Mechanistic analysis of retinoid signalling disruption during gonadal development

This PhD project “Mechanistic analysis of retinoid disruption during gonadal development” is one half of a jointly supervised, two-student collaboration between UQ and the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), funded under the UQ–DTU Collaborative PhD Supervision Program.

Endocrine disrupting chemicals threaten reproductive health, but international testing strategies focus largely on steroid hormone pathways. Retinoid signalling is essential for germ cell development and reproductive organ formation, and both the OECD and the European Commission have identified its disruption as an emerging area needing better mechanistic understanding.

Using transgenic mouse reporter lines and ex vivo gonad culture, you will identify the early molecular and cellular events that follow retinoid pathway disruption during sensitive developmental windows. Your work will guide chemical prioritisation and in vivo toxicology studies run by a counterpart PhD student at DTU, and together the two projects will build Adverse Outcome Pathways linking retinoid disruption to reproductive harm.

You will be jointly supervised by researchers at both institutions and will undertake a research stay of approximately six months at DTU in Copenhagen, training in reproductive toxicology, chemical prioritisation, QSAR modelling, and AOP development.

The student will be based in the Reproductive Development and Environmental Health group led by Dr Cassy Spiller in the School of Biomedical Sciences (SBMS) at UQ's St Lucia campus.

SBMS is one of Australia's leading biomedical research environments, with concentrated expertise across developmental biology, endocrinology, and physiology, and a large, collegial HDR cohort supported by structured training, seminar series, and student symposia.

The project draws on state-of-the-art core infrastructure, including advanced light and confocal microscopy and live imaging, histology, flow cytometry, and quantitative molecular analysis platforms. Transgenic mouse reporter lines and specialised gonadal developmental models are maintained through UQ Biological Resources.

Through the UQ–DTU Collaborative PhD Supervision Program, the student will also work within the research group for Molecular and Reproductive Toxicology at the DTU National Food Institute during a research stay of approximately six months, gaining access to internationally recognised expertise and infrastructure in chemical hazard identification, in vivo reproductive toxicology, and regulatory science, including Adverse Outcome Pathway development.

This project is supported by the Research project scholarship.

Learn more about the Research project scholarship.

Your application will be assessed on a competitive basis.

We take into account your:

• previous academic record
• publication record
• honours and awards
• employment history.

A working knowledge of molecular biology techniques (RNA/DNA extraction, qRT-PCR, cloning), fluorescence microscopy and immunostaining, and basic quantitative and statistical analysis would be of benefit to someone working on this project.

You will demonstrate academic achievement in the fields of developmental biology, cell and molecular biology, reproductive biology, physiology, genetics, and/or toxicology and the potential for scholastic success.

A background or knowledge of mouse models, ex vivo tissue culture, gonadal or germ cell development, endocrine disruption and toxicology, or image analysis, or handling of high-throughput screening datasets is highly desirable.

Eligibility

Applicants must meet UQ's entry requirements for admission to the Doctor of Philosophy, including English language proficiency, and be available to commence in RQ1 2027.

As a condition of the UQ–DTU Collaborative PhD Supervision Program, the successful applicant must undertake a research stay of approximately six months at the Technical University of Denmark, Copenhagen.

The project involves work with laboratory mice.

Open to domestic and international applicants. The scholarship may not be held concurrently with another primary living stipend scholarship.

You must submit an expression of interest (EOI) by 8 November, 2026 8 November, 2026.

Before you apply

1. Check your eligibility for the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
2. Prepare your documentation.
3. If you have any questions about whether the project is suitable for your research interests, contact Dr Cassy Spiller (c.spiller@uq.edu.au).

When you apply

To apply, submit an expression of interest (EOI) for the program. You don't need to apply separately for the project or scholarship. How to submit an EOI

In your EOI, complete the ‘Scholarship/Sponsorship’ section with the following details:

1. Are you applying for an advertised project: 'Yes'
2. Project: 'Research project scholarship'
3. Scholarship Code Listed in the Advertisement: RETINOID-SPILLER
4. Link to Scholarship Advertisement: https://study.uq.edu.au/study-options/phd-mphil-professional-doctorate/projects/mechanistic-analysis-retinoid-signalling-disruption-during-gonadal-development

Submit an EOI