Watch them grow: Multiple PhD opportunities to study butterfly nanostructure development in vivo

We have multiple PhD research opportunities for an interdisciplinary project that aims to understand the development of nanostructural material and tissue forms in biology.

Specifically, several butterflies including the Cattleheart butterfly form within their wings a complex nanostructure known as the gyroid. It produces their green coloration through a photonic effect, without the need for pigments. The (bio)photonics of these gyroids are understood and their biomimetic applications have been explored. The biological formation of these nanostructures likely involves an intracellular membrane in the butterfly pupa. However, key aspects of their formation remain elusive. As do many questions around their ecological and evolutionary significance and how these structures respond to environmental change or other biotic or abiotic stressors. [PC1] [mc2] This all makes these butterflies an excellent model system to study the formation dynamics of gyroid nanostructures – a structure that was once considered an oddity but is now ubiquitously found in synthetic materials and membranes.

The ARC-funded project is a collaboration between Murdoch University (Perth), the University of Western Australia (Perth), the University of Salzburg, the National University of Singapore, and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama (where the Cattleheart and other butterflies are native).

We are looking for candidates with completed or soon to be completed Masters/Honours degree in biology, physics, materials science, biochemistry or related fields.

If this project excites you and you’re looking for an interdisciplinary PhD opportunity in an international team starting in 2026, please get in touch!

We have two funded PhD scholarships at Murdoch University and the University of Western Australia in Perth. Competitive domestic and international scholarship schemes (including the 2026 UWA-China PhD Research Scholarship with a submission deadline 31 January 2026) are also open to high quality candidates, as are opportunities for scholarships and internships at our partner institutions.

We look forward to hearing from you. Best wishes, on behalf of the team,

            Gerd Schroeder-Turk (contact details) & Peta Clode (contact details)