From Indigenous knowledge to artificial intelligence, from climate change to cultural preservation. Research at the University of Melbourne is adding to human knowledge and understanding so that society can thrive. It is also translating discovery into meaningful, practical impact to benefit all of us.
We value research as a fundamental form of learning. Empowered by a sense of place, and the people we work with. Success requires collaboration, not just between scholars, but with community, industry and government.
Explore the precincts, people, platforms and multidisciplinary research bringing together diverse perspectives and expertise – and pushing forward the boundaries of knowledge.
Research Areas
- Biomedical Engineering Innovation
- Child and Adolescent Health
- Comprehensive Cancer
- Ecology and Evolution
- Indigenous Settler Relations
- Infection and Immunity
- Medical Biology
- Mental Health
- Migration, Statelessness and Refugee Studies
- Neuroscience
- One Health
- Population and Global Health
Funding
- More funding information and application deadline available here.
- Prospective students can apply for scholarships for research study, or competitive grants as a professional researcher. Detailed information
Testimonials
“When starting a PhD, one question that most likely comes to everybody’s mind is: “Will I be up to the task of finishing a PhD?” My advice is to have some respect for the task at hand, but not too much. It is good to read relevant literature and to find academics in one’s field who can serve as models, but it is at least as important to leave room for one’s own ideas and to develop the self-confidence to pursue them.”
Dr Miriam Guenther, PhD , Department of Management and Marketing
Research Projects
MELB Projects
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| University: | University of Melbourne |
| Faculty: | Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences |
| Project Start Date: | negotiable |
| Application Deadline: | ongoing |
| Supervisor Name: | Dr Rachael Moses, e-mail: [email protected] |
| Location (City/Campus): | Parkville Precinct |
| Project Description: | Humans heal in a different manner to rodents, so we need to start using more representative wound healing models to replicate the tissue architecture and wound healing cascade observed in human dermal wound healing. This exciting PhD opportunity involves developing a 3D infected chronic wound model, comprised of culturing dermal chronic wound fibroblasts, which are obtained from venous leg ulcers and epidermal keratinocytes in a complex 3D model system, allowing the strong paracrine feedback system to occur between the two cell types, as occurs in the native skin environment. This model will be utilising mostly animal-free-origin products, in a move away from typically animal-derived components used in tissue culture, resulting in reduced ethical implications and reduced variability across experiments, due to batch-to-batch variability associated with animal-derived products. This model will use a synthetic hydrogel (PeptiGel®) from Manchester BIOGEL to replace the typically used Matrigel; this PeptiGel® can be tailored to include additional components, including collagen, laminin and fibronectin. This project involves working within the Sloan/Moses lab at The University of Melbourne, benefitting from their extensive 3D model experience. Dr Moses has been awarded a number of grants and prizes recently to further develop this work, with a strong background in wound healing, in vitro 3D models and novel pharmaceutical screening. Professor Sloan has long standing expertise in developing novel in vitro / ex vivo organ 3D culture model systems for tissue regeneration/engineering and testing novel therapeutic agents, along with advancing the 3Rs in biomedical research and bioengineering. Dr Farrugia has a strong background in biomaterial development and characterisation, and wound healing, including in vitro models, with an additional focus on the development of new therapies. Dr Liam Sharkey is a bacteriologist specialising in antibiotic resistance with a particular focus on Staphylococcus aureus, a common cause of chronic wound infections. He has experience with in vitro models of S. aureus biofilm formation and the genetic manipulation of clinical S. aureus strains. This project benefits from collaboration with industrial partners assessing novel pharmaceuticals on these models; these natural pharmaceuticals have previously been assessed by Dr Moses through a variety of other 2D wound healing studies. This project will involve a variety of laboratory-based techniques including tissue culture, 3D models, bacteriology, histology, immunostaining, H&E staining, confocal imaging, translational research, bioinformatics, biostatistics, research management, oral presentation skills, and scientific writing skills. |
| Funding Information: | RTP scholarships are available to domestic and overseas students enrolled in an accredited HDR course at an Australian HEP. More information |