Develop plasma medicine for burn wound treatment

Are you keen to advance our knowledge in plasma medicine? The University of South Australia – Australia’s University of Enterprise – is offering an innovative project-based PhD with the potential to change lives, based within the Future Industries Institute, in partnership with the Women’s and Children’s Hospital Burns Unit. 

Burns are traditionally treated with skin grafts, and a range of dressings paired with silver treatment or antibiotics. Whilst one of the gold standards of burn care, silver fails to address complex infection issues and recent studies have highlighted its toxicity risk. Therefore, we need to develop new innovative treatments for burns. 

Plasma medicine is a relatively new medical research field. It uses an electrically charged highly energetic gas (plasma) to create an environment which produces a unique, complex mixture of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) which can promote wound healing and has antibacterial properties. 

Using ex vivo explant models and preclinical burn models, this project will characterise changes to underlying skin tissue and inflammation and how these change in different types of burn severity both at a histological and molecular level. 

We will also incorporate common infectious pathogens to assess the complexity of burns and how the burn environment affects wound healing and inflammation both at a histological and molecular level. 

The addition of plasma medicine to the burn wound models both in a direct capacity and indirectly through plasma activated hydrogel delivery (PAHT) can be developed into highly reactive dressings for wound healing and decontamination. 

This project will generate data to determine if this type of treatment can offer a painless adjunct therapy with potential to address all aspects of paediatric burns, including controlling infection, promoting healing and reducing scarring to improve the health and well-being of burn patients.

The research will span both the Plasma Medicine and Regenerative Medicine groups. You will become part of a cohort of research scientists and fellow PhD students with expertise in molecular and cellular biology, preclinical animal models, microbiology, wound healing and plasma chemistry. 

You will benefit from access to a range of histological, molecular, cell culture and bacterial culture equipment. This, paired with a range of plasma technology, creates an inspiring work environment across multiple disciplines and a diverse range of expertise. 

What you’ll do

In this project-based research degree, you will gain a wide range of skills and laboratory techniques, including histology and molecular analysis using qPCR and western blotting/ELISA methods. You will also be expected to conduct a comprehensive literature review and help design and plan experiments to test the hypotheses and aims of the proposal. 

With support, you’ll be responsible for developing ex vivo explants models and molecular and histology as well as preclinical mouse models in different types of burn injury. 

You will gain a strong suite of technical skill related to ex vivo explant models involving 3D culture systems and histological and molecular analysis using macroscopic and microscopic analysis of burn injury and repair. Preclinical animal models will be conducted at the Core Animal Facility at UniSAs City West. Bacterial culture faculties and analysis are also available at UniSA’s City East campus teaching laboratories.

This preclinical study will allow data to be generated to progress to larger preclinical studies and expedite translation to the clinic. Your role in this research will give you valuable experience in transferring research to real life, positioning you well for employment upon completion. 

We will also support and encourage you to submit work to academic journals and attend and present at national and international conferences.

Where you’ll be based

You will be based in the Future Industries Institute (FII) which was established with a new research culture in mind – one deeply engaged with industry, with the end goal of building economic growth through relevant innovation and industry partnership.

The Institute reflects the University’s strategic ambition to be Australia’s University of Enterprise which engages fully with the professions and industry globally, whose research is informed, leading edge and relevant. FII continues to forge national and international research partnerships in new industries and technologies that address real world issues. Our goal is to support a creative and engaged culture and to help develop a sustainable ecosytem in which innovation, complex, growth-focused industries thrive.

FIIs research supports state and national research priorities and comprises top research teams able to collaborate across disciplines and to work with industry partners to deliver innovative solutions.

With a vibrant research environment, a strong industry orientation, and active international and national links, both academic and industry based, the Institute is among the very best in Australia and attracts and retains leading researchers.

Supervisory Team 

Financial Support 

This project is funded for reasonable research expenses.  Additionally, a living allowance scholarship of $28,854 per annum is available to eligible applicants. Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants will be eligible to receive an increased stipend rate of $45,076 per annum. A fee-offset or waiver for the standard term of the program is also included. For full terms and benefits of the scholarship please refer to our scholarship information for domestic students or international students.

Eligibility and Selection 

This project is open to application from both domestic and international applicants.

Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria for entrance into a PhD. Additionally, applicants must meet the projects selection criteria: 

• An undergraduate degree in laboratory-based science
• High level written and verbal communication skills
• Capacity to meet deadlines and good time management to ensure project milestones are met
• Ability to work with animal models

Applicant who can also demonstrate the following will be highly regarded:

• Background in molecular or cellular biology, with microbiology and/or histology experience

All applications that meet the eligibility and selection criteria will be considered for this project. A merit selection process will be used to determine the successful candidate.

The successful applicant is expected to study full-time and to be based at our Mawson Lakes Campus in the north of Adelaide. Note that international students on a student visa will need to study full-time.

Essential Dates 

Applicants are expected to start in a timely fashion upon receipt of an offer.  Extended deferral periods are not available. Applications close on Sunday, 6th November.