Graduate Research Excellence Scholarship (GRES)

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 swabbing methods, which can result in low efficiency and sample degradation or contamination.

The research aims to design tunable hydrogel systems using biopolymers like carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and chitosan, enhancing adsorption capacity and biomolecule stability. 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 interdisciplinary approach covers biotechnology, molecular biology, applied chemistry, environmental chemistry, industrial chemistry, polymer chemistry, biomedical engineering, nanotechnology, and materials science.

The project is supervised by Associate Professor Pushpamalar Janarthanan, with co-supervision from Dr. Ang Chee Wei and Professor Wu Ta Yeong. The successful candidate will join the Department of Science at Monash University Malaysia and benefit from a supportive research environment.

Funding is available through 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, applicants must have a First Class Honours (H1) or its equivalence (H1E) recognised by Monash University Malaysia and meet English language requirements.

The application deadline is July 31, 2026. Interested candidates should first contact the main supervisor with their academic background and achievements to determine suitability for the research topic. If a good fit, applications should be submitted online, referencing the advertised research topic. Further details on application requirements and scholarship information are available via the provided link.