PhD in Engineering T Cells from Stem Cells / Stem Cell Models for Immune Differentiation and Function The University of Queensland in Australia

PhD opportunity at The University of Queensland in the area of stem cell biology, immunology, cell engineering, and T cell development. The project is titled Engineering T Cells from Stem Cells / Development of next-generation stem-cell models for immune differentiation and function and is based at the UQ Frazer Institute and the Translational Research Institute (TRI), Brisbane, in partnership with the Sanofi Translational Science Hub.

The research focuses on developing reliable methods to generate functional T cells from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). This is a major challenge in the field because immune cells from blood donors can be variable and limited in supply. The project aims to refine conditions that guide stem cells toward the T cell pathway and test the performance of the resulting cells.

You will gain hands-on training in stem cell culture, immunology, and cell engineering in an experienced, collaborative team. The research environment includes advanced shared facilities such as PC2 stem cell and cell culture labs, flow cytometry and cell sorting, genomics, imaging, and on-site mRNA and lipid nanoparticle production.

Supervision is by Professor Gabrielle Belz and Associate Professor Fernando Guimaraes at the Frazer Institute. The project has strong potential applications in immunotherapy, vaccine research, and infection research.

Funding: Supported by a Research project scholarship with a living stipend of $37,500 per annum tax free (2026 rate), indexed annually, tuition fees covered, and a $10,780 per annum top-up for up to 3.5 years. International students also receive single OSHC.

Eligibility: Competitive assessment considers academic record, publication record, honours and awards, and employment history. A background in biomedical science, immunology, cell biology, stem cell culture, or cell engineering is highly desirable.

How to apply: Submit an expression of interest (EOI) for the PhD program by 1 September 2026. In the EOI, indicate that you are applying for an advertised project, use scholarship code IMMUNE-GUIMARAES, and follow the scholarship advertisement instructions. Contact [email protected] with questions.