Surface Engineering of Inorganic Nanoparticles

About the Project

The Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Quantum Biotechnology (QUBIC) will be established in 2023, as the first nation-spanning research Centre at the nexus of quantum and biotechnology globally. Our mission is to lead the world in applying quantum physics to biotechnology, driving fundamental understanding and applications across biomedical imaging, chemical design and clean energy. Our research program aims to develop quantum technologies that go far beyond what is possible today, from portable brain imagers to super-fast single protein sensors, and to use them to unravel key problems including how enzymes catalyse reactions and how higher brain function emerges from networks of neurons. The Centre aims to build Australia’s quantum economy and train a future quantum workforce in close partnership with industry and government. QUBIC will be administered by The University of Queensland (UQ) and has nodes at the University of Melbourne (UoM), the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), the University of Wollongong (UoW) and Flinders University (FLD). We have 12 industry and governmental partners, including IBM, Olympus, Protein Evolution and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). We are partnered with 14 leading international universities, including MIT, Johns Hopkins, and the French National Centre for Scientific Research. The membership of our advisory bodies includes two Nobel Laureates and Australia’s past Chief Scientist.

PhD positions at UTS

The UTS node, CI Jiajia Zhou is offering this PhD position, working in the QUBIC research framework. Deadline of enrollment will be early 2026.

Selection Criteria

1. Candidates with experience in surface modification of inorganic nanoparticles to enable specific targeting of cellular organelles.
2. Candidates with experience in delivering inorganic nanoparticles into cellular systems, with a focus on surface design strategies to bypass endosomal/lysosomal entrapment or facilitate their escape.
3. Candidates with experience in the design and synthesis of small, bright optical nanoparticles with hydrophilic surfaces.
4. Candidates with experience in using inorganic nanoparticles for cellular imaging or sensing at the single-cell level.
5. Good communication and writing skills in English language is essential.
6. Publication record in high-quality, peer-reviewed journals is essential.

Who is eligible?

Applicants can be International or domestic student (either permanent Australian residents or New Zealand citizens). To be eligible for this application, applicants must have completed a UTS recognised degree in

• MSc Research or MSc Coursework with a research thesis of at least 6 months,
• or Bachelor Honours degree with 1st Class, or 2nd Class Division 1, or division 1 honours, or an equivalent or higher qualification,
• or submitted other evidence of general and professional qualifications that demonstrates potential to pursue graduate research studies.

International students

Visa requirement: To obtain a student visa to study in Australia, international students must enrol full time and on campus. Australian student visa regulations also require international students studying on student visas to complete the course within the standard full-time duration.

How to apply

Please submit expressions of interest to Prof. Jiajia Zhou , jiajia.zhou@uts.edu.au

Required

Applicants should send their CV and list of publications to contact person’s email address by the closing date. The application process is currently open and will continue to be open until all positions have been filled. We highly encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible. Shortlisted candidates will be advised with further details.

For further Information on application essentials please visit UTS Graduate Research applications.

Funding Notes

Stipend Value $37,000 per year and additional funds ($7.5k) during the course of the PhD for PhD-related expenses. Duration 3.5 years