Jobs in Parasitology

Research Opportunities in Molecular Parasitology
The University of Melbourne

Opportunities exist in Professor Robin B. Gasser's laboratory in The University of Melbourne or in collaborating institutions for highly motivated individuals wanting to undertake PhD projects (3-3.5 years) or become involved as research assistants in the parasite genomics and genetics program.

The program is currently supported by funds from the Australian Research Council (ARC), Genetic Technologies Limited (GTG), Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA), the Australian Poultry Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) and Melbourne Water Corporation. The program involves the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR) (Dr Alex Loukas), the Commonwealth and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) (Dr Peter Hunt), Macquarie University (Prof Shoba Ranganathan), Washington University School of Medicine (Dr Makedonka Mitreva) and CalTech (Prof Paul Sternberg).

Mining for drug targets in parasitic nematodes
Australian Research Council (LP0667795)
Genomic and bioinformatic approaches are being used to discover new drug targets in socio-economically important parasites (worms) of animals. The research will lead to improved, fundamental knowledge and understanding of reproductive and developmental pathways and will provide a foundation for finding new intervention strategies. This is crucial, given the current, serious resistance problems in parasites against most drug treatments.

Discovery of early developmental events in the transition to parasitism in the hookworm Ancylostoma caninum using genomic technologies
Australian Research Council (DP0665230)
This project will discover and characterize genes and gene products associated specifically with the transition to parasitism in the blood-feeding hookworm Ancylostoma caninum, and define signalling pathways regulating this developmental switch and subsequent physiological pathways dependent on these signalling events.

Molecular diagnosis of parasitism
Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA)
Parasitic diseases of animals are predominantly controlled by using chemotherapeutic agents (anthelmintics). Even with optimally-timed (strategic) treatments, this type of control is expensive and, in most cases, only partially effective. Also, the excessive and uncontrolled use of such agents has resulted in serious problems with anthelmintic resistance. The purpose of this project is to develop advanced molecular tools for the diagnosis of gastrointestinal parasitism in sheep, to overcome the major limitations of traditional diagnostic methods.

Catchment sources of waterborne pathogens
Melbourne Water Corporation
The surveillance and monitoring of pathogens in water catchments assists in maintaining high quality drinking water. The aims of this project are to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium in feral, native and production animals in the catchment areas, to develop and employ molecular tools for the genetic characterisation of pathogens from faecal samples from animals in catchments, and to establish whether the species and genotypes of the parasite in animals within the water catchment areas relate to those found in humans.

PhD candidates
The successful applicant will have completed a BSc (H1) or equivalent and will work on one of the projects listed. Applicants must meet all criteria for enrolment in the University of Melbourne (www.unimelb.edu.au/student/postgrad/index.html). Opportunities exist for projects involving international collaborators.

Research Assistant
The successful applicant will have completed a BSc (H1 or H2A) degree and be able to work relatively independently on one of the projects listed. Previous experience in molecular microbiology or molecular parasitology is highly desirable. Twelve month fixed-term appointment, with a view toward a PhD program supported by a scholarship from the University of Melbourne.

Further Information Professor Robin B. Gasser (robinbg@unimelb.edu.au)