This PhD scholarship at the University of Newcastle offers an exciting opportunity to join a cutting-edge research project focused on reprogramming the cell of origin to restore immune recognition in diffuse midline glioma (DMG), a universally fatal childhood brain cancer. The project investigates how PKCα inhibition can reprogram DMG cell identity and enhance immune visibility, using advanced iPSC-derived neural stem models and mouse models. The research aims to uncover how cellular differentiation is linked to antigen presentation and adaptive immune activation, with the ultimate goal of identifying therapeutic vulnerabilities that can be exploited to improve outcomes for paediatric brain cancer patients. DMG is driven by developmental and epigenetic dysregulation, and recent findings from the research team show that PKCα signalling maintains the undifferentiated state of DMG and suppresses MHC-II expression. This mechanism is reminiscent of demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis, where immune-mediated injury is promoted by HLA-DRB1 and CD8⁺ T-cell infiltration. Building on these discoveries, the team is developing first-in-class, brain-penetrant PKCα inhibitors as part of a larger MRFF-Frontier program, aiming to reprogram DMG biology and improve responsiveness to immunotherapy. The successful PhD candidate will investigate how the cell of origin and PKCα inhibition influence MHC-II expression and adaptive immune activation. The project will utilize iPSC-derived radial glia and oligodendrocyte precursor cell models engineered with DMG mutations to map differentiation states and immune signalling responses under pharmacological inhibition. Key methodologies include molecular cloning, iPSC culture, single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, proteomics, and epigenetic profiling, all aimed at defining lineage-immune crosstalk in DMG. Expected outcomes of the research include mechanistic insights into how PKCα inhibitors promote antigen presentation, identification of biomarkers for therapeutic response, and contributions to the development of next-generation precision immunotherapies for paediatric brain cancer. The scholarship, funded by The Bob Edwards and Family PhD Scholarship in Paediatric Cancer, provides a generous living allowance of $38,938 per annum (2026 rate), indexed annually, for 3.5 years, along with tuition fee coverage and up to $1,500 relocation allowance. Eligibility requirements include an Honours or Master’s degree in biomedical sciences or a related discipline, demonstrated skills in mammalian cell culture, experience in both wet-lab and computational environments, and handling of human and animal biospecimens within a PC2 laboratory. Applicants should also be able to work effectively within a collaborative research team. To apply, interested candidates should send an email expressing their interest, including scanned academic transcripts, CV, a brief statement of research interests, and a proposal specifically linking them to the research project. Only applicants who provide all four documents and pass internal screening will be contacted. The application deadline is 09 January 2026. For more information and to apply, visit the University of Newcastle’s scholarship page.