Postgraduate research opportunities

Various research opportunities for potential PhD/Master’s (research) students are available within JCSMHS and school associated platform, namely SEACO. The list below shows a non-exhaustive list of the research projects our researchers are undertaking. You may contact the respective researcher to discuss about the research opportunity or write in to mum-jcsmhs.grdegrees@monash.edu for information on admissions.

PhD

No.	Supervisor	Tentative Title of Project / Area of Research	Minimum Eligibility for PhD Admission	Grant Funded
1	Prof Tin Tin Su Dr Jessica Watterson Dr Darwin Gouwanda	Climate change and Health Impact Monitoring through eHealth at SEACO (CHIMES)	Candidates must meet the minimum admission requirements (academic and English language proficiency) for the research degree. In general, this is equivalent to a high distinction average (H1/H1E or 1st Class Honours as per Faculty’s and Monash’s assessment at admission) from a recognized university.	CHIMES
2	Prof Tin Tin Su Assoc Prof Dr Quek Kia Fatt Dr Jeevitha Mariapun	Longitudinal analysis of the clustering and transition of cardio-vascular disease risk factors among community dwellers <Public health, Non Communicable Diseases, epidemiology>	H2A / CGPA> 3 /WAM >70%	N/A
3	Prof Tin Tin Su Dr Nowrozy Jahan	The identification of causes of death among non-medically certified deaths in Malaysia using verbal autopsy <Public health, social epidemiology>	H2A / CGPA> 3 /WAM >70%	N/A
4	Goh Pei Hwa	Sexuality and wellbeing among young adults in Malaysia	H2A / CGPA> 3 /WAM >70%	N/A
5	Goh Pei Hwa Adriana Ortega	Technology use and romantic relationship functioning	H2A / CGPA> 3 /WAM >70%	N/A
6	Assoc Prof Shamsul Haque	Autobiographical memory, identity and mental health	H2A / CGPA> 3 /WAM >70%	N/A
7	Assoc Prof Shamsul Haque	Trauma, memory and mental health among forcefully displaced population	H2A / CGPA> 3 /WAM >70%	N/A
8	Assoc Prof Shamsul Haque	Construction of autobiographical memories within the self-memory system	H2A / CGPA> 3 /WAM >70%	N/A
9	Prof Dato’ Dr Khalid Bin Abdul Kadir	The effects of Tocotreinol rich Vitamin E derived from palm oil in primary diabetes prevention and in ameliorating the complications of diabetes: clinical and biochemical studies.* *Please contact the supervisor for more details	H2A / CGPA> 3 /WAM >70%	FRGS Grant and support from Malaysian Palm Oil Board and Pharmaceutical Companies
10	Prof Ammu K Radhakrishnan	Epigenetic changes induced in leucocytes following daily supplementation of human milk oligosaccharide and tocotrienols using a mouse model of tetanus toxoid vaccination *Please contact the supervisor for more details	H2A / CGPA> 3 /WAM >70%	Grant Funded
11	Prof Ammu K Radhakrishnan	Comparative transcriptomic and proteomic analyses of three-dimensional multicellular breast tumour spheroids following treatment with tocotrienols. *Please contact the supervisor for more details	H2A / CGPA> 3 /WAM >70%	N/A
12	Prof Ammu K Radhakrishnan	Comparative study of the effects of consuming major edible oils on health *Please contact the supervisor for more details	H2A / CGPA> 3 /WAM >70%	N/A
13	Prof Ammu K Radhakrishnan	Discovery of biomarkers of following supplementation of tocotrienols in two human glioblastoma cells using quantitative proteomics profiling strategies *Please contact the supervisor for more details	H2A / CGPA> 3 /WAM >70%	N/A
14	Prof Ammu K Radhakrishnan Dr T Valliammai Jayanthi	Evaluating the potential of daily supplementation of vitamin E from palm oil to improve sperm health and quality *Please contact the supervisor for more details	H2A / CGPA> 3 /WAM >70%	N/A
15	Prof Ammu K Radhakrishnan	Effects of eight-week probiotic supplementation on epigenetics changes in host immune system and psychophysiology parameters among athletes: A Randomised Control trial *Please contact the supervisor for more details	H2A / CGPA> 3 /WAM >70%	Grant Funded
16	Prof Ammu K Radhakrishnan Assoc Prof Uma Devi Palanisamy	Elucidating the role of long non-coding RNA in development of breast cancer *Please contact the supervisor for more details	H2A / CGPA> 3 /WAM >70%	N/A
17	Prof Iekhsan Othman Dr Syafiq Asnawi Assoc Prof Rakesh Naidu	Identification of antigenic proteins from the venom of Malaysian venomous snakes using tandem mass spectrometry <Antivenom/ Alternative Antivenom Studies>	H2A / CGPA> 3 /WAM >70%	N/A
18	Prof Iekhsan Othman Dr Syafiq Asnawi Assoc Prof Rakesh Naidu Dr Md Farooq Shaikh	Preliminary investigation on the potential anti-venom activity from Malaysian common herbs and medicinal plant on the venom of Malaysian venomous snakes <Antivenom/ Alternative Antivenom Studies>	H2A / CGPA> 3 /WAM >70%	N/A
19	Prof Iekhsan Othman Dr Syafiq Asnawi Assoc Prof Rakesh Naidu	Comprehensive Proteomics Analysis of Malaysian Venomous Snakes Using Multiple Chromatography Techniques and Tande Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) <Snake Venom Proteomics (Venomics)>	H2A / CGPA> 3 /WAM >70%	N/A
20	Dr Md Farooq Shaikh Dr Syafiq Asnawi Prof Iekhsan Othman	Investigation of the anticonvulsive effect of the venom from Malaysian venomous snakes (Malaysian pit vipers and Malaysian cobras) <Neurodegenerative Diseases/Alzheimers’>	H2A / CGPA> 3 /WAM >70%	N/A
21	Assoc Prof Rakesh Naidu Dr Syafiq Asnawi Prof Iekhsan Othman	Cytotoxic activities of cytotoxin from Malaysian cobra venom in human colon cancer cells <Anticancer>	H2A / CGPA> 3 /WAM >70%	N/A
22	Professor Dr Md Ezharul Hoque Chowdhury	Oral nano-insulin formulations to control blood sugar level in diabetic rats	H2A / CGPA> 3 /WAM >70%	N/A
23	Main Supervisor: Assoc Prof Rakesh Naidu Co-Supervisor: Prof Iekhsan Othman	Anti-Cancer Activity and Molecular Mechanism of Selected Diarylpentanoids in Human Cancer Cells	H2A / CGPA> 3 /WAM >70%	N/A
24	Main Supervisor: Assoc Prof Rakesh Naidu Co-Supervisor: Prof Iekhsan Othman	Chemosensitisation Effects and Mechanisms of Action of Curcumin against Selected Chemotherapeutic drugs in Human Cancer Cells.	H2A / CGPA> 3 /WAM >70%	N/A
25	Assoc Prof Dr Lee Learn Han Dr Vengadesh Letchumanan	Synthesis and expression of Streptomyces-derived novel anti-MRSA protein for in vitro and in vivo studies	H2A / CGPA> 3 /WAM >70%	FRGS Grant
26	Assoc Prof Dr Lee Learn Han Dr Vengadesh Letchumanan	Molecular characterization, virulence determinants and antibiotic resistance mediation of Vibrio species: an emerging trend detected in seafood	H2A / CGPA> 3 /WAM >70%	US-FDA International Collaboration, National Industry Grant
27	Assoc Prof Tomoko Soga Prof Ishwar Parhar	Identification of novel neuronal Factor in the Habenula Neurons during Social Stress *Please contact the supervisor for more details	H2A / CGPA> 3 /WAM >70%	N/A
28	Assoc Prof Tomoko Soga Prof Ishwar Parhar	Serotonergic - Spexin Interactions in Social Hierarchy *Please contact the supervisor for more details	H2A / CGPA> 3 /WAM >70%	N/A
29	Dr Farooq Shaikh Dr Saatheyavanee	Embelin-Poloxamer conjugate as a synergistic combination for neurodegenerative diseases	H2A / CGPA> 3 /WAM >70%	N/A
30	Dr Farooq Shaikh Dr. Vinod Balasubramaniam	Role of gut microbiome in epilepsy associated depression.	H2A / CGPA> 3 /WAM >70%	N/A
31	Main Supervisor: Dr Devi Mohan Co-Supervisor: Prof Tin Tin Su	Atrial fibrillation and all-cause mortality among community dwelling older adults	H2A / CGPA> 3 /WAM >70%	N/A
32	Main Supervisor: Dr Devi Mohan Co-supervisors: Prof Tin Tin Su Dr Narelle Warren	Structural vulnerability and dementia outcomes in rural Malaysia	H2A / CGPA> 3 /WAM >70%	N/A
33	Main Supervisor: Assoc Prof Arkendu Sen Co-Supervisor: Assoc Prof Lakshmi Selvaratnam	Design Development and Impact of Augmented and Virtual reality objects for Medical skills learning	H2A / CGPA> 3 /WAM >70%	N/A
34	Dr Vinod Balasubramaniam (Monash) Prof Wong Kum Thong (UM) Assoc Prof Ong Kien Chai (UM) Dr Tan Soon Hao (UM)	Development of an EV-D68 animal model	H2A / CGPA> 3 /WAM >70%	N/A
35	Dr Vinod Balasubramaniam Prof Wong Kum Thong (UM) Assoc Prof Ong Kien Chai (UM) Dr. Tan Soon Hao (UM) Prof Sharmili (UPM)	Transcriptomics of IPSC derived neuronal cells upon infection with neurotropic viruses	H2A / CGPA> 3 /WAM >70%	N/A
36	Prof Ammu K Radhakrishnan Assoc Prof Uma Devi Palanisamy Dr Badariah Ahmad	Immune modulation mechanisms in healthy human volunteers following influenza vaccination and daily supplementation palm tocotrienol-rich fraction	H2A / CGPA> 3 /WAM >70%	N/A
37	Prof Ammu K Radhakrishnan Assoc Prof Uma Devi Palanisamy Dr Premdass Ramdas (IMU)	A spheroid-based pre-clinical model of human breast cancer: unravelling the effects of tocotrienol isoforms and anti-cancer drugs (e.g. tamoxifen, paclitaxel)	H2A / CGPA> 3 /WAM >70%	Yes (FRGS by Dr. Premdass)
38	Prof Ammu K Radhakrishnan Assoc Prof Uma Devi Palanisamy Dr Premdass Ramdas (IMU)	Evaluating Anti-Cancer Effects of Tocotrienols on human cancer cell lines (e.g. colon cancer and pancreatic cancer) and elucidate the mechanisms of Actions: A cell-based and in silico Study	H2A / CGPA> 3 /WAM >70%	N/A
39	Prof Ammu K Radhakrishnan Dr Saatheeyavaane Dr Sitti Rahma Abdul Hafid (MPOB)	Evaluating the effects of tocotrienol supplementation in TWIST1/SATB1 knockdown 4T1 murine mammary cancer cells using a cell-based and syngeneic mouse model of breast cancer	H2A / CGPA> 3 /WAM >70%	N/A
40	Main Supervisor: Dr Rachel Ting Sing Kiat Associate: Prof Maude Phipps Prof Tin Tin Su Dr Adriana Ortega Dr Loganathan Krishnan Dr Min Min Tan	Orang Asli (Indigenous people in Malaysia) healthcare and well-being	H2A / CGPA> 3 /WAM >70%	N/A
41	Dr Satoshi Ogawa Prof Ishwar Parhar Assoc Prof Sivakumar A/L Thurairajasingam Assoc Prof Zurina Binti Hassan (USM)	Mechanistic insights into the role of an orphan receptor, GPR139 and kratom-derived alkaloid (mitragynine) in modulating the anti-addictive effect	H2A / CGPA> 3 /WAM >70%	FRGS (2021–23)

Masters

No.	Supervisor	Tentative Title of Project / Area of Research	Minimum Eligibility for Master Admission	Grant Funded
1	Prof Maude Phipps	Deciphering the Genomics and Adaptation to Dive-Induced Hypoxia in Sea Nomads of South East Asia.	H2B /WAM >65%	FRGS Grant
2	Assoc Prof Shamsul Haque	The role of laboratory generated schema in the recall of event memories	H2B /WAM >65%	N/A
3	Prof Iekhsan Othman Dr Syafiq Asnawi	Proteomic characterization of the venom from Malaysian commonly found jellyfish <Jellyfish Venom>	H2B /WAM >65%	N/A
4	Professor Dr Md Ezharul Hoque Chowdhury	Silencing expression of growth factor receptors and key enzymes of major energy metabolism pathways in breast cancer cells	H2B /WAM >65%	FRGS Grant
5	Dr Satoshi Ogawa Dr Teo Chuin Hau Prof Ishwar Parhar	Machine Learning of Kisspeptin Circadian Rhythmicity in the Zebrafish Habenula	H2B /WAM >65%	N/A
6	Dr Satoshi Ogawa Prof Ishwar Parhar Dr Siew Ying Mok (UTAR)	Role of GPR139 in cognitive impairment and its potential link with schizophrenia	H2B /WAM >65%	FRGS Grant (till 2022)

More about the postgraduate and research programs at JCSMHS