Interested in student projects?
We develop X-ray crystallography methods at the frontier of what's possible - some for the first time anywhere, others bringing world-leading capabilities to Australia. We want ambitious, high-performing students to help build them. Projects span time-resolved crystallography, XFEL science, structural biology, chemical crystallography, and computational methods. We particularly value Python skills and protein crystallisation experience. Our current projects include:
Pioneering time-resolved serial crystallography in Australia (MX3, Australian Synchrotron): Enabling time-resolved room-temperature serial microcrystallography at the Australian Synchrotron (for biological macromolecules and for hybrid materials like MOFs) at the new microfocus beamline MX3. You would be eligible to apply for an AINSE PhD scholarship top-up.
Molecular movies of DsbA: Understanding disulphide bond formation in bacteria and the dynamics of small molecule binding (as a means to avoid antimicrobial resistance): developing and applying time-resolved serial crystallography for imaging the molecular dynamics of disulfide bond-forming enzyme A (DsbA). This experimental project is in collaboration with Prof Martin Scanlon (Monash University) and Prof. Begoña Heras at La Trobe University. PhD scholarship available.
Structural Characterisation of SPL inhibitors: Contribute to drug development for Alzheimer's and Multiple Sclerosis: Investigate the binding interface of Sphingosine 1-Phosphate Lyase (SPL) against small molecule inhibitors, as a route to slowing down disease progression and potential re-myelination of neurons. You will express and purify SPL protein and use X-ray crystallography to solve the molecular structure of SPL-inhibitor bound complex.
Radiation damage in room-temperature crystallography: a fundamental limit and an opportunity. Experimental and computational projects to understand, mitigate, or exploit radiation damage at XFELs and synchrotrons. Understanding this is essential for getting the best data from radiation-sensitive biological and chemical crystals.
Exploring Compact XFELs for serial crystallography: Develop new simulations of novel compact XFEL sources, e.g. CompactLight and the Compact XFEL. This may involve experimental development of serial microcrystallography with this world-first room-sized XFEL (currently under construction), and convergent beam serial crystallography - a new approach. This project is primarily computational.
Synchrotron nanocrystallography (new technique development): bridging the gap between powder diffraction and serial micro-crystallography with X-ray fluctuation scattering; experimental project in collaboration with A/Prof Andrew Martin at RMIT, the Australian Synchrotron and Center for free-electron laser science (DESY, Germany). Two PhD scholarships are available: one at Swinburne and RMIT. Both are eligible to apply for an AINSE PhD scholarship top-up.
Projects involving the Australian Synchrotron give you the opportunity to apply for a $9000/yr scholarship top-up from AINSE: https://www.ainse.edu.au/postgraduate/ (apply at any stage during your PhD).
PhD scholarships
We have two fully funded PhD scholarships currently available funded by my group for projects in my ARC Future Fellowship (topics 1, 2 and 4 above) and DP25 on synchrotron nano-crystallography (topic 5).
Note: ARC-funded scholarships are currently restricted to domestic applicants; international students are provided with the following scholarship pathways.
Australian Research Training Program (RTP) scholarship
Full time PhD scholarship for 3 years (extendible to 4), or Masters program for up to 2 years. See https://www.education.gov.au/research-block-grants/research-training-program/research-training-program-frequently-asked-questions-students
Swinburne University Postgraduate Research Awards
Swinburne Research Scholarships are open for application during two scholarship rounds per year.
Round 2 closes Friday 9th October 2026, AEDT
How to apply and more info: https://www.swinburne.edu.au/study/options/scholarships/510/swinburne-research-stipend-scholarships/
European XFEL / La Trobe collaboration projects
We also have opportunities for spending 3-12 months at the European XFEL (EuXFEL, Germany) during your PhD, available for particular topics. Through our collaboration with La Trobe (Prof Begoña Heras or Prof Brian Abbey), there is a PhD position available at La Trobe to work on time-resolved serial crystallography of DsbA with XFELs and synchrotrons.
Elevate - Boosting Women in STEM
The Elevate program offers scholarships for graduate students starting in 2027, who are women and non-binary STEM students (domestic only). Valued at ~ $41.5K per annum (2026 rates), for up to 3.5 years, and Swinburne will provide paid leave of absence and parental leave to match SUPRA/RTPS conditions. See here and here for details.
2026 Applications closed 1st September 2025. Prospective HDR candidates need to apply themselves. Further information and applications via the Elevate website links. Check back for 2027 dates and email Nadia early if interested.
Masters by Research
Swinburne Masters by Research details: https://www.swinburne.edu.au/courses/applying/how-to-apply-research-degree/entry-requirements/. You can upgrade your Masters by Reseach into an Integrated PhD. Details on same page.
Honours projects: Physics and Biochemistry Honours
We have Honours projects for students with a background in physics and/or biochemistry, with some projects including stipends.
1. Time-Resolved Structural Studies of DsbA
Investigate the structural dynamics of DsbA, a key bacterial enzyme and drug target to fight antimicrobial resistance. You will prepare and analyse DsbA microcrystals to capture “molecular movies” of its activity, in collaboration with La Trobe and Monash.
2. Nanocrystals and Delivery Systems for Synchrotron Crystallography
Prepare and characterise nanocrystals to test new X-ray methods and new delivery methods (including tape-drive and microfluidics systems). The goal is to optimise data quality and push structure determination and time-resolved crystallography to their limits, in collaboration with RMIT and the Australian Synchrotron.
3. Serial Crystallography of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs)
Explore how serial crystallography can be applied to MOFs, porous materials with applications in gas storage, catalysis, and sensing (see Chemistry Nobel Prize 2025). This project combines structural chemistry with modern X-ray methods, in collaboration with UNSW and the Australian Synchrotron.
4. Radiation Damage in Microcrystal Screening and Fixed Targets
Investigate how X-ray-induced reactive species spread between microcrystals, causing “dark damage.” Using experiments or simulations (e.g. GEANT4), you will develop models to optimise dose distribution for in-tray crystal screening and fixed-target serial crystallography, with direct applications in drug discovery and time-resolved crystallography.
5. Computational and data-analysis projects
For students with a strong interest in coding, modelling, or data analysis, projects are available that focus purely on computational aspects of crystallography experiments, without lab work.
6. Structural Characterisation of SPL inhibitors
Investigate the binding interface of Sphingosine 1-Phosphate Lyase (SPL) against small molecule inhibitors, a key drug target against neurodegenerative diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis and Alzheimer’s Disease. You will express and purify SPL protein and use X-ray crystallography to solve the molecular structure of SPL-inhibitor bound complex.
Please indicate which projects you are interested in when contacting us, and enquire about possible Honours scholarships.
Undergrad / Capstone projects (or Summer / Winter holiday projects)
If you're interested in scientific computing and smaller projects (e.g. one semester), we might have opportunities for you too - either in our group or focused on a project defined by the Scientific Computing group at the Australian Synchrotron. email me for more info.
We have a computer science project on offer as a Computer Science Capstone or a Summer 2026 Project (and we may have funds available - please enquire via email)
7. Graphical user interface for visualising and querying large multi-dimensional datasets
The DatView GUI, initially developed for serial crystallography data analysis, offers powerful visualization and querying of tabulated datasets. This project aims to significantly improve its performance and broaden its applicability by improving memory efficiency and speed. Key goals: optimizing data loading (from text/HDF5 files), reducing memory consumption, accelerating data export, and enhancing the overall user experience. The student will investigate and implement solutions, potentially including code refactoring or exploring alternative languages (e.g. Julia), with a focus on creating a well-documented and optimized tool for diverse scientific data analysis.
Ideally, you will rewrite and optimise DatView in Julia, then extend it to new functionality to encompass emerging capabilities at the new MX beamline of the Australian Synchrotron (in tray screening, wedge data merging automation etc). This can be an Honours and Masters project, with suitable extensions in complexity. It would be eligible for ANSTO top-ups and connect you to the Scientific Computing folks at the Australian Synchrotron.
See https://doi.org/10.1107/S1600576719012044 and https://github.com/nstander/DatView
Top-up scholarships
Honours / Masters students: AINSE offers $5,000 to support Honours or Masters students working on AINSE sponsored experiments/data: https://www.ainse.edu.au/pathway/ Applications open December 2026, close March 2027.
PhD students: AINSE offers $9,000 per annum top up scholarships: https://www.ainse.edu.au/postgraduate/ Applications open February 2027, close April 2027. You are eligible to apply if funded by any PhD scholarship, when making significant use of ANSTO facilities.
PhD students (who are women & Australian citizens/permanent residents) can apply for up to 1 year of extra project funding through the Georgina Sweet Fellowship offered by the Australian Graduate Women Inc.
International students
Swinburne Partnered PhD program
Jointly enrol and be supervised at Swinburne and one of our international partner university or institutions:
You will have at least two supervisors (one from Swinburne and one from the international partner)
You will spend up to one year in Australia as part of your program.
For more information on these programs, including entry requirements and how to apply, email us at HDRINTPartnerships@swinburne.edu.au.
Swinburne Offshore PhD program
Spend up to 1 year in Australia while enrolled in a PhD program at Swinburne Sarawak or BRIN, Indonesia. Details and how to apply: https://www.swinburne.edu.au/courses/applying/how-to-apply-research-degree/offshore-phd-programs/
USA and Australia exchange
Funds scholarship for Masters and PhD students from USA studying in Australia, and from Australia studying in USA:
https://americanaustralian.org/scholarships/education-fund/specialty-field-scholarships/
American students looking for a change of scene: this exchange funds Masters and PhD students from the USA studying in Australia.
Germany
The DAAD program has some support for Australian students doing some research in Germany temporarily : https://www.daad-australia.org/en/find-funding/scholarships/
Before contacting us: read the project descriptions and tell us which project interests you, why, and how your background aligns. Emails that don't do this won't receive a reply.