Student Opportunities
Current projects
We currently have several honors or PhD projects available in the lab.
1. mRNA therapeutics
Summary: The COVID-19 vaccine unlocked a new world of mRNA therapeutics. We have a number of projects available in the lab focused on developing new mRNA-based medicines for treating pain and other neurological diseases.
2. Whole genome CRISPR screening
Summary: This project involves using and developing new CRISPR screening technologies to functionally characterise biological and chemical agents that cause pain.
3. Pooled CRISPR screening in Organoids
Summary: We have developed new technologies to functionally screen human genes in the context of stem cell-derived organoids and from this have identified multiple new genes or pathways controlling brain development. This project involves using these new technologies to investigate what it means to be human.
4. Genomic investigation of painful venoms using pooled CRISPR screening
Summary: This project involves using whole genome CRISPR screening to investigate how painful venoms hurt us. This information can then be used to develop novel antidotes, or exploited to generate novel therapeutics.
5. Genes and neural circuits controlling pain perception
Summary: This project involves characterising human and mouse pain at the molecular level using single cell and special transcriptomics, and then targeting core disease pathways using new mRNA technologies.
6. Directed Evolution in mammalian cells.
Summary: We have recently developed a new directed evolution system (PROTEUS) that allows us to evolve proteins to have new activities in mammalian cells. This project involves evolving new genome editing tools for future research and therapeutic use.
7. In vivo CRISPR screening
Summary: Our previous efforts have primarily involved pooled CRISPR screening in vitro, followed by in vivo validation. With new technologies, we can now actually perform targeted screens in vivo, and this project will involve developing and using these technologies for neuroscience.
Job Opportunities