Queensland Health/QAEHS Scholarships

Project description

Antimicrobial resistance is a growing global challenge, yet its spread in environments outside clinical settings and the impact of associated micropollutants are poorly understood. Our current knowledge is primarily based on single-species responses to individual micropollutants. However, in natural environments, microbes are exposed to multiple micropollutants simultaneously. These combinations may produce effects that are equal to, stronger than (synergistic), or weaker than (antagonistic) the sum of their parts. Understanding these effects is crucial for assessing ecosystem health and recommending pollution mitigation strategies. This PhD project aims to investigate the complex impact of environmental micropollutants on the spread of antimicrobial resistance in environmental microbial communities. By including non-model species that better represent natural microbial communities, we will gain a deeper understanding of micropollutants-microbes interactions.

Research environment

This PhD project is within UQ’s defined strength of environmental science (the top 20 in the world). QAEHS has a particular strength in environmental monitoring, analytical chemistry, and human exposure risk assessment. QAEHS has student support programs such as scholarship top-up. QAEHS has a newly equipped and well-maintained PC2 laboratory with all the advanced equipment and other resources this project needs. These include 13 state-of-the-art mass spectrometers – five Sciex LC-MS triple quadrupoles (Q), two LC-MS QTOFs, a GC-Orbitrap, an HRGC-HRMS and a GC-triple quadrupole, and an NCI-GC-triple quadrupole.

Scholarship

This project is supported by the Research project scholarship.

This scholarship includes:

• living stipend of $36,400 per annum tax free (2025 rate), indexed annually
• a top-up of $5,000 per annum
• tuition fees covered.

Learn more about the Research project scholarship.

Supervisors

Principal supervisor: Dr Ji Lu
Associate supervisor: Professor Jianhua Guo

Preferred educational background

Your application will be assessed on a competitive basis.

We take into account your:

• previous academic record
• publication record
• honours and awards
• employment history

A working knowledge of bioinformatic analyses, bacterial culturing, bioreactor operation, and molecular biology techniques would be of benefit to someone working on this project.

You will demonstrate academic achievement in the field/s of microbiology, molecular biology, environmental engineering and microbial ecology and the potential for scholastic success.

A background or knowledge of antimicrobial resistance is highly desirable.

How to apply

Before you apply

Before submitting an application you should:

1. check your eligibility for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
2. prepare your documentation
3. contact Dr Ji Lu (j.lu2@uq.edu.au) to discuss your interest and suitability
4. submit your application by 30 June, 2025 .

When you apply

You apply for this scholarship when you submit an application for your program. You don’t need to submit a separate scholarship application.

In your application ensure that under the ‘Scholarships and collaborative study’ section you select:

• ‘My higher degree is not collaborative’
• ‘I am applying for, or have been awarded a scholarship or sponsorship'
• ‘Other’, then ‘Research Project Scholarship’ and in the ‘Name of scholarship’ field enter MICROPOLLUTANTS-LU.

Apply Now

Project description

There is growing recognition of the fundamental threat that climate change poses to human health. Increases in extreme weather and climate events such as storms, extreme heat, floods, droughts and bushfires will affect health both directly and indirectly. International agencies like the World Health Organisation forecast that climate change will be associated with increased risk of morbidity, noncommunicable diseases, infectious diseases and health emergencies. Although the impacts of climate change on health is garnering research attention, little is known about the communication of this issue and how the public perceives and responds to it. The current PhD project therefore applies a communication lens to the health impacts of climate change. The PhD project will provide important information that could help to develop community resilience and adaptive responses to the health effects of climate change.

Research environment

This PhD project is within UQ’s defined strength of environmental science (the top 20 in the world). QAEHS has student support programs such as scholarship top-up. The PhD student will be situated in an interdisciplinary environment and will have the opportunity to collaborate with students from a range of disciplines.

Scholarship

This project is supported by the Research project scholarship.

This scholarship includes:

• living stipend of $36,400 per annum tax free (2025 rate), indexed annually
• a top-up of $5,000 per annum
• tuition fees covered.

Learn more about the Research project scholarship.

Supervisors

Principal supervisor: Professor Kelly Fielding
Associate supervisor: Dr Jagadish Thaker

Preferred educational background

Your application will be assessed on a competitive basis.

We take into account your:

• previous academic record
• publication record
• honours and awards
• employment history

A working knowledge of social science quantitative and/or qualitative methods would be of benefit to someone working on this project.

You will demonstrate academic achievement in the field/s of social science including communication, psychology, sociology, or public health and the potential for scholastic success.

How to apply

Before you apply

Before submitting an application you should:

1. check your eligibility for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
2. prepare your documentation
3. contact Professor Kelly Fielding (k.fielding@uq.edu.au) to discuss your interest and suitability
4. submit your application by 30 June, 2025 .

When you apply

You apply for this scholarship when you submit an application for your program. You don’t need to submit a separate scholarship application.

In your application ensure that under the ‘Scholarships and collaborative study’ section you select:

• ‘My higher degree is not collaborative’
• ‘I am applying for, or have been awarded a scholarship or sponsorship'
• ‘Other’, then ‘Research Project Scholarship’ and in the ‘Name of scholarship’ field enter CLIMATE CHANGE-FIELDING.

Apply Now

Project description

Freshwater harmful cyanobacteria are a growing concern in the Australian drinking water supply, which is mostly obtained from surface water sources. Global warming and extreme heavy rainfall events increase water temperature and nutrient inputs, increasing the frequency and extent of cyanobacteria blooms. Cyanobacteria produce toxins that, if present in drinking water can expose the population to a range of adverse health effects, including kidney and liver damage. Conventional drinking water treatment plants are able to remove cyanobacteria and low concentrations of cyanotoxins, but higher concentrations require adjustment of the treatment conditions or the introduction of additional treatment steps. This project aims to investigate the presence of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins detected in Queensland surface waters and their fate in conventional drinking water treatment processes. In addition, novel and advanced treatment processes will be investigated to improve the efficiency and reliability of cyanotoxin removal in drinking water treatment plants.

Research environment

This PhD project is within UQ’s defined strength of environmental science (the top 20 in the world). QAEHS has a particular strength in environmental monitoring, analytical chemistry, and human exposure risk assessment. QAEHS has student support programs such as scholarship top-up. QAEHS has a newly equipped and well-maintained PC2 laboratory with all the advanced equipment and other resources this project needs. These include 13 state-of-the-art mass spectrometers – five Sciex LC-MS triple quadrupoles (QQQ), two LC-MS QTOFs, a GC-Orbitrap, an HRGC-HRMS and a GC-triple quadrupole, and an NCI-GC-triple quadrupole. ACWEB is one of the top research units worldwide in the field of water and environmental biotechnology. ACWEB has excellent experimental and analytical facilities, including lab- and pilot-scale reactors and advanced analytical and monitoring tools. ACWEB fosters a thriving research environment and provides exciting opportunities for professional development, both academically and with industry.

Scholarship

This project is supported by the Research project scholarship.

This scholarship includes:

• living stipend of $36,400 per annum tax free (2025 rate), indexed annually
• a top-up of $5,000 per annum
• tuition fees covered.

Learn more about the Research project scholarship.

Supervisors

Principal supervisor: Associate Professor Gilda Carvalho
Associate supervisor: Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon

Preferred educational background

Your application will be assessed on a competitive basis.

We take into account your:

• previous academic record
• publication record
• honours and awards
• employment history

You will demonstrate academic achievement in the field/s of water chemistry; chemical engineering; biotechnology and the potential for scholastic success.

How to apply

Before you apply

Before submitting an application you should:

1. check your eligibility for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
2. prepare your documentation
3. contact Associate Professor Gilda Carvalho (g.carvalho@uq.edu.au) to discuss your interest and suitability
4. submit your application by 30 June, 2025 .

When you apply

You apply for this scholarship when you submit an application for your program. You don’t need to submit a separate scholarship application.

In your application ensure that under the ‘Scholarships and collaborative study’ section you select:

• ‘My higher degree is not collaborative’
• ‘I am applying for, or have been awarded a scholarship or sponsorship'
• ‘Other’, then ‘Research Project Scholarship’ and in the ‘Name of scholarship’ field enter CYANOTOXINS-CARVALHO.

Apply Now

Project description

Poisoning remains a critical public health challenge in Queensland and Australia, encompassing environmental toxins, agricultural chemicals, venomous bites/stings, medications, household chemicals, and illicit substances. Climate change is expected to amplify these risks through its effects on ecosystems, agriculture, and urban environments. Yet, State and nationwide studies examining spatial, temporal, and environmental drivers of poisoning are limited.

Research environment

This PhD project will leverage data from State Poison Information Centres, hospital admissions, and coronial death records (via ABS) to conduct a comprehensive, spatially explicit risk assessment. Advanced spatial epidemiological modelling and data-driven approaches, including sophisticated computational methods (e.g., random forests, gradient boosting, deep learning) and Bayesian hierarchical frameworks, will be applied to analyse geographical hotspots, environmental risk factors, and multilevel spatial hierarchies at both the Queensland and national levels.

Scholarship

This project is supported by the Research project scholarship.

This scholarship includes:

• living stipend of $36,400 per annum tax free (2025 rate), indexed annually
• a top-up of $5,000 per annum
• tuition fees covered.

Learn more about the Research project scholarship.

Supervisors

Principal supervisor: Associate Professor Nicholas Osborne
Associate supervisor: Dr Darsy Darssan

Preferred educational background

Your application will be assessed on a competitive basis.

We take into account your:

• previous academic record
• publication record
• honours and awards
• employment history

A working knowledge of epidemiology; risk assessments; data-driven approaches; computational methods; public health; and environmental health would be of benefit to someone working on this project.

You will demonstrate academic achievement in the field/s of environmental health sciences, public health, risk assessments, data-driven approaches and the potential for scholastic success.

A background or knowledge of epidemiology; environmental health and biostatistics is highly desirable.

How to apply

Before you apply

Before submitting an application you should:

1. check your eligibility for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
2. prepare your documentation
3. contact Associate Professor Nicholas Osborne (n.osborne@uq.edu.au) to discuss your interest and suitability
4. submit your application by 30 June, 2025 .

When you apply

You apply for this scholarship when you submit an application for your program. You don’t need to submit a separate scholarship application.

In your application ensure that under the ‘Scholarships and collaborative study’ section you select:

• ‘My higher degree is not collaborative’
• ‘I am applying for, or have been awarded a scholarship or sponsorship'
• ‘Other’, then ‘Research Project Scholarship’ and in the ‘Name of scholarship’ field enter POISONING-OSBORNE.

Apply Now

Project description

In the lead-up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, it is important to understand how large gatherings can impact on the population and the environment. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) or wastewater surveillance has been a crucial tool for assessing community-level chemical and pathogen exposure for more than a decade. As sewage (wastewater) contains urine from entire communities, WBE extends urine testing of individuals to whole communities. Large events, such as international sporting competitions, festivals or COVID-19, can lead to changes in human activity and use of various substances, resulting in temporary changes in chemical discharges into wastewater. Moreover, an increase in international visitors can also lead to changes in the pathogens, to which the community is exposed. Monitoring this through WBE helps identify potential health risks so that interventions can be implemented and monitored for their efficacy. The student will establish methods for chemical/pathogen exposures, using samples collected during events.

Research environment

This PhD project is within UQ’s defined strength of environmental science (the top 20 in the world). QAEHS has a particular strength in environmental monitoring, analytical chemistry, and human exposure risk assessment. QAEHS has student support programs such as scholarship top-up. QAEHS has a newly equipped and well-maintained PC2 laboratory with all the advanced equipment and other resources this project needs. These include 13 state-of-the-art mass spectrometers – five Sciex LC-MS triple quadrupoles (QQQ), two LC-MS QTOFs, a GC-Orbitrap, an HRGC-HRMS and a GC-triple quadrupole, and an NCI-GC-triple quadrupole.

Scholarship

This project is supported by the Research project scholarship.

This scholarship includes:

• living stipend of $36,400 per annum tax free (2025 rate), indexed annually
• a top-up of $5,000 per annum
• tuition fees covered.

Learn more about the Research project scholarship.

Supervisors

Principal supervisor: Dr Richard Bade
Associate supervisor: Dr Jake O'Brien

Preferred educational background

Your application will be assessed on a competitive basis.

We take into account your:

• previous academic record
• publication record
• honours and awards
• employment history

A working knowledge of wastewater-based epidemiology would be of benefit to someone working on this project.

You will demonstrate academic achievement in the field/s of environmental science, analytical chemistry, or forensic chemistry and the potential for scholastic success.

A background or knowledge of wet chemistry sample preparation techniques and the use of analytical instruments is highly desirable.

How to apply

Before you apply

Before submitting an application you should:

1. check your eligibility for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
2. prepare your documentation
3. contact Dr Richard Bade (r.bade@uq.edu.au) to discuss your interest and suitability
4. submit your application by 30 June, 2025 .

When you apply

You apply for this scholarship when you submit an application for your program. You don’t need to submit a separate scholarship application.

In your application ensure that under the ‘Scholarships and collaborative study’ section you select:

• ‘My higher degree is not collaborative’
• ‘I am applying for, or have been awarded a scholarship or sponsorship'
• ‘Other’, then ‘Research Project Scholarship’ and in the ‘Name of scholarship’ field enter PATHOGEN-BADE.

Apply Now

Project description

Opportunistic pathogens (OPs) such as Legionella spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are major causes of waterborne disease outbreaks. These pathogens are particularly concerning as a cause of hospital and healthcare facility-acquired infections and disease outbreaks, linked to the persistent biofilms that present in premise plumbing systems (i.e. taps and showerheads). The project will involve developing and applying a range of antimicrobial agents/treatments to assess their effectiveness for the selective removal of opportunistic pathogens in biofilms, such as Legionella spp. and NTM. These will be applied to various biofilm models, ranging from constructed biofilms in reactors to real mature drinking water pipe biofilms. This project expects to further improve the understanding of OPs, their occurrence and microbial ecology in drinking water systems. Findings from this project would improve on existing water treatment strategies and management in healthcare facilities.

Research environment

This multi-disciplinary project intersects the research fields of microbiology, environmental engineering, and environmental biotechnology. These are areas of research strength at UQ. In all three ERA assessment rounds, UQ was ranked first in the nation in Environmental Engineering and Environmental Biotechnology.

The successful applicant will be based at the Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, located at The University of Queensland’s St Lucia campus. ACWEB at UQ is one of the top research centres worldwide in innovative water science and technology. ACWEB has an annual budget of $8-10M with the majority of funding sourced from competitive schemes including the ARC. ACWEB publishes 100+ papers annually in high-quality international peer-reviewed journals, including Science and Nature.

The successful applicant will have access to the research facilities in ACWEB’s PC2-certified Environmental Microbiology Laboratory. They will also have access to complementary facilities at St Lucia, such as flow cytometry, confocal laser scanning microscopy and electron microscopy.

Scholarship

This project is supported by the Research project scholarship.

This scholarship includes:

• living stipend of $36,400 per annum tax free (2025 rate), indexed annually
• a top-up of $5,000 per annum
• tuition fees covered.

Learn more about the Research project scholarship.

Supervisors

Principal supervisor: Professor Jianhua Guo
Associate supervisor: Dr Casey Huang

Preferred educational background

Your application will be assessed on a competitive basis.

We take into account your:

• previous academic record
• publication record
• honours and awards
• employment history

A working knowledge of practical experience in bacterial or protozoan cultivation skills and techniques, molecular biology, microbial ecology, and environmental engineering would be of benefit to someone working on this project.

You will demonstrate academic achievement in the field/s of environmental microbiology, microbiology, molecular biology, environmental engineering or science and the potential for scholastic success.

A background or knowledge of microbiology is essential, and a background or knowledge of environmental microbiology with a focus on water is highly desirable.

How to apply

Before you apply

Before submitting an application you should:

1. check your eligibility for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
2. prepare your documentation
3. contact Professor Jianhua Guo (j.guo1@uq.edu.au) to discuss your interest and suitability
4. submit your application by 30 June, 2025 .

When you apply

You apply for this scholarship when you submit an application for your program. You don’t need to submit a separate scholarship application.

In your application ensure that under the ‘Scholarships and collaborative study’ section you select:

• ‘My higher degree is not collaborative’
• ‘I am applying for, or have been awarded a scholarship or sponsorship'
• ‘Other’, then ‘Research Project Scholarship’ and in the ‘Name of scholarship’ field enter MICROBIAL-GUO.

Apply Now

Project description

Billions of people use personal care products (PCPs) like makeup, skincare, and sunscreen, often unaware they may contain contaminants such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), parabens, phthalates, and microplastics. These chemicals, linked to severe health risks including endocrine disruption, cancer, and developmental disorders, are often undeclared on product labels. Regulatory frameworks are struggling to keep up with innovation in PCP formulations, leaving significant gaps in understanding chemical prevalence, exposure pathways, and long-term risks. This project aims to provide the first comprehensive assessment of both declared and undeclared contaminants in PCPs sold in the Australian market. Our focus includes products marketed as "natural" or "organic" and imports from unregulated international markets. Using cutting-edge targeted and non-targeted analytical techniques, we will detect known contaminants and uncover emerging chemicals, filling critical gaps in knowledge about these products.

Research environment

QAEHS is internationally recognised for research excellence in the environmental sciences. The centre has established state-of-the-art sampling, analysis and archiving facilities located at the Dutton Park Campus. QAEHS maintains 7x LC-MS/MS and 5x GC-MS instruments, with a dedicated trace analytical laboratory and state-of-the-art instrumentation. The student will join a cohort of >30 HDR students researching human and environmental exposure to environmental contaminants.

The student will be given access to a centre-level travel support award scheme supporting participation at international conferences. The student will receive full access to their own computer and workstation. The research is supported through a number of grants and collaborations including a generous research consumable budget.

Scholarship

This project is supported by the Research project scholarship.

This scholarship includes:

• living stipend of $36,400 per annum tax free (2025 rate), indexed annually
• a top-up of $5,000 per annum
• tuition fees covered.

Learn more about the Research project scholarship.

Supervisors

Principal supervisor: Dr Sara Ghorbani Gorji
Associate supervisor: Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon

Preferred educational background

Your application will be assessed on a competitive basis.

We take into account your:

• previous academic record
• publication record
• honours and awards
• employment history

A working knowledge of environmental science, analytical chemistry, computer science, and mathematics would be of benefit to someone working on this project.

A background or knowledge of analytical chemistry or machine learning tools is highly desirable.

How to apply

Before you apply

Before submitting an application you should:

1. check your eligibility for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
2. prepare your documentation
3. contact Dr Sara Ghorbani Gorji (s.ghorbanigorji@uq.edu.au) to discuss your interest and suitability
4. submit your application by 30 June, 2025 .

When you apply

You apply for this scholarship when you submit an application for your program. You don’t need to submit a separate scholarship application.

In your application ensure that under the ‘Scholarships and collaborative study’ section you select:

• ‘My higher degree is not collaborative’
• ‘I am applying for, or have been awarded a scholarship or sponsorship'
• ‘Other’, then ‘Research Project Scholarship’ and in the ‘Name of scholarship’ field enter PFAS-GORJI.

Apply Now

Project description

Tattoo inks are complex mixtures of pigments and additives that can undergo chemical transformations when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. This PhD project aims to investigate the degradation pathways of various tattoo inks under controlled UV exposure using a UV simulator.

Research environment

The project will begin by conducting a comprehensive review of existing literature on tattoo ink pigments. Analytical techniques, such as Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), will be developed for the separation and identification of a range of tattoo ink pigments and their transformation products. These validated methods will be used to assess the stability of these pigments when exposed to UV light and identify any transformation products formed.

Scholarship

This project is supported by the Research project scholarship.

This scholarship includes:

• living stipend of $36,400 per annum tax free (2025 rate), indexed annually
• a top-up of $5,000 per annum
• tuition fees covered.

Learn more about the Research project scholarship.

Supervisors

Principal supervisor: Professor Kevin Thomas
Associate supervisor: Associate Professor Sarit Kaserzon

Preferred educational background

Your application will be assessed on a competitive basis.

We take into account your:

• previous academic record
• publication record
• honours and awards
• employment history

A working knowledge of analytical chemistry would be of benefit to someone working on this project.

How to apply

Before you apply

Before submitting an application you should:

1. check your eligibility for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
2. prepare your documentation
3. contact Professor Kevin Thomas (kevin.thomas@uq.edu.au) to discuss your interest and suitability
4. submit your application by 30 June, 2025 .

When you apply

You apply for this scholarship when you submit an application for your program. You don’t need to submit a separate scholarship application.

In your application ensure that under the ‘Scholarships and collaborative study’ section you select:

• ‘My higher degree is not collaborative’
• ‘I am applying for, or have been awarded a scholarship or sponsorship'
• ‘Other’, then ‘Research Project Scholarship’ and in the ‘Name of scholarship’ field enter TATTOO-THOMAS.

Apply Now