Job Information
- Organisation/Company: University of Queensland
- Department: School of Chemical Engineering
- Research Field: Biological sciences » Biological engineering; Technology » Biotechnology; Chemistry » Biochemistry
Offer Description
Project description
Biologic medicines, such as antibody drugs and gene therapies, are grown inside living mammalian cells. Yield and consistency are limited by how little control we have over those cells once production begins.
This project builds genetic switches inside the cell that turn production on and off during a run. The work has three parts:
- Design: build the genetic parts that act as switches. This includes logic gates that respond to two inputs at once, so production happens only under the conditions you choose.
- Cell engineering: put those switches into mammalian cells and use them to control the manufacture of products made from more than one protein chain.
- Bioprocessing: tune the culture conditions and the switching strategy for the best yield and product quality.
Nobody arrives knowing all three. You will be trained in whatever is new to you. If the project interests you but you are unsure whether your background fits, email the principal supervisor before you apply.
Research environment
You will be based in the Biomedical Engineering Laboratory in the Andrew N. Liveris Building at UQ's St Lucia campus.
The laboratory has the mammalian cell culture suites, molecular biology facilities, microscopy and flow cytometry the project needs, and you will use them daily.
The project is co-supervised by Professor Lars Nielsen at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, so you will work in two research groups rather than one.
You will also be connected to the National Biologics Facility, Australia's national centre for biopharmaceutical development.
A cell line you engineer at the bench can be tested there at industrial scale.
Scholarship
This project is supported by the Research project scholarship.
This scholarship includes:
- living stipend of $39,220 per annum tax free (2026 rate), indexed annually
- tuition fees covered.
Learn more about the Research project scholarship.
Supervisor
Principal supervisor: Dr Mauro Torres - School of Chemical Engineering - View Dr Mauro Torres's profile
Associate supervisor: Professor Lars Nielsen - Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology - View Professor Lars Nielsen's profile
Preferred educational background
Your application will be assessed on a competitive basis.
We take into account your:
- previous academic record
- publication record
- honours and awards
- employment history.
A working knowledge of mammalian cell culture and characterisation and/or molecular biology (DNA cloning, RNA and protein methods) would be of benefit to someone working on this project.
You will demonstrate academic achievement in the field(s) of biomedical sciences, molecular biology, biochemical and/or chemical engineering, or a closely related discipline. and the potential for scholastic success.
A background or knowledge of synthetic biology, bioprocessing, or analytical techniques (e.g., mass spectrometry, ELISA) is highly desirable.
How to apply
You must submit an expression of interest (EOI) by 9 September, 2026.
Before you apply
- Check your eligibility for the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
- Prepare your documentation.
- If you have any questions about whether the project is suitable for your research interests, contact Dr Mauro Torres (mauro.torres@uq.edu.au).
When you apply
To apply, submit an expression of interest (EOI) for the program. You don't need to apply separately for the project or scholarship. How to submit an EOI
In your EOI, complete the ‘Scholarship/Sponsorship’ section with the following details:
- Are you applying for an advertised project: 'Yes'
- Project: 'Research project scholarship'
- Scholarship Code Listed in the Advertisement: GENE-TORRES
- Link to Scholarship Advertisement: https://study.uq.edu.au/study-options/phd-mphil-professional-doctorate/projects/synthetic-gene-circuits-controllable-production-antibody-and-gene-therapy-medicines
Where to apply
Requirements
Research Fields
- Biological sciences » Biological engineering — Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent; Years of Research Experience: 1 - 4
- Technology » Biotechnology — Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent; Years of Research Experience: 1 - 4
- Chemistry » Biochemistry — Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent; Years of Research Experience: 1 - 4
Skills/Qualifications
Your application will be assessed on a competitive basis.
We take into account your:
- previous academic record
- publication record
- honours and awards
- employment history.
A working knowledge of mammalian cell culture and characterisation and/or molecular biology (DNA cloning, RNA and protein methods) would be of benefit to someone working on this project.
You will demonstrate academic achievement in the field(s) of biomedical sciences, molecular biology, biochemical and/or chemical engineering, or a closely related discipline. and the potential for scholastic success.
A background or knowledge of synthetic biology, bioprocessing, or analytical techniques (e.g., mass spectrometry, ELISA) is highly desirable.
Specific Requirements
Specific requirements — international applicants
Academic background. You need a qualifying degree in a relevant discipline completed no more than ten years ago: a Master of Philosophy, a bachelor's degree with at least honours class IIA, or a coursework master's with a GPA of 5.65 on UQ's 7-point scale together with demonstrated research experience. Qualifications from outside Australia are assessed on their equivalence, and the standing of your institution within its own system is taken into account, not only its global ranking.
English language proficiency. These are laboratory-based projects with no clinical component, so the standard UQ requirement applies: IELTS 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in every sub-band, or an accepted equivalent. Results from separate test sittings cannot be combined.
You may not need a test at all. If your most recent degree was taught and assessed in English and you completed it within five years of your intended commencement, you may be able to meet the requirement by deeming instead. Applicants from some countries are required to hold a current test result regardless, because of Australian visa criteria. Ask before you pay for a test.
Visa and commencement. UQ has no remote or distance HDR programme. You must study on a UQ campus in Brisbane, and you cannot commence from overseas. Student visa processing takes four to six months on average and longer for some countries, so your commencement will be set to a research quarter that allows for it — in practice, six months or more after an offer is issued. You must arrive and commence within the first fourteen days of your research quarter; time lost beforehand is not added to the end of your candidature.
Health cover. Single Overseas Student Health Cover is included in the scholarship. Cover for a partner or dependants is not, and you would need to fund that yourself as a condition of your visa.
Sanctions. Applicants who are citizens of, or resident in, a country on Australia's autonomous sanctions list require an additional compliance assessment before an offer can be made. This is a standard check, not a barrier in itself, but it adds time.
What you do not need at expression of interest stage. A complete document set, a finalised research proposal, or a test result if deeming may apply. Submit the EOI, and any gaps can be addressed before the full application. If you are unsure whether you meet these requirements, write and ask: mauro.torres@uq.edu.au
Languages: ENGLISH Level: Excellent
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