Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Biological Sciences
Undertake a PhD in Biological Sciences at Flinders
Delve into the intricacies of life: past, present or future
- Explore how kangaroos evolved and why some of their ancestors became extinct.
- Work to restore endangered native fish species from the Murray-Darling Basin.
- Find novel antibiotics to combat multi-drug resistance microbes.
- Make crop plants that are more resilient to the effects of climate change.
- Develop new DNA based technology to detect and prosecute criminals.
Undertake a Biological Sciences research-based higher degree at Flinders, and you’ll have the opportunity to explore some of the biggest unanswered questions of our time.
I am an
International Student
Australia or New Zealand.
I am a
Domestic Student
I'm an Australian Permanent Resident
(including Humanitarian Visa holders).
Why undertake a PhD in Biological Sciences at Flinders
- Complete your research under the supervision of nationally and internationally recognised scientists.
- Rated ‘Well above world standard’ in Evolutionary Biology and Plant Biology in the 2018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) assessment.
- Apply your research to the real world with Flinders’ expansive network of industry, government and scientific partners.
- Utilise advanced equipment at Flinders Microscopy and Microanalysis or work in our purpose-built palaeontology laboratory.
- Boost your expertise and career prospects, and become an expert in your area of specialisation.
PhD opportunities
With the guidance of an expert supervisor, take the opportunity to leverage Flinders’ extensive industry and government connections.
Your chosen research area is flexible, and ultimately agreed between you and your supervisor. Areas of focus could include:
- Animal Behaviour
- Aquaculture
- Biodiversity and Conservation
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
- Environmental Health
- Forensic Science
- Marine Biology
- Molecular Biosciences
- Palaeontology
- Plant Biotechnology
- Or another area of interest in consultation with your supervisor.
Breathe life into your career, immerse yourself in a field you’re passionate about, and positively impact the future with a PhD in Biological Sciences.
Hear about Antoine Champreux's thesis
Your career
A PhD in Biological Sciences will position you as an expert in your area of specialisation. A PhD is a stepping stone to professional research or as a highly sought-after expert in the private or public sector in Australia or internationally. This prestigious degree will equip you with valuable skills in communications, time management and organisation transferrable to any role.
Potential occupations include:
- Professional researcher
- Consultant or advisor
- Science writer
- Environmental Scientist
- Biochemist
- Forensic Scientist
- Food scientist or technologist
- Academic
- Policy and strategy consultant
Potential employers include:·
- CSIRO
- SA Water
- The South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI)
- Primary Industries and Regions South Australia (PIRSA)
- Department for Environment and Water
- Research centres
- Universities
- Public sector
- Private corporations
Research Centres, Consortiums and Institutes
Flinders Biofilm Research and Innovation Consortium
The Flinders Biofilm Research and Innovation Consortium uses multidisciplinary expertise to develop innovative solutions and provide better controls of problematic biofilms. Their knowledge and expertise is relevant to many industries such as desalination and membranes, medical implants, beverage and food, water and wastewater, renewable energy, biosecurity, maritime and mining. Flinders biofilm researchers study environmental, industrial and medical biofilms. The consortium has access to a suite of instruments that allow for advanced studies of biofilms in different environments and you will work on challenges related to biofouling.
Marine and Coastal research consortium
The Marine and Coastal Research Consortium brings together complementary skills in ecology, geomorphology, engineering, archaeology, genomics and oceanography to develop integrated scientific solutions. This group works with government, industry, and community partners to help plan and guide research in directions that maximise benefits to marine and coastal stakeholders. Their research program includes a broad scope of all aspects of life, environment and human relationships with the sea to form a rich centre for marine, coastal and maritime studies that includes Organisms & Ecosystems, Physical & Cultural Environments and Seafood Production & Sustainability.
Potential research supervisors
Flinders academic staff are recognised experts in their specialised Biological Sciences fields. They are embedded in real-world applications of research, with extensive knowledge, networks and industry partners to support PhD students and deliver exciting and valuable research outcomes. Get in touch with a supervisor of your choice today, to discuss your area of interest, and start on your path to thought leadership.
Associate Professor Vera Weisbecker
Professor Corey Bradshaw
Professor John Long
Dr Sunita Ramesh
Dr Harriet Whiley
| Professor Adrian Linacre | Forensic DNA, forensic investigations, forensic science |
| Dr Bart Eijelkamp |
Acinetobacter baumannii, antibiotic resistance, childhood nutrition, infectious diseases, membranes, metals |
| Professor Catherine Abbott | Biochemistry of fish nutrition, breath analysis, cancer biology, dipeptidyl peptidases, marine bioprospecting |
| Professor Melissa Brown | Antimicrobials, molecular biology, microbiology |
| Associate Professor Peter Anderson | Biochemistry, molecular biology, plant biology |
| Associate Professor Peter Speck | Bacteriophage therapy, viruses |
| Dr Sunita Ramesh | Abiotic stress tolerance, volatile signalling |
| Professor Kathleen Soole | Biochemistry, molecular biology, plant biology and stress |
| Associate Professor Charlie Huveneers |
Animal behaviour, bioacoustics, fisheries sustainability, marine animals, marine park planning, sharks and rays, biology, sharks, rays and chimaeras, conservation |
| Professor Corey Bradshaw | Community ecology, ecological sustainability, energy security, palaeo-ecology and palaeo-climate |
| Professor Elizabeth Dinsdale | Molecular ecology, coral reefs, kelp forest ecosystems, microbial communities, sharks |
| Associate Professor Guido Parra Vergara | Animal behaviour, conservation biology, dolphins, behaviour, ecology and evolution, whales, behaviour, ecology and evolution |
| Professor Robert Edwards | Phage genomes, bioinformatics, molecular ecology, microbial genomes |
| Professor James Stangoulis | Analytical chemistry, biochemistry and molecular biology of plant nutrition, genetically modified plants, plant biology |
| Professor Jian Qin | Algae, aquaculture, ecology, fish nutrition, zooplankton |
| Professor Jim Mitchell |
Bioinformatics, biological oceanography, biomechanics, environmental biotechnology and biodiversity, microbial ecology, microbiology |
| Professor Sabine Dittmann | Ecosystem ecology, ecology, marine biology, marine ecology |
| Professor Sonia Kleindorfer | Animal behaviour, birds, bioacoustics and communication, facial recognition software, prenatal monitoring, development and individual differences, host-parasite biology, transcriptomics, biodiversity conservation |
| Dr Diane Colombelli-Négrel | Animal behaviour, birds, seabirds, penguins, prenatal monitoring & development, bioacoustics and communication, conservation, urban ecology and biodiversity facial recognition, conservation physiology |
| Associate Professor Luciana Moller | Behavioural ecology, conservation management, molecular ecology, cetaceans |
| Professor Luciano Beheregaray | Conservation genomics, biogeography, ecological genomics, aquatic animals, molecular ecology, restoration genomics, phylogeography, conservation biology, fishes, landscape genomics |
| Dr Martin Breed | Restoration ecology, planetary health, microbiomes, conservation biology, population genomics, molecular ecology, restoration genomics |
| Associate Professor Michael Schwarz | Bees, evolution, evolution and conservation |
| Associate Professor Mike Gardner | Animal ecology, lizards, sleepy lizards, ticks, host-parasite interactions, lizard conservation, ecology and behaviour, molecular ecology, molecular evolution |
| Professor Mike Lee | Bayesian analysis in time series or bioinformatics, biogeography, cambrian explosion, evolution, herpetology, macroevolution, palaeobiology, palaeontology, phylogenetics, systematics, vertebrate palaeontology |
| Associate Professor Sophie Leterme | Biological oceanography, desalination, effects on marine environments, diatoms, ecosystem dynamics, environmental impact assessment, environmental microbiology, membranes and biofilms, phytoplankton |
| Associate Professor Jochen Kaempf | Coastal marine & estuarine Processes, upwelling ecosystems, Physical-biological interactions |
| Professor Karen Burke Da Silva | Clownfish, dogs, ecology, evolution, higher education, marine biology, microplastics and koalas |
| Dr Jacqueline Nguyen | Birds, evolution, systematics, vertebrate palaeontology |
| Associate Professor Vera Weisbecker | Marsupial mammal diversity, development and evolution, vertebrate palaeontology |
| Professor Gavin Prideaux | Mammal evolution, vertebrate palaeontology |
| Professor John Long | Early fish and tetrapod evolution, evolution of the early vertebrate body plan, palaeontology, advanced imaging techniques, vertebrate palaeontology |
| Associate Professor Trevor Worthy | Birds, geological and fossil heritage, vertebrate palaeontology |
| Dr Harriet Whiley | Biofilms, campylobacter spp, drinking water treatment, environmental health, environmental microbiology, food microbiology, food policy, food policy and regulation, legionella longbeachae, legionella pneumophila, microbial ecology, microbiology, molecular biology, mycobacterium avium, potting mix, public health, salmonella spp, water distribution systems, water quality, water reuse |
| Professor Howard Fallowfield | Drinking water treatment, environmental microbiology, health aspects of water quality, wastewater pond technology |
| Associate Professor Kirstin Ross | Education, environmental health, engaging with communities, environmental health, environmental health education and workforce, Indigenous communities, parasites |
How to apply
Review the course rule
Submit your application
How to apply
Review the course rule
Submit your application
Enquire now
If you have a question about how to apply, please review our Frequently Asked Questions before submitting an enquiry.
For all other course enquiries phone, email or complete the enquiry form.
Office of Graduate Research
Phone: (08) 8201 5893
Email: hdr.admissions@flinders.edu.au.
Enquire now
If you have a question about how to apply, please review our Frequently Asked Questions before submitting an enquiry.
For all other course enquiries phone, email or complete the enquiry form.
Office of Graduate Research
Phone: (08) 8201 5893
Email: hdr.admissions@flinders.edu.au.
Sturt Rd, Bedford Park
South Australia 5042
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