PhD positions | rajan-hku

August 22, 2023

PhD positions in the Oyster Hatchery at The University of Hong Kong (HKU)

Two fully funded PhD positions are available at Hong Kong Oyster Hatchery and Innovation Research Unit (HKO_HIRU) of HKU. We have secured >10 Million HKD from SFDF grant of Hong Kong government, GRF grant of Research Grant Council and Knowledge Exchange research grant from Lee Kum Kee Co., Ltd., for the innovative and impactful research project related to oyster aquaculture. As part of these projects, we are recruiting two PhD students.

General Qualifications: We are seeking undergraduate or Master degree students with any science related subjects with relevant experience and interest with honors degree or degree with outstanding academic records (e.g. GPA >3.6/4 or 4.5/5 if only UG degree or GPA >3/4 or 3.8/5 in UG if apply with master degree).

Research Direction:

1. Digital Breeding: You will be using variety of digital phenotypic data (images) and Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) markers to correlate with commercial traits to evaluate breeding values of wild and hatchery populations using big data and machine learning tools. We have established collaborations with relevant experts to provide the student adequate training to kick start this impactful and innovative project.

2. Environmental Proteomics: You will study how climate change induced carbonate system variability and salinity are interactively affecting production of stress response bioactive peptides in oyster blood such as antioxidants and antimicrobial peptides (specifically “Peptidomics”) using the power of multi-dimensional mass spectrophotometry analyses. These peptides are expected to have commercial value as natural health supplements. Interest and study experience in biochemistry is important. The student will be co-supervised by HKU’s proteomics expert, Prof Ivan Chu.

Scholarship is HK$18,390 per month. For further details about scholarships and PhD study details of HKU’s, please visit the web page. Applicants from the world’s top 100 universities with high GPA – could try HKPF or HKU’s presidential scholarships – these awardees will receive a $27,600 per month as scholarship.

For more details, please visit this link. Our lab is part of SWIMS and School of Biological Sciences of HKU. The successful applicants are expected to work in an interdisciplinary environment as a team with academics, government, oyster growers and aquaculture industry. How to apply: Please send your query or CV to Rajan via Email:rajan@hku.hk or WhatsApp: 852-95757923 or WeChat: wxid_s610q4iljvdu22. If interested and eligible, apply as soon as possible. We continue search until a suitable candidate is identified.

V. Thiyagarajan (Rajan)

Director, Hong Kong Oyster Hatchery and Innovation Research Unit

Assistant Dean (Experiential Learning) and Associate Professor

The Swire Institute of Marine Science and School of Biological Sciences