Cairns and Singapore, JCU is dedicated to creating a brighter future for life in the tropics worldwide, through graduates and discoveries that make a difference. The Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (AITHM) has recently been established at JCU with $84 million in establishment funding from the Queensland and Commonwealth Governments. AITHM aspires to be a world-leading health and medical research institute addressing health problems of major importance to tropical Australia, South East Asia, the Pacific and the tropics worldwide. AITHM research spans both basic and applied and AITHM is committed to health and medical research directed towards rural, remote, Indigenous and underserved communities in the tropics worldwide.
Study in Australia - James Cook University Australia
- AITHM has a number of PhD scholarships available for outstanding and highly motivated students with an interest in tropical health and medical research who wish to undertake a PhD at JCU in 2016. For further information, please click on the links below:
PhD Research Areas
AITHM's research is structured across six research themes, which reflect AITHM's research priorities. PhD projects will be available in one or more of these themes:
- Theme A. Re-emerging infectious diseases, vectors and Australia’s health security. Specific diseases of interest include Tuberculosis and other Mycobacteria, Malaria, Dengue, Filariasis, soil transmitted helminths, Group A Streptococcus, neglected tropical diseases and vector borne diseases.
- Theme B. Health Systems Research and Indigenous Health Research. This theme focuses on workforce development and health service delivery to rural, remote and Indigenous populations in tropical Australia and the Pacific.
- Theme C. Chronic Diseases with high prevalence in Tropical Australia. Specific areas of interest include diabetes, allergy and asthma, the intersection between chronic and infectious diseases, including the association of gut microbiome and chronic disease, and peripheral vascular disease, including pre-clinical work to identify risk factors and novel treatment targets, and clinical studies to test novel therapies.
- Theme D. Molecular Development of Therapeutics. Research in this theme employs cross-disciplinary approaches to the development and trialing of compounds and targets, with a particular focus on translating bioactive compounds from tropical fauna to new pharmaceutical products, such as drugs, vaccines or diagnostics.
- Theme E. Genetic and epigenetic aspects of disease. This theme focuses on the application of deep sequencing and bioinformatics techniques to research activities in Themes A and C.
- Theme F. Occupational Health and Safety. Accidents and injuries associated with key industries in rural and remote North Queensland.
For further information regarding AITHM's research, and to identify potential PhD Advisors, please visit the AITHM website. Please also visit the Eligibility section of this website for further information on identifying PhD Advisors and projects.
Eligibility
To be eligible for an AITHM Scholarship, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- All applicants must meet the JCU Higher Degree by Research (Research Doctorate) requirements.
- Applicants must be available to commence their PhD by no later than 30 June 2016.
- All applicants must have a JCU/AITHM researcher who has agreed to act as Advisor should their AITHM scholarship application be successful. Please visit the AITHM website for information on AITHM researchers. Once you have identified a researcher of interest, please contact them directly to ascertain their interest and availability to act as your Advisor and to discuss potential PhD projects.
The following JCU/AITHM Research Centre websites may also be useful in finding an Advisor working in an area of relevance to AITHM:
Potential Advisors can also be found by visiting the JCU Research Portfolio website.
Funding Details
What does the AITHM Scholarship provide?
- $28,000 per annum
- 3 years full time study
- Applications welcomed from domestic and international students. Fee waivers will be available for international students who meet JCU requirements. Further information regarding tuition fees and waiver of fees is available here:
How can I apply?
How to submit an application for a 2016 AITHM PhD Scholarship.
Make sure you have read and understood the AITHM 2016 PhD Scholarship eligibility requirements, Scholarship funding details and familiarised yourself with our AITHM research areas. For Queensland applicants, make sure you have read our special note to Queensland applicants.
- Once you have read the above and are ready to apply, download the Application Form for a 2016 AITHM PhD Scholarship. For some applicants, you will also need to download a Referee Report Form.
- Read and complete the Application Form and then submit this application form, along with relevant attachments, here.
- Applications must be submitted by Friday 6 November 2015, 17:00 AEST.
- If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected].