Children's Cancer Research Unit

Student Opportunities

The Children's Cancer Research Unit (CCRU) has exciting projects available for enthusiastic Honours and PhD candidates.

Projects

Students who work in our unit have the opportunity to work with a wide variety of researchers covering a broad spectrum of cancer research, from fundamental aspects of cancer development and progression to translational research with patient material, and clinical trials. There are opportunities available in each of our research programs. Visit the research group web pages to find out more information about each program:

• Cancer Gene Therapy
• Focal Adhesion Biology
• Molecular Oncology
• Neuroblastoma Research
• Paediatric Tumour Bank and Molecular Diagnostics

Facilities and environment

• Our unit is well-funded both by external peer-reviewed grants and generous donor support. Most students are awarded scholarships for their PhD candidatures, including PhD scholar awards from the Cancer Institute of New South Wales.
• Students typically enrol through the University of Sydney's Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, which currently has more than 70 enrolled post-graduate research students. The Discipline provides outstanding support for postgraduate students, including an annual student conference and professional development series.
• The Kids Research Iinstitute research office provides excellent support for researchers, including a senior microscopist, IT support and dedicated animal house.
• We have access to additional shared infrastructure and facilities through the adjacent Children's Medical Research Institute and the Westmead Millennium Institute/Westmead Institute for Cancer Research.

   

How to Apply

Potential students are encouraged to contact the CCRU group leader whose research interests you. Please be sure to include a brief up-to-date CV, including details of academic record.

Honours Students

Contact the group leader from September in the year preceding the planned Honours year. Each group leader has affiliation with University Honours programs and successful applicants will complete their Honours degree through these programs. We encourage students with an excellent undergraduate record to apply (minimum credit average).

Higher Degree

Contact the group leader in the year preceding the planned post-graduate studies. All students studying with the CCRU are required to apply for student scholarships, and an early start to the process will help potential students have their applications ready in time. Students with either very good Honours (minimum high 2nd division, Class 1) or equivalent (previous research experience with clearly demonstrated excellent research productivity) are encouraged to apply.

Announcing Postgraduate Student Scholar Award, The Col Reynolds Research Scholar Award in Paediatric Cancer Research

A full-time postgraduate scholar award is available in the Children's Cancer Research Unit for candidates with a first class honours degree in science to undertake research studies leading to a PhD; research in the unit focuses on tumours of childhood and adolescence that have a poor patient prognosis; applicants must be Australian citizens or permanent residents or New Zealand citizens; $30,000pa ($5,000 Scholar 'top-up' and $25,000 for research project materials and travel); up to three years. Uptake of this award is contingent on the student securing a primary competitive research scholarship (eg. APA or UPA), through the Children's Cancer Research Unit. Closing Date: October 6, 2009

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