Higher Degree by Research Application Portal

Microalgae and other phytoplankton are responsible for ~50% of photosynthesis on Earth and form the basis of the marine food web. Marine bacteria often rely on nutrients derived from phytoplankton and therefore associate closely with them in cooperative and/or pathogenic interactions, which are regulated by the exchange of nutrients and signalling molecules between them. However, the precise nature of this metabolic exchange is poorly understood. This knowledge of bacteria-phytoplankton interactions is essential to understand the transfer of carbon from phytoplankton to bacteria, which constitutes an important part of the marine carbon cycle.

In this project, you will investigate bacteria-phytoplankton interactions by performing in vitro functional characterization of transporter proteins from marine bacteria using high-throughput screening and biophysical analysis. This is an approach that we have previously used to provide insight into the physiology and metabolism of marine bacteria, and we now aim to apply this approach to study ecologically relevant microbial interactions. You will join a newly established research group at the School of Molecular Sciences and gain practical experience in microbial genome analysis and protein biochemistry, including protein expression and purification, X-ray crystallography, mass spectrometry, and biophysical methods for studying protein-ligand interactions. Altogether, your work will provide insight into the factors governing bacteria-algae interactions that control the fate of carbon in the ocean.

Any potential students with an interest in interdisciplinary research at the interface of marine microbiology with biotechnology, biochemistry, structural biology, and evolutionary biology are welcome to discuss potential projects.

Domestic and International Scholarships: Please consult the UWA Research Scholarships web page for more information.

Dr Ben Clifton (ben.clifton@uwa.edu.au). Please include a brief description of your research interests and experience, and an academic transcript.

Honours or Masters degree in biochemistry or a related field. Strong interest in microbiology and/or marine science and/or genomics in addition to protein biochemistry. Experience in genome analysis and techniques in biochemistry and molecular biology is desirable.

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is a program of independent, supervised research that is assessed solely on the basis of a thesis, sometimes including a creative work component, that is examined externally. The work presented for a PhD must be a substantial and original contribution to scholarship, demonstrating mastery of the subject of interest as well as an advance in that field of knowledge. 

Visit the course webpage for full details of this course including admission requirements, course rules and the relevant CRICOS code/s.