PhD Global Excellence and Mobility Scholarship (GEMS 2026). Research Project: Cross-Regional Mechanisms in Schizophrenia & ASD via Multi-omics in Patient-Derived hiPSC Models

About the Project

This project establishes hiPSC lines from ethnically diverse Malaysian donors with schizophrenia/ASD plus matched controls, harmonised with Australian standards. Differentiated cortical neurons and organoids will be profiled by genomics/transcriptomics/proteomics and high-content imaging to map cellular and network phenotypes. Integrated analyses will identify disease modules (synaptic signalling, connectivity, neurotransmission) and quantify shared vs population-specific features by comparing Malaysian and Australian cohorts. Outputs include QC’d donor lines, SOPs, interoperable datasets, and candidate biomarkers that feed Projects 2 and 3. The work supplies human-relevant effect sizes and endpoints necessary to power AI modelling and mechanism-guided therapeutic testing for major neuropsychiatric conditions.

This project is part of Monash University Malaysia’s Graduate Research Thematic Cluster, MAP-Neuro: Diverse hiPSC Models, AI Analytics & Mechanism-Guided Therapeutics

The ideal PhD candidate will have a strong background in neuroscience, stem cell biology, or bioinformatics, with hands-on experience in cell culture, molecular techniques, or imaging. They should be keen to learn integrative analysis of genomics and proteomics data and motivated to explore the biological mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental disorders such as schizophrenia and autism. As the project bridges wet-lab and computational research across Malaysia and Australia, the applicant should demonstrate curiosity, analytical thinking, and teamwork skills. A passion for advancing human-relevant, equitable mental health research is essential. Degrees in neuroscience, biotechnology, biomedical science, or bioinformatics are preferred.

How to Apply

It is suggested that you first contact the main supervisor and provide them with your academic background and achievements to determine whether you are a 'fit' for this research topic.

If you feel you are a good fit, submit your application here and ensure that you enter the same GEMS research topic as advertised on this webpage. To review the application requirements, please refer to our application submission guide. When submitting your application, please select the Global Excellence and Mobility Scholarship (GEMS). More information about GEMS is available here.

Funding Notes

The Global Excellence and Mobility Scholarship (GEMS), funded by Monash University Malaysia, features regional mobility and is awarded to highly qualified students seeking to work on projects of regional and global relevance.

Recipients of GEMS will be funded for an immersive year in either Monash University Australia, Monash University Indonesia, or the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay of up to 9 months and have access to Monash University’s global network of research expertise and infrastructure during their candidature period.

Eligibility

To be eligible for GEMS, you must possess a minimum academic qualification of First Class Honours (H1) or its equivalence (H1E) recognised by Monash University Malaysia and satisfy the English language requirements.