UWA HDR Scholarship

PhD opportunity in blue biotechnology at the University of Western Australia in the Clifton Lab, focused on the structural and functional characterisation of marine microbial enzymes that break down complex algal polysaccharides.

This project sits at the intersection of biology, chemistry, and environmental science, with research themes including marine microbiology, microbial genomics, protein biochemistry, enzyme biotechnology, seaweed valorisation, and marine carbon cycling. The work is linked to sustainable applications such as biofuel and bioplastic production, and includes collaboration with Uluu, an Australian biotech start-up developing biobased, biodegradable materials.

The successful candidate will gain hands-on training in protein expression and purification, analytical and biophysical methods such as NMR, MS, ITC, and DSF, as well as X-ray crystallography and AI tools in protein science.

Funding is via a UWA HDR scholarship in the current domestic round, with a tax-free stipend of AUD 38,110 per year for 3.5 years. Applicants must be eligible as a domestic student (Australia/New Zealand) and available to commence in 2026.

Entry requirements include First-class Honours or an equivalent Masters degree in biochemistry or a related field, plus a strong interest in protein biochemistry, enzyme biotechnology, microbial genomics, and/or marine microbiology. Practical experience in molecular biology, protein biochemistry, and/or microbiology is highly desirable.

Interested candidates should email Dr Ben Clifton with a brief description of their research interests and experience, along with an academic transcript, by 22 May 2026. The scholarship round closes on 31 May 2026.