The Kirby Institute offers many opportunities in research.
Please visit our Postgraduate research or Our research programs pages to get an idea of the type of work we do and what may be of most interest to you.
You can also contact the relevant Kirby Institute academic to discuss your ideas for a research project.
Current opportunities
PhD Opportunity – Infection Analytics Program: Mathematical modeling in infection and immunity
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The Infection Analytics Program at the Kirby Institute is seeking highly motivated students with a passion for applying quantitative methods to major challenges in infectious diseases, immunity, and health.
The group works across a range of pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2, HPV, RSV, influenza and malaria. Projects are highly data-driven and rely on experimental data, clinical data and/or literature-derived data. Students joining the group will be trained in interdisciplinary research, with a strong focus on using mathematical modelling, data analysis, and evidence synthesis to better understand infection and immunity.
To apply: Applications to commence Term 2 (from 1 June 2026) will be due 1 April 2026.
PhD candidates will be supervised by one or more leaders within the Infection Analytics Program (e.g. Prof. Miles Davenport, Prof. Deborah Cromer, Dr David Khoury, Dr Eva Stadler). Please contact Eva Stadler to discuss this opportunity further (estadler@kirby.unsw.edu.au).
PhD Opportunity – Immunovirology & Pathogenesis Program (ongoing)
Download info sheetA unique opportunity is available for an outstanding full-time PhD scholar in the field of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), working on a novel way of suppressing HIV replication using promoter targeted siRNAs to induce transcriptional gene silencing (TGS).