Honours Projects at IMB

If you have a passion for research and an enquiring mind, you will enjoy the freedom and intellectual challenge of immersing yourself in a research environment surrounded by world-leading scientists with access to the best facilities.


Dr Nicholas Ariotti

Endocytosis of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase in Cardiovascular Disease
  Dr Nicholas Ariotti
  n.ariotti@uq.edu.au


Associate Professor Mark Blaskovich

Synthesis of antibiotic-derived conjugates
  Associate Professor Mark Blaskovich
  m.blaskovich@uq.du.au

Synthesis of antibiotic-derived fluorescent probes
  Associate Professor Mark Blaskovich
  m.blaskovich@uq.du.au


Professor Rob Capon

New antiparasitic to protect Australian livestock
  Professor Rob Capon; Dr Zeinab Khalil; Dr Angela Salim
  r.capon@imb.uq.edu.au

Developing new mass spectrometric methods for the rapid identification and assignment of absolute configuration to chiral amino compounds
  Dr Waleed HusseinProfessor Rob Capon
  r.capon@imb.uq.edu.au


Professor Brett Collins 

Studies of membrane trafficking protein complexes involved in neurodegenerative disease using X-ray crystallography and cryoelectron microscopy
  Professor Brett Collins & Michael Healy  
  b.collins@imb.uq.edu.au

Biochemical and structural studies of membrane trafficking protein complexes involved in neurodegeneration
 Professor Brett Collins 
  b.collins@imb.uq.edu.au


Professor David Craik

15. Structure-activity relationships of cyclic dynorphin A analogues targeting kappa opioid receptors
 Professor David Craik & Dr Johannes Koehbach
  d.craik@imb.uq.edu.aua.kan@imb.uq.edu.au

Synthesis and oxidative folding pathway of disulfide-rich cyclic peptides
 Professor David Craik & Dr Yen-Hua (Crystal) Huang
  d.craik@imb.uq.edu.aua.kan@imb.uq.edu.au

AEP-mediated biosynthesis of orally active cyclotide-based antagonists for bradykinin B1 receptor
 Professor David Craik & Dr Yen-Hua (Crystal) Huang
  d.craik@imb.uq.edu.aua.kan@imb.uq.edu.au

Upgrading the potency of a cancer drug using structure-based design
 Professor David Craik & Dr Conan Wang
  d.craik@imb.uq.edu.aua.kan@imb.uq.edu.au

Design and characterisation of a next-generation antimicrobial peptide
 Professor David Craik & Dr Conan Wang
  d.craik@imb.uq.edu.aua.kan@imb.uq.edu.au

Defining cylclotide membrane interactions using nanodisc
 Professor David Craik & Dr Conan Wang
  d.craik@imb.uq.edu.aua.kan@imb.uq.edu.au

Using conjugation strategies to improve the drug-like properties of peptide leads
 Professor David Craik & Dr Nicole Lawrence
  d.craik@imb.uq.edu.aua.kan@imb.uq.edu.au    

Protein Engineering using a new class of ligase enzymes  
 Professor David Craik & Dr Thomas Durek
  d.craik@imb.uq.edu.aua.kan@imb.uq.edu.au

Pharmacology of Stinging Nettle venom
 Professor David Craik & Dr Thomas Durek
  d.craik@imb.uq.edu.aua.kan@imb.uq.edu.au

Design and characterisation of a new generation of anti-obesity peptides
 Professor David Craik & Angeline Chan
  d.craik@imb.uq.edu.aua.kan@imb.uq.edu.au

Reengineering of wasp venom peptides for antimicrobial applications
 Professor David Craik & Angeline Chan
  d.craik@imb.uq.edu.aua.kan@imb.uq.edu.au

Boosting accumulation of cyclisation-stabilised peptide-based pharmaceuticals in plant seeds
 Professor David Craik, Dr Edward Gilding & Dr Mark Jackson
  d.craik@imb.uq.edu.aua.kan@imb.uq.edu.au

Genetic exploration of Petunia as a novel platform for producing cyclisation-stabilised peptide-based pharmaceuticals
 Professor David Craik, Dr Edward Gilding & Dr Mark Jackson
  d.craik@imb.uq.edu.aua.kan@imb.uq.edu.au

Benchmarking deep learning methods for designing active peptides
 Professor David Craik & Dr Quentin Kaas
  d.craik@imb.uq.edu.aua.kan@imb.uq.edu.au

Reassessing the classification of conotoxin genes into superfamilies
 Professor David Craik & Dr Quentin Kaas
  d.craik@imb.uq.edu.aua.kan@imb.uq.edu.au


Professor David Evans

Maternal-fetal incompatibility at HLA loci and its consequences for offspring and maternal health
 Professor David Evans
  d.evans1@uq.edu.au

Imputing summary results statistics in Genome-wide Association Studies
 Professor David Evans
  d.evans1@uq.edu.au

Investigate novel genetic factors contributing to coffee consumption using GWAS-by-subtraction
  Dr Daniel Hwang
  d.hwang@uq.edu.au


Professor David Fairlie

NMR structures and computational studies to design bioavailable peptides
 Dr Huy Hoang
  h.hoang@imb.uq.edu.au

Synthesis of DNA-binding peptides for anti-cancer therapy
 Dr Aline Dantes de Araujo
  a.dantasdearaujo@imb.uq.edu.au

Chemical strategies to deliver peptide drugs into cells
 Dr Aline Dantes de Araujo
  a.dantasdearaujo@imb.uq.edu.au

Synthesis of long-acting anti diabetic agents
 Dr Tim Hill
  t.hill@imb.uq.edu.au

Targeted delivery of anticancer drugs
 Dr Tim Hill
  t.hill@imb.uq.edu.au

Stapled peptides as anticancer drugs
 Dr Tim Hill
  t.hill@imb.uq.edu.au

Synthesis of bacterial metabolite analogues as anti-inflammatory drugs
 Dr Jeff Mak
  j.mak@imb.uq.edu.au

Synthesis of novel 8-membered heterocycles towards new cancer drugs
 Dr Jeff Mak
  j.mak@imb.uq.edu.au

Synthesis of fluorescent probes for visualising an inflammatory protein in cells
 Dr Jeff Mak
  j.mak@imb.uq.edu.au


Associate Professor Frederic Gachon

Regulation of liver protein secretion and its regulation by circadian and feeding rhythms
 Associate Professor Frederic Gachon
  f.gachon@uq.edu.au

Circadian regulation of protein glycosylation
 Associate Professor Frederic Gachon
  f.gachon@uq.edu.au

Specific role of the circadian clocks in the different liver cell types and how they interact
 Associate Professor Frederic Gachon
  f.gachon@uq.edu.au


Dr Emma Gordon

Investigating the role of the vasculature in COVID-19
  Dr Emma GordonDr Larisa Labzin
  e.gordon@imb.uq.edu.au

Investigating blood vessel formation and function
  Dr Emma Gordon & Dr Lilian Schimmel 
  e.gordon@imb.uq.edu.au


Professor Ben Hankamer

High resolution cryo using single particle analysis
  Professor Ben Hankamer
  b.hankamer@uq.edu.au

Self-lysing microalgae: inducible cell wall mutants via CRISPR/Cas9
  Dr Ian Ross
  i.ross@uq.edu.au

CRISPR-tagging of microalgal proteins for therapeutic peptide production
  Dr Ian Ross
  i.ross@uq.edu.au

Gene control systems for transgenic microalgae
  Dr Ian Ross
  i.ross@uq.edu.au

Advanced materials from microalgae
  Dr Ian Ross
  i.ross@uq.edu.au

Biosecurity for algal GMOs
  Dr Ian Ross
  i.ross@uq.edu.au


Professor Ian Henderson 

Glycine receptor variants in autism spectrum disorder
  Dr Karthik Pullela
  k.pullela@imb.uq.edu.au

Investigating the role of host lipids in Salmonella infections
  Dr Jessica Rooke
  J.rooke@imb.uq.use.au


Dr Angelo Keramidas

Glycine receptor variants in autism spectrum disorder
  Dr Angelo Keramidas
  a.keramidas@uq.edu.au

GABA-A receptor variants in epilepsy
  Dr Angelo Keramidas
  a.keramidas@uq.edu.au

Pesticides targeting invertebrate synaptic receptors
  Dr Angelo Keramidas
  a.keramidas@uq.edu.au

Single-channel analysis of voltage-gated sodium channels
  Dr Angelo Keramidas
  a.keramidas@uq.edu.au

NMDA receptor variants in neurological disorders
  Dr Angelo Keramidas
  a.keramidas@uq.edu.au


Dr Zeinab Khalil

Soils for Science - Searching the soil microbes for new antibiotics
  Dr Zeinab Khalil; Professor Rob Capon
  z.khalil@uq.edu.au

Soils for Science - Searching the soil microbes for new antifungals
  Dr Zeinab Khalil; Professor Rob Capon
  z.khalil@uq.edu.au


Dr Brett McKinnon

Validation of synthetic Matrigel's for the growth of 3D endometrial organoids
  Dr Brett McKinnon; Professor Grant Montgomery
  b.mckinnon@imb.uq.edu.au

Generation of micro organospheres for patient-derived drug screening assays
  Dr Brett McKinnon; Professor Grant Montgomery
  b.mckinnon@imb.uq.edu.au

Investigation of cell types found in patient-derived organoids
  Dr Brett McKinnon; Professor Grant Montgomery
  b.mckinnon@imb.uq.edu.au


Associate Professor Markus Muttenthaler

Chemical synthesis and structure-activity-relationship studies of the trefoil factor family
  Associate Professor Markus Muttenthaler
  m.muttenthaler@imb.uq.edu.au

Method development for chemical synthesis of proteins
  Associate Professor Markus Muttenthaler
  m.muttenthaler@imb.uq.edu.au

Neuropeptides and their role in memory formation
  Associate Professor Markus Muttenthaler
  m.muttenthaler@imb.uq.edu.au

Targeting gut biofilms in patients with gastrointestinal disorders
  Associate Professor Markus Muttenthaler
  m.muttenthaler@imb.uq.edu.au

Targeting the oxytocin receptor in breast or prostate cancer
  Associate Professor Markus Muttenthaler
  m.muttenthaler@imb.uq.edu.au

Venom peptide drug discovery
  Associate Professor Markus Muttenthaler
  m.muttenthaler@imb.uq.edu.au

Development of gut-stable peptide hormones
  Associate Professor Markus Muttenthaler
  m.muttenthaler@imb.uq.edu.au


Dr Christian Nefzger

Deciphering the DNA-protein interactions that reset the ageing clock during reprogramming
  Dr Christian Nefzger
  c.nefzger@imb.uq.edu.au

Controlling cell fate through transcription factor-based reprogramming
  Dr Christian Nefzger
  c.nefzger@imb.uq.edu.au

Leveraging single cell multiome data to identity drivers of organ ageing (dry lab/computational project)
  Dr Christian Nefzger
  c.nefzger@imb.uq.edu.au


Dr Melanie Oey

Recombinant protein production in microalgal chloroplasts
  Dr Melanie Oey
  m.oey@uq.edu.au


Dr Nathan Palpant

Engineering cell identity: Using human pluripotent stem cells to program cells with customised functions not seen in the natural world
  Dr Nathan Palpant
  n.palpant@uq.edu.au

Understanding acid sensitivity of the heart: identifying genes and drugs that block the injury response of the heart during ischemic stress
  Dr Nathan Palpant
  n.palpant@uq.edu.au

Mapping cell decisions over time: building tools to track genome-wide changes controlling stepwise decisions of differentiating cells
  Dr Nathan Palpant
  n.palpant@uq.edu.au


Professor Robert Parton

Zebrafish as a model to study human inherited diseases
 Dr Tom Hall
 thomas.hall@imb.uq.edu.au

Water bears (tardigrades) as a system to study stress resistance
 Prof. Rob Parton
  R.Parton@imb.uq.edu.au

The Role of Caveolae in Cancer
 Dr. Kerrie-Ann McMahon, Dr. Yeping Wu
  k.mcmahon@imb.uq.edu.auyeping.wu@imb.uq.edu.au

Targeting Nanoparticles to Fight Cancer
 Prof. Rob Parton, Dr. Ye-Wheen Lim
  R.Parton@imb.uq.edu.auy.lim@uq.edu.au

The Role of Caveolae in Muscle Disease
 Dr. Harriet Lo
 h.lo@imb.uq.edu.au


Dr Himaya Siddhihalu Hewage

Understanding the complex spatial distribution of cone snail venom peptides across the venom gland
  Dr Himaya Siddhihalu Hewage
  h.siddhihalu@imb.uq.edu.au

Discovery of novel ion channel modulators from cone snail venoms
  Dr Himaya Siddhihalu Hewage
  h.siddhihalu@imb.uq.edu.au


Dr Hana Starobova

C-fos: a measure of pain in chemotherapy induced neuropathy
  Dr Hana Starobova
  h.starobova@imb.uq.edu.au

Role of adhesion molecules in chemotherapy induced side effects
  Dr Hana Starobova
  h.starobova@imb.uq.edu.au

NLRP3 inflammasome activation by chemotherapies and the therapeutic application
  Dr Hana Starobova
  h.starobova@imb.uq.edu.au


Professor Jennifer Stow

Immune navigation: changing signals to control inflammation in disease
  Professor Jennifer Stow
  j.stow@imb.uq.edu.au

Fighting infection: Enhancing phagocytosis and pathogen killing
  Professor Jennifer Stow
  j.stow@imb.uq.edu.au

Blocking nutrient uptake to limit cancer cell survival
  Professor Jennifer Stow
  j.stow@imb.uq.edu.au

Screening for metastasis inhibitory markers in cancer
  Professor Jennifer Stow
  j.stow@imb.uq.edu.au

Advancing 3D imaging and visualisation of cell surfaces
  Professor Jennifer Stow
  j.stow@imb.uq.edu.au

How immune cells eat and digest pathogens; phagocytosis
  Professor Jennifer Stow
  j.stow@imb.uq.edu.au


Professor Matt Sweet

Role of macrophage metabolism in driving inflammation
  Professor Matt Sweet
  m.sweet@imb.uq.edu.au

Role of macrophage metabolism in host defence against bacterial infections
  Professor Matt Sweet
  m.sweet@imb.uq.edu.au

Zinc toxicity as an antimicrobial weapon of macrophages
  Professor Matt Sweet
  m.sweet@imb.uq.edu.au


Professor Irina Vetter

Using venom peptides to understand the function of sensory neurons
  Professor Irina Vetter
  i.vetter@uq.edu.au

Neuro-immune interactions involved in painful neuropathies
  Professor Irina Vetter
  i.vetter@uq.edu.au

Discovery of novel sodium channel modulators from venoms
  Professor Irina Vetter
  i.vetter@uq.edu.au


Dr Melanie White

Live imaging of cell lineage differentiation in a novel transgenic quail model.
 Dr Mel White
  melanie.white@imb.uq.edu.au


Professor Alpha Yap

How (ab)normal mechanics controls the health (or not) of the eye epithelium 
 Professor Alpha Yap & Dr Ivar Noordstra
  a.yap@uq.edu.au

How cytokines increase sensitivity to inflammation triggered by apoptosis in epithelia 
 Professor Alpha Yap & Dr Kinga Duszyc
  a.yap@uq.edu.au


Dr Johannes Zuegg

Machine learning in drug discovery - Data mining and validation
 Dr Johannes Zuegg & Dr Davy Guan
  j.zuegg@uq.edu.au

Machine learning in drug discovery - Data modelling and prediction
 Dr Johannes Zuegg & Dr Davy Guan
  j.zuegg@uq.edu.au