PhD Global Excellence and Mobility Scholarship (GEMS 2026). Research Project: Precision blood-cell biomarkers for early prediction of severe dengue

About the Project

We will establish a prospective dengue cohort at University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) to identify early blood-cell signatures predicting severe disease. Peripheral blood will be collected at first presentation; PBMCs and plasma will be processed and cryopreserved at JCSMHS/UMMC, with fresh-blood immunophenotyping (including neutrophils) performed in Kuala Lumpur. Cryopreserved samples will be sent to Melbourne for high-dimensional CyTOF and CITE-seq profiling. Data will be integrated using machine learning to develop a compact biomarker panel suitable for point-of-care diagnostics. Supported by LifeArc and a joint MUM–MUA clinical, immunology and bioinformatics team, this program delivers a validated predictive signature and industry-ready pipeline.

This project is part of Monash University Malaysia’s Graduate Research Thematic Cluster, Predict-and-Prevent Severe Dengue: AI-Guided Multi-Omics & Natural-Compound Screening

Ideal candidate will be recognized for prior experience in immunology and exposure to clinical or biobank-linked research, with competence in animal cell culture and core molecular biology techniques. Rigorous documentation, responsible data management, and clear scientific writing will be evidenced. Familiarity with basic analysis in R/Python will be preferred, and experience in omics-based data analysis will be considered an added advantage. Training and cross-site co-supervision with the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute (BDI) will be provided.

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 GEMS research topic. If you feel you are a 'fit', please click here to complete an Expression of Interest, including your research proposal relevant to this GEMS project. Your EoI will be assessed and if you are eligible, you will be invited to apply for PhD candidature and may be selected to interview for the GEMS scholarship. Interviews are likely to take place in March 2026 with successful applicants notified shortly afterwards.

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.