PhD Scholarship: Synthetic gene circuits for controllable production of antibody and gene therapy medicines The University of Queensland in Australia

PhD opportunity at The University of Queensland in the School of Chemical Engineering, based in the Biomedical Engineering Laboratory at the St Lucia campus in Brisbane, Australia.

This project focuses on synthetic gene circuits for controllable production of antibody and gene therapy medicines. The research addresses a key challenge in biologics manufacturing: how to better control living mammalian cells during production to improve yield and consistency. The project aims to engineer genetic switches that can turn production on and off during a run, enabling smarter control over product quality and performance.

The work spans three linked areas: design of genetic parts and logic gates that respond to two inputs; cell engineering to place these switches into mammalian cells and control multi-chain protein products; and bioprocessing to optimise culture conditions and switching strategies for better yield and quality. Training will be provided in areas new to the successful candidate, so applicants from related backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

You will work in a well-equipped laboratory with access to mammalian cell culture suites, molecular biology facilities, microscopy, and flow cytometry. The project is co-supervised by Professor Lars Nielsen at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, meaning you will benefit from expertise across two research groups. You will also be connected to the National Biologics Facility, where engineered cell lines can be tested at industrial scale.

This is a Research project scholarship with a living stipend of $39,220 per annum tax free (2026 rate, indexed annually) plus tuition fees covered. Single Overseas Student Health Cover is included. The scholarship is aimed at PhD candidates with strong academic potential in biomedical sciences, molecular biology, biochemical engineering, chemical engineering, or a closely related discipline.

Preferred experience includes mammalian cell culture and characterisation, molecular biology methods such as DNA cloning and RNA/protein work, and familiarity with synthetic biology, bioprocessing, or analytical techniques such as mass spectrometry and ELISA. International applicants should hold a relevant qualifying degree completed within the last ten years, and typically need IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each band or an accepted equivalent, unless deeming applies.

The application deadline is 12 August 2026. Applicants must submit an expression of interest (EOI) for the program and indicate the advertised project and scholarship code GENE-TORRES. If you are unsure about eligibility or fit, contact the principal supervisor, Dr Mauro Torres, at [email protected].