Graduate Research Excellence Scholarship

This PhD project at Monash University Malaysia focuses on developing biodegradable polymer-based hydrogels for the efficient capture and preservation of latent DNA and trace biomarkers from touch and trace evidence. Trace biological residues, such as sweat and epithelial cells, are valuable for forensic investigations but are often difficult to recover using conventional methods like swabbing, which can result in low efficiency and sample degradation. The research aims to design tunable hydrogel systems using biopolymers such as carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and chitosan, enhancing adsorption capacity and biomolecule stability for forensic sampling.

By integrating polymer chemistry and forensic science, the project seeks to improve trace evidence recovery and introduce a novel, non-destructive forensic sampling technology. The research areas span biotechnology, molecular biology, applied chemistry, environmental chemistry, industrial chemistry, organic chemistry, polymer chemistry, biomedical engineering, nanotechnology, and polymers. The project is supervised by Associate Professor Pushpamalar Janarthanan, with Dr. Ang Chee Wei and Professor Wu Ta Yeong as associate supervisors, all based in the Department of Science at Monash University Malaysia.

Successful applicants will be awarded the Graduate Research Excellence Scholarship (GRES), which provides a full tuition fee waiver and a monthly stipend for up to 3 years 6 months. To be eligible, candidates must have a First Class Honours (H1) or its equivalence (H1E) recognised by Monash University Malaysia and meet the English language requirements. The application deadline is July 31, 2026.

Prospective students are encouraged to contact the main supervisor with their academic background and achievements to determine suitability for the project. If a good fit is established, applications should be submitted online, referencing the advertised research topic. Further information about the application process and scholarships is available via the provided link.