Microbial ecology and control of opportunistic pathogens in drinking water systems

Opportunistic pathogens (OPs) such as Legionella spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are major causes of waterborne disease outbreaks. These pathogens are particularly concerning as a cause of hospital and healthcare facility-acquired infections and disease outbreaks, linked to the persistent biofilms that present in premise plumbing systems (i.e. taps and showerheads). The project will involve developing and applying a range of antimicrobial agents/treatments to assess their effectiveness for the selective removal of opportunistic pathogens in biofilms, such as Legionella spp. and NTM. These will be applied to various biofilm models, ranging from constructed biofilms in reactors to real mature drinking water pipe biofilms. This project expects to further improve the understanding of OPs, their occurrence and microbial ecology in drinking water systems. Findings from this project would improve on existing water treatment strategies and management in healthcare facilities.

This multi-disciplinary project intersects the research fields of microbiology, environmental engineering, and environmental biotechnology. These are areas of research strength at UQ. In all three ERA assessment rounds, UQ was ranked first in the nation in Environmental Engineering and Environmental Biotechnology.

The successful applicant will be based at the Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, located at The University of Queensland’s St Lucia campus. ACWEB at UQ is one of the top research centres worldwide in innovative water science and technology. ACWEB has an annual budget of $8-10M with the majority of funding sourced from competitive schemes including the ARC. ACWEB publishes 100+ papers annually in high-quality international peer-reviewed journals, including Science and Nature.

The successful applicant will have access to the research facilities in ACWEB’s PC2-certified Environmental Microbiology Laboratory. They will also have access to complementary facilities at St Lucia, such as flow cytometry, confocal laser scanning microscopy and electron microscopy.

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 practical experience in bacterial or protozoan cultivation skills and techniques, molecular biology, microbial ecology, and environmental engineering would be of benefit to someone working on this project.

You will demonstrate academic achievement in the field/s of environmental microbiology, microbiology, molecular biology, environmental engineering or science and the potential for scholastic success.

A background or knowledge of microbiology is essential, and a background or knowledge of environmental microbiology with a focus on water is highly desirable.

Before you apply

Before submitting an application you should:

1. check your eligibility for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
2. prepare your documentation
3. contact Professor Jianhua Guo (j.guo1@uq.edu.au) to discuss your interest and suitability
4. submit your application by 5 May, 2025 5 May, 2025.

When you apply

You apply for this scholarship when you submit an application for your program. You don’t need to submit a separate scholarship application.

In your application ensure that under the ‘Scholarships and collaborative study’ section you select:

• ‘My higher degree is not collaborative’
• ‘I am applying for, or have been awarded a scholarship or sponsorship'
• ‘Other’, then ‘Research Project Scholarship’ and in the ‘Name of scholarship’ field enter MICROBIAL-GUO.

Apply now