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  7. Using AI to design RNA with custom properties

Using AI to design RNA with custom properties

This PhD scholarship works at the intersection of artificial intelligence, synthetic biology and RNA.

RNA therapeutics have been successfully implemented as vaccines, and their application to other conditions, such as cancer and rare diseases, is being explored. Custom design of RNA properties (eg storage stability, in vivo stability and translation efficiency) is crucial to developing RNA therapies with increased efficiency and safety. However, this is a significant challenge due to an incomplete understanding of the relationship between RNA sequence and in vivo properties. This project aims to use state-of-the-art artificial intelligence architectures and large datasets to solve this challenge and design RNA molecules with tailored properties.

Key details

  • 20247229
  • PhD
  • Applications close on 1 March 2025
  • Domestic, International
  • Science
  • $38,500 p.a.

About the scholarship

The PhD student will independently and with support from advisors, plan and execute studies for implementing deep learning architectures using data from large scale studies. The project is co-supervised by Dr. Paul Jaschke and Associate Professor Georgy Sofronov at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia across the Schools of Natural Sciences, Mathematical and Physical Sciences, and Computing. The supervisors have a wide-range of experience in synthetic biology, bioinformatics, and statistical machine learning methods with applications to bioinformatics and computational biology.

The project will be supported in part by a BioInnovation grant focused on using AI for synthetic biology within the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Macquarie University. The supervisors are members of and receive support from the:

  • ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology
  • Research Centre in Multi-omics
  • Biomolecular Discovery Research Centre
  • Data Horizons Research Centre.

The expected start date is from Q2 through to Q4 2025.

Availability

This scholarship is available to eligible candidates to undertake a direct entry three-year PhD program.

Both international and domestic applicants encouraged to apply.

Eligibility

Candidates are required to:

  • be proficient in English
  • currently reside in Australia or be able to relocate to Australia
  • have a Master's-level degree or a comparable level of practical experience in fields such as:
    • bioinformatics
    • computational biology
    • data science
    • machine learning.

Desired skills and experience include:

  • proficiency in Python, R and/or Julia programming languages
  • experience with PyTorch, Tensorflow, Keras or similar is a plus
  • experience with next-generation sequencing data analysis (eg transcriptomics or genomics)
  • a self-driven attitude and the ability to work independently and on a multidisciplinary team.

Components

The scholarship comprises:

  • a tuition fee offset/scholarship
  • a living allowance stipend.

The value of each stipend scholarship is $38,500 per annum (full time, indexed) for three years.

How to apply

Apply with:

  • your CV
  • a short message introducing yourself and explaining how this project would fit into your career path.