The Organisation

AgResearch is a leading Crown Research Institute charged with delivering science and innovation to benefit New Zealand agriculture and its wider economy.  Our internationally recognised scientists are dedicated to this mission and we collaborate with world leading science organisations and universities to achieve exceptional science delivery. We are proud to be unique organisation that is driving prosperity by transforming agriculture to better equip our future generations to come.

The Role

We are seeking an outstanding PhD candidate to undertake research to determine the mechanisms of action used by segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB) to initiate intestinal barrier maturation during early life. Our intestinal barrier stops unwanted components entering our body and potentially causing inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Healthy intestinal barrier function develops during infancy. SFB play a critical role in this process and in return the host supplies them with nutrients needed for survival. To study this SFB-host partnership, the student will culture SFB and rodent ileal cells in physiologically-relevant conditions using our dual-environment co-culturing system.

About you

• Relevant Masters/Honours degree (e.g. physiology, immunology, microbiology)
• Minimum A- grade (or equivalent)
• Excellent written and oral communication skills (IELTS 6.5+  if English not first language)
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills
• Diligence, resilience and enthusiasm

Benefits

• Annual tax-free stipend of NZD30,000, tuition fees and consumables
• Funded by the Riddet Institute Centre of Research Excellence
• Based at our Grasslands campus in Palmerston North, New Zealand
• Enrolled at Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand

How to apply

The closing date for applications is 31 August 2016. Please apply online via https://careers.sciencenewzealand.org/jobdetails/ajid/LNMV7/PhD-Student-Host-microbe-interactions,18469.html  or contact Dr Rachel Anderson, Senior Scientist on rachel.anderson@agresearch for a confidential discussion.