Towards better understanding the properties of pollutants that can cross the blood brain barrier using assays and/or animal studies
The Minderoo Project at QAEHS is a philanthropic funded project dealing with human health and plastic polymers/additives. Within the plastic additive side of the project there is a research need to better understand the physicochemical properties of chemicals that can cross the blood brain barrier (BBB) and their subsequent fate.
The proposed PhD project aims to compliment and better direct other work within the project by generating evidence on which compounds should be prioritised for quantification in post-mortem brain samples, thus expanding our target analyte list beyond the current compound classes (phthalate, phthalate metabolites and bisphenols). The PhD work will involve developing/adapting analytical methods to be used on assays that aim to model the BBB, such as PAMPA-BBB, and analyse biological samples from animal studies where a test cohort would be administered an analyte(s) of interest.
Scholarship value
As a scholarship recipient, you'll receive:
- living stipend of $33,641 per annum tax free (2024 rate), indexed annually
- tuition fees covered
- single Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
Supervisor
Dr Fisher Wang
Email: x.wang18@uq.edu.au
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 human biomonitoring, mass spectrometry and trace organic analysis would be of benefit to someone working on this project.
The applicant will demonstrate academic achievement in the field/s of environmental science and analytical chemistry and the potential for scholastic success.
A background or knowledge of plastic-associated chemicals and in-vitro and in-vivo methods is highly desirable.