School of Biomedical Sciences Summer Research projects
Computational methods applied to systems neuroscience
Project duration, hours of engagement | 6 weeks between 13 January and 21 February in 2025 20 to 36, flexible as per interests |
Location: | St Lucia: Skerman (65) |
Description: | This Summer Project will focus on computational approaches to systems neuroscience, with a focus on high-throughput analyses of brain networks during development (and evolution). Specific projects will leverage large existing datasets on neural activity, gene expression, cell morphology and/or connectomics, using high performance computer-powered pipelines (Python -preferred-, R, Matlab, etc). Ideal candidates will have experience in data analysis and programming, and a strong drive to enhance their understanding of complex biological systems, including brain wiring and function. |
Expected outcomes and deliverables: | Successful scholars will expand their skill set in areas that are highly transferable, including complex data analysis and software design. They will be mentored by a team of talented scientists to give a high-quality oral presentation at the end of their project, and may contribute to scientific publications depending on the quality and suitability of their work relative to existing projects in the lab. |
Suitable for: | Students with strong skills in mathematics, physics and/or computer sciences (and basic knowledge or interest in biology). Suited for passionate scholars interested in tackling big questions in complex biology and brain science, and ideally considering Hons/MPhil/PhD and/or a research career. |
Primary Supervisor: | Associate Professor Rodrigo Suarez, r.suarez@uq.edu.au The supervisor MUST be contacted by students prior to submission of an application. |
Understanding how the histone methyltransferase SETD2 shapes brain development
Project duration, hours of engagement | 6 weeks between 13 January and 21 February in 2025 36 |
Location: | St Lucia: Otto Hirschfeld |
Description: | The controlled proliferation, then differentiation, of stem cells is crucial for the generation of organs of the correct size, and when things go awry, the consequences can be devastating. An example of this is seen in the developing brain, where the delayed differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs) gives rise to brain enlargement (megalencephaly), a disorder characterised by intellectual disability. Megalencephaly is also commonly associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD); indeed, ~15% of patients with ASD exhibit enlarged brains. Critically, megalencephalic ASD patients have significantly more severe behavioural, sensory and social deficits than other patients with ASD; bigger is definitely not better. This highlights the need to better understand the abnormal biological pathways leading to brain overgrowth. We know that the extended proliferation of NSCs can drive brain overgrowth. What we do not know are the mechanisms underlying this process, knowledge that is critical if we are to develop clinically tractable ways to treat megalencephalic patients. We have a creative and innovative take on the problem - we postulate that the epigenetic regulation of chromatin via trimethylation of lysine residue 36 on histone H3 (H3K36me3 - associated with open chromatin and transcriptional activity) regulates timely NSC differentiation, and that perturbations to this modification lead to disorders characterised by ASD with megalencephaly. Here, we will study the role of one of the factors that controls H3K36 methylation, SETD2, in brain development. |
Expected outcomes and deliverables: | Basic techniques that will be learned include: - histology - immunocytochemistry - microscopy - genotyping - data analysis |
Suitable for: | Biomed students looking to do Honours |
Primary Supervisor: | Professor Mike Piper, m.piper@uq.edu.au The supervisor MUST be contacted by students prior to submission of an application. |
Development of novel approaches to enhance anti-tumour immunity
Project duration, hours of engagement | 6 weeks between 13 January and 21 February in 2025 36 |
Location: | St Lucia: Sir William MacGregor Building 64 |
Description: | We are interested in developing new strategies to overcome immune suppression in cancer. While stimulating our own immune system to recognize and attack tumour cells represents an attractive means to facilitate complete elimination of tumours, emerging data suggest that many of the immunotherapy tools, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, are minimally active in cancer. We aim to understand the complex immune suppression mechanism in tumours and use this information to develop effective strategies to enhance anti-tumour immunity. Specifically, this project aims to target cytotoxic T-cells to enhance their ability to recognise tumour antigens. We are also interested in developing more effective tumour-targeting delivery strategies for treatment of cancer. Ultimately, strategies developed in this project could harness the power of the immune system to eliminate tumours and significantly increase the survival of patients with cancer. We are seeking a motivated undergraduate student who is interested in contributing to a large project involving nanotechnology and cancer immunology, and who is eager to learn how to develop effective strategies for cancer treatment. The student will learn critical research skills and gain experience in working in a multidisciplinary environment, and contribute to an exciting project in the area of cancer nanomedicine and immunology. This project is open to applications from students with a background in biomedical engineering and biomedical sciences, who is interested in exploring research as a career path. |
Expected outcomes and deliverables: | The student will learn critical laboratory skills and knowledge needed to develop new strategies to overcome immune suppression in cancer. He/She will gain experience in working in a multidisciplinary environment, obtain hands-on training from the lab head and senior lab members, and contribute to an exciting project in the area of cancer nanomedicine and immunology. The student will also attend weekly lab meetings and present findings of their experiments at the end of the summer program. |
Suitable for: | This project is open to applications from students with a background in biomedical engineering and biomedical sciences, who is interested in exploring research as a career path. |
Primary Supervisor: | Dr Sherry Wu, sherry.wu@uq.edu.au The supervisor MUST be contacted by students prior to submission of an application. |
Placental cathepsins - regulators of Vasoinhibin production?
Project duration, hours of engagement | 6 weeks between 13 January and 21 February in 2025 36 |
Location: | St Lucia: Sir William MacGregor Building 64 |
Description: | The prolactin (PRL) hormone is an angiogenic factor that plays an important role in adaptations to pregnancy, such as placentation. Importantly the angiogenic potential of PRL can be modified by cleavage with cathepsins to create an anti-angiogenic protein fragment called vasoinhibin. The balance between full length angiogenic PRL and the cleaved anti-angiogenic vasoinhibin is dysregulated in some pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia. Interestingly, the placenta secretes several placental-specific prolactin-like proteins, but whether these are likewise proteolytically cleaved by cathepsins to alter their functions is not fully known. Moreover, the placenta expresses a cluster of placental-specific cathepsins with unknown substrates. The current project will investigate whether these poorly studied placental cathepsins can cleave, and therefore alter the functions of, placental prolactin-like proteins. Furthermore, we will investigate whether any such cleavage to produce placental vasoinhibins is dysregulated in rodent models of pregnancy complications. The project will utilise an in vitro model, expressing genetically tagged placental PRL-like proteins from expression constructs in the presence or absence of placental cathepsins, and assaying their potential cleavage into vasoinhibin fragments via western blot analysis. |
Expected outcomes and deliverables: | The identification or PRL-like proteins cleaved by placental cathepsins will serve to uncover a novel regulatory axis at play during placentation. The dysregulation of such a regulatory system, similar to that described for the PRL hormone, may contribute to pregnancy complications. All the necessary DNA constructs to perform this work have already been created. The student will therefore learn several important molecular biology techniques over the course of their project that are universally used by many laboratories, putting them at an advantage for future honours or PhD work. The techniques learned will include cell culture, DNA transfection, western blot analysis, in situ hybridisation and PCR. The data collected from this project will contribute to a wider project being developed for NHMRC Ideas grant application in 2025. Furthermore, The data will form a significant part of a publication currently under development, giving the summer student a likely publication credit within the next 6-9 months. This will be a significant addition to the student's future applications for PhD scholarships. |
Suitable for: | Undergraduate students considering Honours and PhD streams. |
Primary Supervisor: | Dr David Simmons, d.simmons@uq.edu.au The supervisor MUST be contacted by students prior to submission of an application. |
Development of emotional intelligence in biomedical science students
Project duration, hours of engagement | 6 weeks between 13 January and 21 February in 2025 It is anticipated that this project will involve 20-25 hours per week. |
Location: | St Lucia: Sir William MacGregor Building 64 |
Description: | Emotional intelligence (EI) describes the ability to identify, assess and manage the emotions of self and others, with a high degree of EI relating to heightened resilience and affability. This project examines how students’ emotional intelligence factors into managing the challenges that come with the transition to 2nd year such as an increase in the standard, complexity and autonomy of their studies. Outcomes from this project could provide practicable ways to facilitate development of emotional intelligence in students, as well as interventions to support them throughout university. |
Expected outcomes and deliverables: | You will gain experience in handling large data sets, applying qualitative (thematic) and statistical analyses, and become familiar with relevant software such as SPSS and NVivo, to aid these analyses. You will also fine tune your skills in searching and reading peer-reviewed literature, sharpening your critical thinking skills, and working through novel problems to find effective solutions. You will also gain some experience participating in a lab group, attending weekly meetings. Outcomes of this project will inform subsequent analyses of the existing data set you will be working on, for the ultimate purpose of publication in a high impact journal and your contributions appropriately acknowledged. We welcome student interest in participating in the writing process as well. |
Suitable for: | This project is open to students enrolled in a Bachelor of Biomedical Science, Bachelor of Advanced Science (Biomed major) or Bachelor of Science (Biomed major) program. We are looking for students who are genuinely interested in understanding teaching and learning processes at higher education, and your program enrolment will allow you to understand the nuances of what Biomedical Science students experience. An enthusiasm to learn is greatly valued, alongside the ability and willingness to drive yourself and communicate comfortably and regularly with me (Judit) as your supervisor. You do not need to be skilled in thematic or statistical analyses but be willing to rapidly pick up relevant understandings and processes. |
Primary Supervisor: | Dr Judit Kibedi, j.kibedi@uq.edu.au The supervisor CAN be contacted by students prior to submission of an application. |
Pathomechamisms in Alzheimer's disease
Project duration, hours of engagement | 6 weeks between 13 January and 21 February in 2025 20-36 hours |
Location: | St Lucia: Sir William MacGregor Building 64 |
Description: | Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterised by the loss of synaptic connections, neuronal death, and neuroinflammation. However, the precise molecular and cellular mechanisms driving these pathological changes remain poorly understood. The summer student will be involved in the ongoing advanced imaging experiments and computational analysis in the laboratory to understand the pathomechanisms underlying AD. |
Expected outcomes and deliverables: | You will work with a highly interdisciplinary team of neuroscientists, biochemists, and mathematical biologists. You will gain experience in advanced imaging and data analysis. |
Suitable for: | • Experience in cell culture techniques • Data analysis Experience is desirable • Ideal for students considering an Honours or PhD in the lab |
Primary Supervisor: | Dr Pranesh Padmanabhan, p.padmanabhan@uq.edu.au The supervisor MUST be contacted by students prior to submission of an application. |
Developing a Highlights Tour
Project duration, hours of engagement | 6 weeks between 13 January and 21 February in 2025 25 |
Location: | Herston: UQ Health Sciences Building |
Description: | 2025 marks 100 years of The University of Queensland's pathology collection. To commemorate this occasion, the IPLC is increasing engagement and welcoming members of the public in to view the facility. This project will focus on developing a highlights tour for the museum. The successful student will conduct medical/scientific and historical research in order to select five or six specimens that will feature on a guided tour of the museum. Although the Curator will provide guidance in specimen selection, the project offers flexibility, allowing the student to explore various options and make informed choices. Each specimen featured in the tour will be accompanied by a short, informative script. These scripts will include a description of the associated disease and an engaging segment of interesting information to captivate and educate visitors. The tour will be structured to guide visitors through different sections of the museum, offering a comprehensive view of the collection. This means that the successful student will have the opportunity to increase their knowledge surrounding different organs and body systems. |
Expected outcomes and deliverables: | This project aims to significantly enhance public engagement and educational outreach. By developing a highlights tour featuring five or six carefully selected specimens, the project will provide a deeper understanding of pathology through curated scientific and historical insights. The successful student will collaborate with the Curator, gaining valuable experience in research, scriptwriting, and public communication. This endeavor will not only enrich the museum’s educational offerings but also contribute to a lasting legacy of the collection’s centenary. Additionally, the student will expand their knowledge of various organs and body systems, refine their research and storytelling skills, and enhance their professional development. |
Suitable for: | This project is suitable for students who are looking to develop their research skills and apply those skills to producing deliverable content. |
Primary Supervisor: | Ms Rebecca Lush, r.lush@uq.edu.au The supervisor CAN be contacted by students prior to submission of an application. |
Investigating biopsychosocial factors for low back pain flares
Project duration, hours of engagement | 6 weeks between 13 January and 21 February in 2025 Hours of engagement must be between 20 – 36 hrs per week and must fall within the official program dates. |
Location: | St Lucia: Therapies Building (84a) The project will be offered through a hybrid arrangement (on-site AND remotely). |
Description: | Background: Low back pain (LBP) is traditionally viewed as either a transient condition with acute episodes or a chronic persisting condition. However, it is increasingly recognised that for most (>80% of cases), LBP has a variable and ongoing trajectory characterised by fluctuating symptoms – with periods of worse symptoms referred to as “flares”. Current work regarding risk factors for LBP only considers those associated with a new episode or the transition to chronic LBP. Aim: The aim of this study is to identify biological, psychological, and social risk factors for LBP flare using a case-crossover design. Study design: Feasibility case-crossover study with a 3-month follow-up period. Population (type & location): Adults (≥18 years old) will be recruited if they have experienced LBP on at least 2 days in the past 2 weeks that was sufficient to limit their function. Data (type & collection methods): Testing will be conducted online, in person and through mobile apps and using wearable devices (e.g., smartwatches), with the study coordinated at The University of Queensland, Brisbane. Individuals from Brisbane will be able to participate. Analysis: Data will be analysed using various software to identify potential risk factors for flare to compare periods that do (case) and do not (control) precede a flare. |
Expected outcomes and deliverables: | By participating in this project, students can expect to gain a multifaceted range of skills and experiences that are crucial for personal and professional growth, including but limited to: 1. Research and Data Collection: The project will offer plenty scope for refining students' skills in research and data collection, an indispensable asset in numerous academic and professional pursuits. This may include recruitment, phone screening, data collection, etc. 2. Critical Analysis and Interpretation: The project will necessitate a keen eye for detail and the ability to analyse information critically. 3. Collaboration and Teamwork: Working on a project of this nature will provide a conducive environment for students to enhance their teamwork skills by collaborating with research staff, vital in both academic and professional settings. 4. Report and Oral Presentation: At the culmination of the project, candidates will offer the option to produce a report or deliver an oral presentation (e.g., at our lab meetings). This exercise will enable them to improve their written and oral communication skills. 5. Networking: Working on this project will facilitate networking opportunities, allowing students to build connections with peers, mentors, and other academics. |
Suitable for: | This project is open to applications from students with a background in health, psychology and biomedical sciences, who are keen to learn and participate in a collaborative research project. |
Primary Supervisor: | Manuela Besomi, m.besomimolina@uq.edu.au Students can contact me via email at any point in their application process. |
| Additional notes: | This is a project from School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (SHRS), open to SBMS students. |