AMDF PhD Scholarships

The Australian Mitochondrial Disease Foundation (AMDF) aims to promote research and education for the diagnosis, treatment and cure of mitochondrial disorders, and to provide support to affected individuals and families.

Application Guidelines

AMDF Scholarships are charitable grants offered to an Australian research institution or university to fund a PhD scholarship for research on Mitochondrial disorders. Students must be commencing their PhD in 2010 and be enrolled full-time. Students must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen or have Permanent Resident Status and not be under bond to any foreign government. Evidence of the student’s resident status will be required.

Stipends are $27,000 per annum for science graduates and $32,000 per annum for medical graduates. An additional allowance of up to $3,000 per annum is available for travel and attendance at a relevant scientific or medical conference. Scholarships will be awarded for 1 year in the first instance but can be extended up to a maximum period of 3 years, subject to satisfactory performance reviews and availability of funding. The annual review would normally correspond to the usual University process for confirmation and annual review of PhD students, with the scholar’s annual report to also be submitted to the AMDF Board. Scholars should be available to meet periodically with the AMDF Board and to participate in fund-raising and educational events as requested by the AMDF Board.

How to Apply

In 2010, AMDF-approved projects are available from three centres in Sydney and Melbourne, as outlined below. Applicants should make contact with one or more of the approved supervisors to discuss their application and should provide a certified academic transcript and curriculum vitae, including a summary/abstract of previous research experience, details of any publications plus names and current contact details for three academic referees. Applications will be evaluated based on the academic record of the student and the recommendation of the supervisor regarding the suitability of the student for research training.

Contact details of potential supervisors and links to details on potential PhD projects are listed below. Applications must be submitted via the supervisors by January 31st, 2010. Outcomes will be notified by February 14th, 2010.

AMDF PhD Project Supervisors

Professor John Christodoulou
Western Sydney Genetics Program
Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Sydney
Phone: (02) 9845 3452
Email: johnc@chw.edu.au
Web: www.usyd.edu.au/research/opportunities/supervisors/39

Associate Professor Carolyn Sue
Department of Neurogenetics
Kolling Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney
Royal North Shore Hospital , Sydney
Phone: (02) 9926 8481
Email: csue@med.usyd.edu.au
Web: www.kolling.usyd.edu.au/research/neurogenetics-group/index.php

Associate Professor David Thorburn
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and University of Melbourne
Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne
Phone: (03) 8341 6235
Email: david.thorburn@mcri.edu.au
Web: www.mcri.edu.au/pages/research/research-group.asp?G=35

AMDF PhD Projects