PhD Scholarship

Title: PhD in Human Neuroimaging of Neurodegenerative Diseases (Fully-Funded scholarship)

Project Overview:

This exciting PhD opportunity focuses on utilizing advanced brain imaging techniques to explore hereditary cerebellar ataxias (HCAs), an inherited group of neurodegenerative diseases that cause significant motor, cognitive, and neuropsychiatric impairments. HCAs result in severe disability and mortality, with no existing cures.

The Cerebellum & Neurodegeneration Research Group (CNRG) is at the cutting edge of these developments, employing state-of-the-art magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and advanced blood and digital biomarkers to better understand the onset and progression of HCAs. This project aims to improve patient characterization and biomarker validation, leveraging novel data acquisition and analysis approaches to analyze complex clinical and biological data.

The student will have the opportunity to work with existing datasets, and contribute to national and international collaborative research. Opportunities to contribute to the collection of new data and undertake participant assessments may be available.

This opportunity is open domestic applicants (Australia or NZ citizens and permanent residents) and international students already in Australia (onshore).

Project Aims:

PhD students will have the opportunity to work on one or more of the following research areas:

• Neuroimaging: Applying cutting-edge quantitative MRI techniques to assess changes in myelination, iron metabolism, inflammation, tissue microstructure, connectivity, and/or function in the brain and spinal cord.
• Multimodal integration: Pairing MRI outcomes with blood-based biomarkers and clinical information.
• Statistical modelling: Disease subtyping and prediction of disease progression using clinical, imaging, and biological data.

Essential Qualifications:

• Honors or Masters degree in neuroscience, biomedical science, psychology, data science, or a related STEM field with completion of a relevant research project.
• High Distinction / First class honors / 85%+ or equivalent in preceding degree.
• Familiarity with statistical analysis and data visualization concepts, tools and techniques.
• Basic familiarity with command line ("terminal") computer interfaces or programming environments (e.g., bash, Python, MATLAB, R, etc).
• High internal motivation, passion and curiosity, and the desire and ability for self-driven learning and productivity. The supervisory and broader research team will advise, collaborate, and share knowledge, but the project will be driven by the PhD student.
• Satisfaction of University of Queensland PhD entry requirements:

Desirable Qualifications:

• Experience with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or neuroimaging data analysis.
• Experience working with biological markers or neurodegenerative disease models.
• Experience with medical image processing software such as FSL, FreeSurfer, MRtrix, ANTs.
• Experience with GPU and CPU-based high-performance computing (HPC) environments for data processing.
• Experience in publishing scientific research in peer-reviewed journals or full-length conference papers.
• Experience with public neuroimaging datasets such as HCP, ADNI, or UK Biobank

Stipend & Support:

The successful applicant will be supported to receive a tuition waiver as a full-time PhD student (part-time options are not possible) at the University of Queensland and a living stipend of $36,400AUD (2025 rate, indexed annually) per annum for 3.5 years. International onshore students will receive a single cover OSHC insurance to support their visa application. All research will take place on-site at QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute.

In addition to standard University programs and supports, the student will have additional access to the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute dedicated graduate student office and advisor, scholarship top-up opportunities (competitive process by application), and student retreats, seminar series, and social events.

How to Apply:

Please note that only applicants meeting all of the "Essential Qualifications" listed above will be considered, without exception. Please apply only if you meet these criteria, and detail in your cover letter.

For more information about our group, please visit:

For further information: please contact Ian Harding (Group Leader) via email

Closing Date: Wednesday 26th November 2025