Honours in Molecular and Biomedical Science
Study honours in molecular and biomedical science become immersed in critical research into the molecular basis of human disease, animal and plant evolution.
When you choose honours in molecular and biomedical science, you become a member of the School of Biological Sciences and part of a research group.
You'll work alongside scientists at the cutting-edge of their field and complete a research project in the general discipline areas of biochemistry, genetics, microbiology, or immunology. There's also related theoretical work appropriate to these disciplines.
Honours handbook
The molecular and biomedical science honours handbook contains an overview of the program and activities, example timetable and a summary of the assessment process.
Honours projects
Supervisors with available molecular and biomedical science projects have been added to the 'honours project finder'. If you are interested in their research you should talk with the respective supervisors to discuss potential projects.
If you are interested in a particular area of research that's not included, talk with an honours coordinator to discuss other opportunities to develop an honours project.
Project search by theme or supervisor
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Supervisors - Department of Molecular and Biomedical Science
These primary supervisors are based in the Department of Molecular and Biomedical Science in the School of Biological Sciences.
Prof David Adelson
Bioinformatics and computational genetics
Dr Mohammed Alsharifi
Vaccine research
A/Prof Michael Beard
Viral pathogenesis
Dr John Bruning
Laboratory of Protein Crystallography
Dr Jack Da Silva
Evolutionary genetics of sex, sexes and senescence (s3)
Dr Ian Dodd
Synthetic biology, biochemistry, genetics and mathematical modelling
Dr Bart Eijkelkamp
Medical biochemistry
Dr Nicholas Eyre
Viral pathogenesis
Prof Antonio Ferrante
Development and genetic immunology, immunopathology
Dr Sonja Frolich
Malaria parasites
Dr Stephen Gregory
Cell division and cancer
Prof Frank Grutzner
Monotreme genomics, evolution and conservation
Dr Nan Hao
Synthetic biology, biochemistry, genetics and mathematical modelling
Dr Stephen Kidd
Pathogenic bacteria
A/Prof Michael Lardelli
Alzheimer's Disease Genetics Laboratory
Dr Bastien Llamas
Ancient DNA, epigenetics and bioinformatics
A/Prof Renato Morona
Shigella flexneri
Dr Morgan Newman
Alzheimer's Disease Genetics Laboratory
Dr Louise O'Keefe
Genetics
A/Prof Dan Peet
Biochemistry and molecular biology
Tahlia Perry
Monotreme genomics, evolution and conservation
Prof Robert Richards
Genetics
Dr Iain Searle
Epigenetics and plant reproductive biology
A/Prof Keith Shearwin
Synthetic biology, biochemistry, genetics and mathematical modelling
Dr Linda Shearwin
Genetics, monotreme genomics, evolution and conservation
Dr Elizabeth Tran
Shigella flexneri
Dr Laura Weyrich
Microbiology and bioinformatics
Prof Murray Whitelaw
Biochemical responses to environmental and physiological stress
Dr Danny Wilson
Malaria parasites
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Affiliate supervisors - Department of Molecular and Biomedical Science
The following is a list of affiliated scientists who offer honours projects through the Department of Molecular and Biomedical Science.
- Adikusuma, Dr Fatwa
- Bandara, Dr Veronika
- Barry, Prof Simon
- Brown, Dr Cheryl
- Byers, Dr Sharon
- Care, Dr Alison
- Corbett, Dr Mark
- Derrick-Roberts, Dr Ainslie
- Eadie, Dr Laura
- Ferrante, Prof Antonio
- Fuller, A/Prof Maria
- Gecz, Prof Jozef
- Heatley, Dr Susan (Sue)
- Hemsley, A/Prof Kim
- Jolly, Dr Lachlan
- McClure, Dr Barbara
- McIntyre, Dr Chantelle
- Moldenahuer, Dr Lachlan
- O'Keefe, Dr Louise
- Pham, Dr Duyen
- Proud, Prof Chris
- Robertson, Prof Sarah
- Sadlon, Dr Tim
- Schjenken, Dr John
- Sharma, Dr Raman
- Shearwin, Dr Linda
- Shoubridge, A/Prof Cheryl
- Tasheva, Dr Stefka
- Thomas, Prof Paul
- Van der Hoek, Dr Kylie
- van Eyk, Dr Clare
- White, Prof Deborah
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Biochemistry projects
Biochemistry projects
Honours project: This honours project involves the design, construction and testing of an activator based bistable switch.
Structural biology & drug design
Honours project: Study nuclear receptors, microbial enzymology and broad-based cancer therapeutics through an honours project in protein crystallography.
Structural basis for nuclear receptor allostery
Honours project: Gain a stronger understanding of general receptor allostery as well as structure guided drug design.
Honours project: Probe essential protein mechanisms by biophysical methods including x-ray crystallography with structure guided drug design in mind.
Honours project: Decipher the specific roles of HIF1 and HIF2 in multiple myeloma.
Directed evolution of proteins in vivo
Honours project: Use a new phage-based directed evolution approach to evolve proteins with properties to make them suitable for use in synthetic circuit applications, such as in vivo biosensing or construction of bistable switches.
Honours project: Investigate the structural biology of bacteriophage proteins.
Signalling pathways of epileptic seizures
Honours project: Explore the signalling pathways that induce NPAS4, which is highly induced in neurons during epileptic seizure, where it functions to dampen hyperexcitation.
Structure determination of bHLH/PAS proteins
Honours project: This honours project will use analogous strategies to express, purify, crystallise and solve structures of mammalian bHLH/PAS proteins.
Deciphering & exploiting bacterial cholesterol metabolism to combat disease
Honours project: Address the fundamental science behind the use of the steroid cholesterol as a source of energy by bacteria.
Role of eEF2K & cancer cell migration & invasion
Honours project: Study cell signalling and gene regulation through the exploration of the role of eukaryotic elongation factor 2 kinase (eEF2K) and cancer cell migration and invasion.
Structural biology of protease inhibitors
Honours project: This research project entails a general approach to the inhibition of cysteine proteases.
Sim1 gene & its link to morbidly obese children
Honours project: Investigate Sim1 deficiency, a gene linked to severe childhood obesity and resultant from defects in satiety signalling in the hypothalamus.
Systematic analysis of the eIF4E interactome
Honours project: Conduct a systematic analysis of the eIF4E interactome to understand the distinct functional roles of the three mammalian eIF4E proteins in translation initiation.
Exploring the functions of MAPK-interacting kinases (MNKs) in metabolic disease
Honours project: Explore the functions of MAPK-interacting kinases (MNKs) in metabolic disease at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute.
Honours project: This genome editing project focuses on developing CRISPR gene therapy for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).
Honours project: Develop a stronger understanding of the pathological mechanism of PCDH19-girls clustering epilepsy.
Development of CRISPR gene drive technology in mice
Honours project: Explore CRISPR gene drives to modify native or invasive pest populations to benefit human health, ecosystems or agriculture.
Blinatumomab in relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
Honours project: Investigate resistance mechanisms to the bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE) blinatumomab in relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
Cloning acute lymphoblastic leukaemia fusion genes and variants
Honours project: Clone full-length fusion-genes and gene variants from patient material into mammalian expression plasmids.
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Genetics projects
Genetics projects
Role of a histone demethylase during seed development
Honours project: This project in epigenetics and plant reproductive biology will examine the role of a histone demethylase (H3K9me2) during seed development.
Role of an RNA m5C methyltransferase during plant reproduction
Honours project: Investigate the role of an RNA m5C methyltransferase during early reproductive development as mutants abort early during seed development.
Molecular biology analysis of the function of Alzheimer's disease genes
Honours project: Investigate the molecular biology of the function of Alzheimer's disease genes.
Honours project: Explore the molecular machinery that controls cell division to allow rational cancer chemotherapy.
Behavioural analysis of zebrafish models of Alzheimer's Disease
Honours project: Undertake behavioural analysis of zebrafish models in order to help find treatments for Alzheimer's Disease.
Bioinformatic analysis of zebrafish models of Alzheimer's Disease
Honours project: This project involves the bioinformatic analysis of zebrafish models of Alzheimer's Disease.
Understanding the molecular mechanisms of intellectual disability
Honours project: Investigate the role IQSEC2 and synaptic morphology and plasticity on the orchestration of the complex architecture required for ‘normal’ cognition.
Treating inherited brain disease in children
Honours project: This genetics and molecular pathology project explores the use of gene therapy to treating inherited brain disease in children.
Cellular-stress induced activation of non-TFEB regulated lysosomal genes
Honours project: Investigate the role of the eIF2α/ATF4 pathway in stress-induced transcription of non-TFEB genes.
Investigating molecular mechanisms of disease
Honours project: Characterise molecular and cellular changes driving improvements to disease outcomes after postnatal 17B-estradiol treatment in mice modeling intellectual disability and seizures.
Echidna biology for conservation, wildlife management & habitat monitoring
Honours project: This project investigates the molecular basis of echidna biology for application in conservation, wildlife management and habitat monitoring.
Do MPS patient derived stem cells form bone and cartilage?
Honours project: This project in genetics and molecular pathology examines the characterisation of patient derived stem cells.
Honours project: Help understand the biology of human brain function by studying major neurological disorders which are genetically determined.
WWOX Enzyme function is a target for treatment of metabolic diseases including cancer
Honours project: This genetics research project will explore the WWOX Enzyme function as a target for the treatment of metabolic diseases including cancer.
‘Non-self’ & organelle quality control mutations
Honours project: Explore a project in ‘Non-self’ and organelle quality control mutations: late-onset neurodegeneration is an auto-inflammatory disease.
Drosophila model for mucopolysaccharidosis type III
Honours project: Use the unique capabilities of Drosophila to model and genetically dissect pathogenic pathways that lead from mutation to clinical symptoms in mucopolysaccharidosis type III.
Hill-Robertson interference, the Red Queen and the evolution of sex
Honours project: This evolutionary genetics honours project explores the Hill-Robertson interference, the Red Queen and the evolution of sex.
Testing the gamete competition theory of the evolution of anisogamy
Honours project: Explore genetics and evolutionary biology by testing the gamete competition theory of the evolution of anisogamy.
Bioinformatics as applied to the study of genome structure and function
Honours project: Expand your knowledge and curiosity in bioinformatics and computational genetics.
Optimisation of chimeric antigen receptor immunotherapy: building a better car?
Honours project: Undertake an honours project in the construction and evaluation of a novel Chimeric Antigen Receptor T cell targeting a solid tumour antigen.
Genome biology & mammal gene evolution
Honours project: Examine the function and evolution of genes involved in sex determination and placentation in mammals.
Investigating the origin of mammal sex chromosomes
Honours project: Undertake a research project that investigates the origin of therian sex chromosomes
Evolution of sterile helpers in bees, ants and wasps
Honours project: Explore evolutionary genetics by explaining the evolution of sterile helpers in the eusocial Hymenoptera - ants, bees and wasps.
Echidna CSI [Conservation Science Initiative]
Honours project: Get involved the citizen science project that combines field ecology and molecular biology for echidna conservation.
Honours project: Take part in an international collaboration that will provide the first echidna genome assembly.
Plasticity of lifespan in the honeybee & the disposable soma theory
Honours project: This project investigates the plasticity of lifespan in the honeybee and the disposable soma theory.
Sex chromosomes of the platypus & echidna
Honours project: Study the meiotic organisation of monotreme sex chromosomes – that’s genetics research into the platypus and echidna.
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Microbiology and immunology projects
Microbiology and immunology projects
Honours project: This exciting research project will investigate virus purification, the effect of gamma-irradiation on virus structure, and the ability of gamma-irradiated viruses to induce cytotoxic T cell responses.
How Shigella initiates infection
Honours project: Investigate the Shigella adherence to and invasion of the human colon.
Drug resistance of malaria parasites
Honours project: Characterise drug sensitivities and resistance mechanisms of different malaria parasite species.
Stress response in pathogenic bacteria: Haemophilus influenzae
Honours project: Participate in important research into the stress response in pathogenic bacteria, in particular, Haemophilus influenzae which can lead to several serious diseases in humans.
Zika virus infection of the placenta
Honours project: Examine the role of the innate immune response to zika virus infection in the female reproductive tract (FRT) and placenta.
Identifying new drugs that kill parasites
Honours project: Work with a team of researchers who are identifying and characterising novel drugs that kill apicomplexan parasites.
Group B Strep & oxidative stress
Honours project: Identify the response of Group B Streptococcus to relevant reactive oxygen and reactive nitrogen species.
Staphylococcus aureus & lifestyle variations
Honours project: Conduct biomedical research into Staphylococcus aureus (Golden staph).
Mixed colony biofilms & disease outcome
Honours project: This molecular and biomedical science honours project explores mixed colony biofilms and their relationship to disease outcomes.
Unwrapping the 3D genome to map autoimmune disease
Honours project: Help unravel the chromatin interactome to map the genetic risk of type 1 diabetes.
Uncovering the relationship between two malaria proteins required for invasion
Honours project: Delve into an honours project in the structural and functional analysis of malaria proteins required for Red Blood Cell invasion.
How the body clears a medically important fungal pathogen
Honours project: This immunopathology research project studies innate immunity in the killing of the fungal pathogen, Candida albicans by human phagocytes.
Complement receptor immunoglobulin - infection & immunity & inflammation
Honours project: Examine the complement receptor immunoglobulin expression in human macrophages and its role in infection and immunity and inflammation.
Role of the Actin-Related Protein Complex 1B (ARPC1B) in neutrophil antimicrobial function
Honours project: Investigate the role of the Actin-Related Protein Complex 1B (ARPC1B) in neutrophil antimicrobial function.
Blinatumomab in relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
Honours project: Investigate resistance mechanisms to the bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE) blinatumomab in relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
Honours project: Explore the use of resveratrol for improving fetal growth in complicated pregnancies.
Treg cells & placental development
Honours project: Investigate regulatory T cells to drive vascular adaptations in early pregnancy to facilitate placental development.
TLR4 & Treg cells in early pregnancy
Honours project: This reproductive immunology project explores the role of the toll like receptor 4 (TLR4) in maternal immune adaptation for pregnancy.
Immune regulation of preterm birth
Honours project: This honours project in molecular and biomedical science will investigate immune regulation of preterm birth.
Cloning acute lymphoblastic leukaemia fusion genes and variants
Honours project: Clone full-length fusion-genes and gene variants from patient material into mammalian expression plasmids.
Honours project: Investigate the synergistic effect of the combination of TKI and asciminib.
Honours project: Characterise the residual leukaemia population in TFR patients, and understand why some patients relapse and others don’t.
Metabolic dependencies for improved therapeutic outcomes in chronic myeloid leukaemia
Honours project: Participate in a novel and innovative approach will likely provide a combinational treatment strategy with greater efficacy than current approaches.
High resolution imaging of the dengue virus replication cycle
Honours project: Use molecular imaging to search for new details about NS1-host interactions which may unveil novel targets for future antiviral drug development.
JAZ2 is important for Treg function
Honours project: Study novel targets for autoimmune therapy via the validation of Foxp3 regulated genes critical for treg function.
CRISPR genome wide screens & viral replication
Honours project: Use CRISPR/Cas9 genome wide screens to identify viral host dependency factors and novel innate immune genes that control viral replication.
Effects of antimicrobial fatty acids on bacterial physiology
Honours project: Immerse yourself in research into host fatty acids which hold dual roles during infection, modulating an immune response and directly killing invading bacteria.
Defining the antimicrobial role of zinc and copper during infection
Honours project: Investigate the impact of simultaneous fluxes of distinct metal ions during infection, and how this affects bacterial pathogenesis.
Honours project: Join our leading research into a serotype independent pneumococcal vaccine.
Molecular tagging of the dengue virus genome
Honours project: Contribute to the development of effective antivirals that target Dengue virus.
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