PhD Scholarship in NeuroUrology - How does the bladder sense danger?

Description

We are seeking an outstanding PhD candidate for a fully funded ARC scholarship to join an internationally recognised, cross-disciplinary team — spanning sensory neuroscience, microbiology, and bioinformatics — to uncover how mucosal sensory nerves detect infection and trigger protective responses. You'll integrate cutting-edge electrophysiology, pathogen-challenge models, and spatial single-cell multi-omics to deliver the world's first integrated map of bladder sensory innervation, with direct implications for treating bladder pain and dysfunction. Based in Flinders' new $280M Health and Medical Research Building with access to the South Australian Genomics Centre. Candidates from neuroscience, microbiology, or bioinformatics encouraged to apply.

Benefits

The scholarship includes:

• a stipend valued at $36,061.00 per annum (2026 rate) tax free 
• The scholarship will be awarded for 3 years with the opportunity to apply for an Australian Government Research Training Scholarship. 
• a Research Training Program Fee Offset Scholarship to cover tuition fees for Australian Citizens, NZ Citizens and Permanent Residents.
• International students may be considered, and eligible candidates will be supported by the supervisor to apply for a Research Training Program Fee waiver.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the award of this scholarship a student must: - 

• Be an Australian citizen; or New Zealand citizen; or have been granted permanent resident status in Australia; and
• meet PhD admission requirements including: have an Australian Honours degree Class 1 or 2A or equivalent qualification (at least AQF Level 8), including a research component of at least 6 months’ full-time study achieving Distinction (75%) OR including evidence of equivalent research experience, such as a substantial first-author refereed publication or track record as an investigator on a competitive grant; and
• be available to commence as a full-time PhD student at Flinders University before semester 1, 2027; 
• International candidates must also meet Flinders University Academic and English language requirements. https://www.flinders.edu.au/international/apply/apply-research-degree/eligibility