The research will be undertaken within Professor Thomas Ve’s supportive research team at the Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics, GU Gold Coast Campus.

The Institute for Biomedicine and Glycomics is the flagship biomedical research institute at Griffith University. It fosters a culture of excellence in a unique research environment, aiming to accelerate biomedical and biological discoveries with translational benefits to create a brighter future for all. The institute have state-of-the-art facilities for NMR, protein crystallography, interaction analysis (SPR, ITC), separation sciences (HPLC, LC-MS), organic synthesis, high throughput screening (Compounds Australia) and advanced mass spectrometry.

Professor Ve’s research is supported by NHMRC and ARC funding. The research is focused on understanding how the essential metabolite NAD+ and related nucleotide products trigger nerve fibre (axon) degeneration in response to injury and disease and how they activate immune responses in plants and bacteria upon pathogen infection.

The successful applicant will be based at our Gold Coast campus. As Griffith is a multi-site University you may be required to work across other locations. Griffith University’s sites are located on the lands of the Yugarabul, Yuggera, Jagera, Turrbal, Yugambeh and Kombumerri peoples.

We are currently looking for a PhD candidate to investigate programmed axon death, a recently discovered and druggable pathway that has emerged as a promising therapeutic target for neurodegenerative disorders where axon loss is prevalent. Depending on the candidate’s interests and background, the project will primarily focus on one of the following areas:

Designing small‑molecule modulators of programmed axon death, using medicinal and organic chemistry approaches; or

Understanding the regulatory mechanisms that control axon death through structural biology and biochemical approaches.

This project will provide training in nucleotide synthesis, medicinal chemistry, chemical biology, organic chemistry, and/or structural biology, including biophysical techniques such as cryo‑electron microscopy and X‑ray crystallography.

Prior experience in chemistry or biochemistry would be an advantage. A strong interest in neurodegeneration and drug discovery is also highly desirable.

The selection of applicants for the award of higher degree research scholarships at Griffith University involves consideration of your academic merit and research background. To be successful in this role, you will have strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively as part of a research team. You will demonstrate a genuine enthusiasm for biomolecular chemistry or structural biology, along with a strong desire to pursue research in neurodegeneration and drug discovery.

• Expressions of interest are welcome from domestic and international applicants.
• Applicants must have completed a Bachelor’s degree with honours equivalent to first-class honours, or a Master’s degree (AQF Level 9) incorporating a significant research component of a standard comparable to a Bachelor honours degree, or be regarded by Griffith University as having an equivalent level of attainment in accordance with Schedule One of the HDR Scholarship Policy. For further information on the eligibility requirements for the program, refer here.

Please note- Preferred qualifications/skills include:

• Prior research experience and publications in peer-reviewed journals.
• Knowledge and experience in one or more of the following areas: drug design, medicinal chemistry organic chemistry, biochemistry, structural biology, and neurobiology

International applicants should ensure that English Language Proficiency requirements for the program are met before formally applying. Applicants to research programs will need to show they meet:

1. A minimum overall band score of 6.5 on the IELTS (Academic) with no band score less than 6.0 OR
2. A score of 79 on the internet-based (iBT) TOEFL with no sub-score less than 19 OR
3. A score of no less than 3+ in each skill of the ISLPR (conducted by ISLPR Language Services only) OR
4. A minimum overall score of 176 (no score less than 169) on C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency OR
5. An overall score of 58 in the Pearson Test of English (Academic) with no score less than 50 (applies to tests taken prior to 7 August 2025) OR
6. An overall score of 55 in the Pearson Test of English (Academic) with no score less than 47 (applies to tests taken on or after 7 August 2025) OR
7. An overall score of 70 in the LanguageCert Academic OR
8. An overall score of 59 in the Michigan English Test (MET) .

About the scholarship

The 2026 Griffith University Postgraduate Research Scholarship has an annual stipend of $35,656 (indexed) for a period of up to three years of full-time study. Please see the GUPRS Conditions of Award for more information.

A successful International applicant will also be awarded a Griffith University International Postgraduate Research Scholarship to cover tuition fees for up to three years full time study. Please see the GUIPRS Conditions of Award for more information.

What Griffith offers

As a scholarship holder, you will study with a University that ranks among the top 2% worldwide and spans across campuses in South East Queensland. At Griffith University, we’ve worked hard to create a culture that will challenge you to be curious, creative and courageous. We also support the professional and personal development of all our HDR candidates and invest in the skills of our people. Griffith University values diversity, inclusion and flexibility and we encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and people of all backgrounds to apply. Griffith's strategic goals are to also increase the proportion of women in senior academic and administrative roles and in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM).

EOI Process

Please do not select the “APPLY” button. All expressions of interest must be submitted to [email protected] containing:

• Statement addressing your suitability for the project/scholarship
• Evidence that you have completed a program with the required grades as detailed in the about you section
• A curriculum vitae (CV) using the Griffith CV template.
• Names of two referees

Closing date for expressions of interest is: Friday 29 May 2026 11.59pm AEST

The preferred applicant will then be invited to apply for the program and scholarship on-line.

For project related enquiries please contact:

Professor Thomas Ve

Phone: (07) 5552 7023

Email: [email protected]

For administration enquiries please contact:

Griffith Graduate Research School

Phone: (07) 3735 3817

Email: [email protected]