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 inhibition of protein kinase C alpha (PKCα) 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 new therapeutic vulnerabilities in DMG.

Recent findings from the research team show that PKCα signaling maintains the undifferentiated state of DMG and suppresses MHC-II expression, drawing parallels to demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis. Building on these discoveries, the team is developing novel, brain-penetrant PKCα inhibitors as part of a larger MRFF-Frontier program, with the aim of improving immunotherapy responsiveness in DMG. The PhD student will play a key role in investigating how the cell of origin and PKCα inhibition affect MHC-II expression and adaptive immune activation, using iPSC-derived radial glia and oligodendrocyte precursor cell models engineered with DMG mutations.

The project will utilize a range of advanced techniques, including molecular cloning, iPSC culture, single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, proteomics, and epigenetic profiling, to map differentiation states and immune signaling responses under pharmacological inhibition. The outcomes of this research will provide mechanistic insights into how PKCα inhibitors promote antigen presentation, identify biomarkers of therapeutic response, and inform the development of next-generation precision immunotherapies for paediatric brain cancer.

The Bob Edwards and Family PhD Scholarship in Paediatric Cancer provides a generous funding package, including a living allowance of $38,938 per annum (2026 rate) indexed annually, tuition fee scholarship for 3.5 years, and up to $1,500 relocation allowance. The scholarship is available to domestic students and is supervised by Professor Matt Dun. Applicants must have 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 experience handling human and animal biospecimens within a PC2 laboratory. The ability to work effectively within a collaborative research team is essential.

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.