Area: Minderoo Centre for Plastics and Human Health
Salary (FTE): RTP Scholarship NON-BANDED ($28,854.00 – $28,854.00)
Work type: Full Time – Scholarship
Location: PACE, Woolloongabba Queensland
Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences
Minderoo Centre for Plastics and Human Health
The new Minderoo Centre – Plastics and Human Health enables world-leading research, including developing methods to accurately sample and measure plastic chemicals and particles in humans, and in particular, human brains.
With specialists in environmental health, toxicology, epidemiology and more, we are working in partnership with the Sydney Brain Bank and health specialists to advance our understanding of the health outcomes associated with our exposure to plastic.
For more Information about the Minderoo Centre, please visit: qaehs.centre.uq.edu.au/minderoo/
The Project
One of the key unknown areas of micro and nanoplastics research is what happens after we are exposed to them. This project aims to investigate the fate of micro and nanoplastics following human exposure through either ingestion or inhalation. The student will work with collaborating surgeons at partner hospitals to collect human biomonitoring samples (e.g. tissue, blood) and determine accumulated levels of micro and nanoplastics, and understanding of fate in the body.
The student will be based at The University of Queensland, within the Minderoo Centre for Plastics and Human Health, co-founded by the Minderoo Foundation, and supervised by Prof. Kevin Thomas and Dr. Cassandra Rauert. This project will develop the candidates skills in critical thinking, method development for novel applications, project management, data management and analysis, writing and communication, with opportunities for placements with the Minderoo Foundation to gain experience in science communication and regulation.
Selection Criteria
The applicant will demonstrate academic achievement in the field/s of Environmental Science, Analytical Chemistry or a similar background and the potential for scholastic success. A background knowledge of Mass Spectrometry techniques including Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) and Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) is highly desirable.
To be eligible to apply, you must also meet the entry requirements for Higher Degrees by Research at UQ.
Enquiries
For further information, please contact Dr Cassie Rauert c.rauert@uq.edu.au
How to apply
Please visit the advertisement on the Graduate School website and select “How to apply” for information on how to apply.