"Expression of Interest - PhD Student, Institute for Evidence-Based Healthcare, Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine"

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) student

About the position

PhD Student – Call for Expression of Interest: Institute for Evidence-Based Healthcare, Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine 

The Institute for Evidence-Based Healthcare invites expressions of interest from outstanding health graduates seeking to undertake a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Please see below for details of the proposed research areas. These are preliminary questions. The successful HDR candidates may have the opportunity to refine the specific research questions:

Proposed topic of research

Topic 1: Long COVID (Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19)

This position is embedded within an MRFF Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 Grant and focuses on improving the management of Long COVID in Australian primary care through evidence-informed education and peer-support models. This project aims to decentralise specialist expertise and strengthen primary care capacity by designing, implementing, and evaluating an evidence-based educational and peer-support intervention for general practice.

The candidate will join a multidisciplinary primary care research team led by Professor Julie Redfern and Assistant Professor Oyuka Byambasuren, working at the interface of evidence synthesis, implementation science, and real-world clinical practice.

Topic 2: Community Antibiotic Stewardship Implementation

This position is embedded within an MRFF Clinical Trial Activity Grant entitled Evidence‑based Antimicrobial Stewardship: Sustainable Implementation in Primary Care (EASSI‑PC) and focuses on minimising antibiotic resistance in the community. The project aims to reduce antibiotic use for acute, self‑limiting infections by (i) improving uptake of existing evidence‑based strategies and/or (ii) building the evidence base for new and emerging innovative strategies. 

The candidate will join a team led by Assistant Professor Mina Bakhit, Professor Tammy Hoffmann and Emeritus Professor Paul Glasziou.

What the candidate will gain

• Training in quantitative and qualitative research methods
• Experience in trial design and implementation science
• Direct involvement in nationally funded MRFF programs of research
• Mentorship within a leading primary care and evidence-based healthcare environment
• Exposure to stakeholder engagement across clinicians, patients, and policymakers

About the person

Selection criteria for the opportunities include the following: 

Essential: 

• Bachelor’s degree in a health-related discipline (clinical training preferred: medicine, nursing, allied health)
• Demonstrated research capability (e.g., Honours or Master’s thesis, research assistant role)
• Strong analytical and academic writing skills
• Ability to work independently and within a multidisciplinary team
• Experience managing projects with defined timelines and deliverables
• Understanding of the Australian primary care system
• Ability to engage professionally with clinicians and patients

Desirable

• Clinical or administrative experience in primary care
• Experience in implementation research, clinical trials, or health services research
• Peer-reviewed publication(s)
• Conference presentation(s)
• Demonstrated interest in the proposed topic of research (e.g., Long COVID or chronic disease management, overuse of antibiotics, etc.)
• Capacity and ambition to seek competitive funding with supervisory support

Salary details

Scholarship Overview

This scholarship provides a unique opportunity for a talented candidate to undertake a PhD addressing real-world health challenges of national and community importance. 

Scholarship Funding and Conditions

The Scholarship is for three years and includes:

• Living stipend (tax-free);
• Full exemption from tuition fees for up to four years for full-time study;
• A project budget to support the research, with financial support to attend conferences to present the research. Support may also be available for article processing fees; and,
• Research and leadership training within a world-class team and research environment.

Continuation of the scholarship is subject to satisfactory academic progress which is monitored through annual university review processes. 

Additional information

How to apply

Please submit an Expression of Interest that includes:

• A written statement (maximum of 1 page) describing your interest in the research topics and your capacity to contribute to research in this area
• A written statement (maximum of 1 page) addressing the eligibility criteria set out above
• A current curriculum vitae, including the names and email addresses of two academic referees
• Your academic transcripts
• An example of your written academic work (e.g. Honours thesis, peer-reviewed journal article, essay or assignment) 

Application and submission details

Please submit your expression of interest via Bond’s application portal: https://bond.edu.au/research/research-degrees/how-to-apply   

Contact Us

If you have any questions, please email your queries to: Tanya Forbes via email address tforbes@bond.edu.au