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Monash University Malaysia GEMS PhD – Precision Blood-Cell Biomarkers for Severe Dengue

  • Organization: Monash University Malaysia
  • Country: Malaysia
  • Degree Level: PhD
Fully Funded 36 days left
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Overview

GEMS 2026 PhD at Monash University Malaysia building a prospective dengue cohort and blood-cell biomarker panel (CyTOF/CITE-seq in Melbourne, ML-based prediction). Regional mobility scholarship with up to 9 months at a partner Monash campus/IIT Bombay. Deadline: 26 October 2026.

Eligibility

Minimum First Class Honours (H1) or equivalent (H1E) recognised by Monash University Malaysia, plus English language requirements. Prior immunology experience, clinical/biobank-linked research exposure, animal cell culture and molecular biology competence expected; R/Python familiarity preferred.

Benefits

Global Excellence and Mobility Scholarship (GEMS): regional mobility funding for an immersive period of up to 9 months at Monash University Australia, Monash University Indonesia, or IIT Bombay, plus access to Monash's global research network during candidature.

Available Fields

  • Biology

Required Documents

Application citing the same GEMS research topic as advertised, selecting the Global Excellence and Mobility Scholarship (GEMS); see the application submission guide for full requirements.

Application Process

First contact the main supervisor (Assoc Prof Vinod Balasubramaniam) with your academic background to check fit, then submit your application via the Monash Malaysia GEMS process.

A PhD Global Excellence and Mobility Scholarship (GEMS 2026) project at Monash University Malaysia, establishing a prospective dengue cohort to identify early blood-cell signatures predicting severe disease, with cross-site work in Kuala Lumpur and Melbourne.

Opportunity

PhD Global Excellence and Mobility Scholarship (GEMS 2026). Research Project: Precision blood-cell biomarkers for early prediction of severe dengue

Supervisors

  • Assoc Prof Vinod Balasubramaniam
  • Dr Premdass Ramdas

University

Monash University Malaysia — Medicine and Health Sciences

Country

Malaysia

Location

Subang Jaya, Malaysia

Study Level

PhD

About the Project

This project establishes a prospective dengue cohort at University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) to identify early blood-cell signatures predicting severe disease. Peripheral blood collected at first presentation will be processed and cryopreserved at JCSMHS/UMMC, with fresh-blood immunophenotyping in Kuala Lumpur; cryopreserved samples are sent to Melbourne for high-dimensional CyTOF and CITE-seq profiling. Machine learning will integrate the data to develop a compact biomarker panel for point-of-care diagnostics. Part of Monash Malaysia’s Graduate Research Thematic Cluster “Predict-and-Prevent Severe Dengue: AI-Guided Multi-Omics & Natural-Compound Screening”, supported by LifeArc and a joint MUM–MUA team.

Who Can Apply

Prior experience in immunology and exposure to clinical or biobank-linked research; competence in animal cell culture and core molecular biology techniques; rigorous documentation and clear scientific writing. Familiarity with R/Python preferred; omics-based data analysis experience is an added advantage. Training and cross-site co-supervision with the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute (BDI) provided.

Eligibility

Minimum First Class Honours (H1) or equivalent (H1E) recognised by Monash University Malaysia, plus the University’s English language requirements.

Funding Notes

The Global Excellence and Mobility Scholarship (GEMS), funded by Monash University Malaysia, features regional mobility and is awarded to highly qualified students for projects of regional/global relevance. Recipients are funded for an immersive period of up to 9 months at Monash University Australia, Monash University Indonesia, or IIT Bombay, with access to Monash’s global research network during candidature.

How to Apply

Contact the main supervisor first with your academic background to check fit, then submit your application citing the same GEMS research topic as advertised, selecting the Global Excellence and Mobility Scholarship (GEMS).

Application Deadline

26 October 2026.

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