Undergraduates / Honours Students - thinking of postgraduate research in the future? If you are enrolled at a University in Australia or New Zealand, you can apply for a Summer Research Scholarship at The Australian National University. This is an exceptional research opportunity where you will be able to work with leading academics in your field.

Projects for summer scholars are available in immunology, neuroscience, genetics, molecular biology and biochemistry. Further information on some of the laboratories hosting summer scholars over the 2009/10 summer is available below.

The structural elucidation of biomolecules such as peptides, proteins and drug compounds form the basis of understanding the function of many biological systems. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy used in conjunction with kinetic and molecular biology techniques provides the means by which the structure-function relationship of targeted biomolecules are explored.

Dr M Casarotto

When the cells of the immune system detect an infection or injury, they respond by undergoing dramatic changes in their gene expression profiles. These changes in gene expression are crucial for mounting a successful immune response and clearing the pathogen or dealing with the injury. There are many layers of control that operate in the cell nucleus to orchestrate the correct patterns of gene expression. Research in the laboratory focuses on the interplay between two of these layers; chromatin structure and inducible transcription factors. Of specific interest is the role of the NF-kB family of transcription factors in mediating changes in chromatin structure. These studies are directly relevant to cancer, autoimmunity and transplantation.

Prof M F Shannon

Understanding genotype-phenotype correlations in mammalian systems, including humans, with an emphasis on developing new ways to examine inter-individual variation using genome-wide functional data.

Dr R Williams

We study the brains of rodents in order to understand how synapses operate and how synaptic signals are added together to generate the flow of information in the central nervous system. We work in two main areas: (1) the primary olfactory cortex, with the aim of understanding how the brain recognises and remembers odours, and (2) hippocampal cultures, in order to study fundamental questions about synaptic transmission. The techniques we use include patch clamping (in cultures, in brain slices, and 'in vivo'), fluorescence microscopy, molecular biology, and computer modelling.

A. Prof J Bekkers

Mechanisms of axonal signalling: Nerve cells of the brain are connected by axons. To encode information action potential signals are generated within the axon, and transmitted via rate and temporal patterns. An understanding of the action potential properties within individual neurons is therefore a prerequisite to understand how neuronal networks transmit and store information. In our lab we use a novel approach of patch-clamp and/or imaging techniques in brain slices (in vitro) to study the elementary steps of action potential initiation and propagation within cortical myelinated axons of single and connected neurons of the cortex. Research projects are available to further identify the role of voltage-gated channels in axonal signalling or to study the properties of axon signalling during epilepsy.

Dr M Kole

The Ramaciotti Immunisation Genomics Laboratory is part of the Immunogenomics Laboratory headed by Prof. Chris Goodnow. By studying novel mouse strains with defects in the immune response to immunisations we try to understand what genes control these responses and the generation of immunological memory. The techniques we use included various molecular and cellular immunology technologies like ELISA to measure the antigen specific response or FACS analysis of various lymphocyte populations.

Dr A Enders

Molecular mechanisms of ion channel function. The ligand-gated ion channels combine the functionalities of a receptor and an ion channel in a single protein, and mediate fast synaptic signalling in the central nervous system. We endeavour to understand the function of these multi-subunit protein complexes from the perspective of a protein chemist, in both native and model systems. Recombinant expression systems are used for both the functional analysis of intact receptors in host cells and also structural studies of soluble domains. The study of native receptors in neurons involves the use of electrophysiology, confocal microscopy, qRT-PCR and siRNA gene expression knockdown. The study of model receptors includes the use of electrophysiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, confocal and electron microscopy and x-ray crystallography. The functional studies are focused on GABAA receptors with an emphasis on drug modulation and receptor clustering while structural studies include additional members of this protein family. Summer projects for 2008/9: 1. Protein interactions in GABA-A receptors: recombinant expression and protein interaction studies. 2. Variation in specific GABA-A gene transcript levels in response to allergic challenges and drug regimes.

Dr ML Tierney

Regulation of variant chromatin during differentiation and development: To reconstruct in vitro, the in vivo process that remodels the structure of chromatin to allow transcription factor binding and the subsequent formation of a functional transcription complex. The experimental approach involves combining, in vitro, a chromatin assembly system with a transcription system. The role of individual chromatin assembly components (including histone variants, histone acetylation, HMG proteins, architectural transcription factors) in the transcriptional activation process is also being investigated.

Prof D Tremethick

Inherited factors can modify susceptibility to a range on research interests include molecular genetic studies of glutathione linked enzymes and their roles in drug metabolism and cancer. The use of drug metabolising enzymes in gene therapy for cancer. Glutathione transferase structure and function.

Prof Phil Board

Regulation of calcium during contraction in normal and myopathic skeletal and cardiac muscle. The topics are approached using single ion channel studies in conjunction with other electrophysiological biochemical and electron microscopic techniques.

Prof A Dulhunty

Research interests include the construction of recombinant genetic vectors for a variety of infectious agents including HIV. The study of cytokine gene co-expression to enhance immunity is another important aspect of our work.

Prof Ian Ramshaw and Dr Charani Ranasinghe