Research opportunities
Have a rewarding and challenging time at the University of Melbourne with our broad range of postgraduate and postdoctoral opportunities.
Find a supervisor or a research project
If you're intending to apply for the Master of Science (BioSciences) or a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in BioSciences, use this directory to find supervisors and research projects arranged by research theme.
Biochemistry and cell biology
Find supervisors specialised in:
- Receptor and membrane biology
- Cellular interactions
- Structural biology
- Proteomics
- Cellular development
Ecology
Find supervisors specialised in:
- Population ecology
- Biosecurity science and invasive species ecology
- Evolutionary ecology
- Conservation and biodiversity
- Marine biology.
Genetics
Find supervisors specialised in:
- Developmental genetics
- Population and quantitative genetics
- Evolutionary genetics
- Genomics
- Molecular evolution
Biotechnology
Find supervisors specialised in:
- Agricultural biotechnology
- Industrial biotechnology
- Medical biotechnology
- Environmental biotechnology
Other biological sciences
Find supervisors specialised in:
- Biology education
- Pollution impact and management
Other Masters supervisors
If you're pursuing a Master of Science (BioSciences), you can also work with relevant supervisors and projects from the School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences (SAFES) and the Melbourne Veterinary School (MVS).
You can also find supervisors and projects in the University via the Find an Expert directory.
Frequently asked questions
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Before contacting a potential supervisor, look carefully at the type of research they do. Read through:
- the information they've provided about their projects (see above)
- their own research website and/or
- their recent publications on Google Scholar
Approach potential supervisors in research areas that interest you and discuss projects on offer. When you email a potential supervisor, please include:
- Your Statement of Results – you can find these in your Results page in my.unimelb
- An arranged time to meet on Zoom or in person when the opportunity is available.
Most supervisors take on only one or two students per year, so our intake is competitive and places are limited. Take time to discuss the available projects; it is important that you choose an area of research that interests you.
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Once you have identified your supervisor and project, complete this form and include in your MSc/Hons application. We recommend having the supervisor/s sign to quicken the application process.
Masters of Science and Honours supervision form
(DOCX 71.8 KB)It may be that some potential supervisors cannot make a commitment at this time. You may therefore include several potential supervisors.
Successful applicants will be notified in December, and all applicants will be advised of the outcomes of their applications by the end of January.
In some cases, particularly if external partners are involved, negotiations for projects can continue and additional offers will be made until the end of February. Some supervisors may also offer a project that has a mid-year start date, as this better suits the fieldwork requirement for the research.
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Master of Science (BioSciences) Coordinator
Dr Michael MurrayHonours Coordinator
Dr Simon Baxter