Job No.: 698874
Employment Type: Full-time
Duration: 3.5-year fixed-term appointment
Location: Monash University, Clayton campus, Melbourne, Australia
Remuneration: The successful applicant will receive a tax-free stipend, at the current value of ~ $41,100 per annum 2027 full-time rate, as per the Monash Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend https://www.monash.edu/study/fees-scholarships/scholarships/find-a-scholarship/research-training-program-scholarship#scholarship-details.
A fully funded PhD scholarship is available in the group of Dr Wael Awad within Prof. Jamie Rossjohn’s laboratory at the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute (BDI). This research proposal focuses on providing a holistic understanding of how cancer-associated metabolites orchestrate T cell functions. Utilizing a combination of cutting-edge biochemical, structural, and cellular immunology approaches, the successful candidate will investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying T cell receptor recognition and discrimination of tumour metabolites. This fundamental research aims to pave the way for universal MR1-based anti-cancer immunotherapies.
The successful candidate gains hands-on expertise in recombinant protein expression and purification, X-ray crystallography, Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR), and cellular immunology approaches in a world-class, exceptionally well-funded environment. The candidate will join a world-leading structural immunology research team with a proven track record of publishing in high-impact journals including Science, Nature Immunology, and Science Immunology. The position offers an exceptionally well-funded environment, state-of-the-art facilities, direct mentorship from world leaders, and opportunities to present at national and international conferences.
Candidates will need to fulfil the Monash University minimum requirements for admission to a PhD detailed here:
https://www.monash.edu/admissions/entry-requirements/minimum
It is expected that applicants will have a background in biochemistry, structural biology, and/or immunology and knowledge of and/or experience in protein biochemistry, cellular biology and/or structural characterization.
The project is based in Melbourne, Australia. The candidate can commence the project in January 2027; however alternative arrangements can be made.
Please submit a single package containing:
Please submit your application via email to wael.awad@monash.edu with the subject line "PhD Application – MR1 Structural Immunology”
Applications Close: Tuesday 18 October 2026, 11:55pm AEDT
Monash University is Australia’s largest and most international university. Its extensive educational offering, delivered via our 10 faculties, includes undergraduate, postgraduate and research courses. Monash is a research-intensive university, known for some significant and lasting discoveries that have delivered impact beyond the academic community.
The university is home to a range of world-leading facilities and technologies, giving it wide-ranging capabilities across many fields, sectors and industries. Monash works with a variety of industry, government and community groups, allowing its researchers to share their discoveries with the world.
Monash is a truly global institution, with five Australian campuses, a campus in Malaysia, a joint graduate school in China, a learning centre in Italy, and a research centre in India. At Monash, cultural experiences are lived, not described.
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