PhD Scholarship: Revolutionising iron deficiency detection (STRIKE)

Full-time
Employment Type: Full Time
Department ID: DVC Research - SDV
Appointment Type: Fixed Term

Company Description

Griffith Health is one of Australia’s largest and most diverse health faculties, committed to innovation and excellence in health education and research. We harness the latest in technology and teaching approaches - alongside our world-class lab facilities - to ensure students graduate with the skills and experience to make what they do matter. Moreover, our work and partnerships are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal “to ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing at all ages.”

Griffith Sport Science is known for innovation and excellence in sports performance research. Key focus areas include performance analysis, athlete profiling, and the development of strategies to optimize performance through exercise training, environmental conditioning, and nutrition. The program places particular emphasis on the unique physiology of female athletes, striving to advance their performance and promote inclusivity for under-represented groups in sports. This holistic and innovative approach underlines Griffith's commitment to breaking barriers and fostering excellence in athletic performance, particularly in the lead up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

This position is based at the University of Melbourne, Victoria in Year 1 and at Griffith University, Queensland in Year 2 and 3. Griffith University’s sites are located on the lands of the Yugarabul, Yuggera, Jagera, Turrbal, Yugambeh and Kombumerri peoples.

Job Description

Iron deficiency is a common condition in female athletes and negatively impacts health, performance and recovery. Accessibility to and accuracy of iron measurements is crucial for identifying at risk females, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls, who are disproportionately affected by iron deficiency. As such, ‘Strike While the Iron is Hot’: Revolutionising iron deficiency detection to elevate athlete performance and health (‘STRIKE’) aims to advance quantum sensing technologies for iron measurement and provide rapid and precise detection of iron deficiency in female athletes to support their training, performance, and health. This project serves to enhance our understanding of iron deficiency and the linked individual and health implications of iron deficiency in adult women, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, whilst validating the advanced measure of Iron status using quantum technology across invasive (blood) and non-invasive (saliva) means. This will not only promote performance outcomes but improve public health through culturally sensitive healthcare solutions.

Griffith University is seeking to appoint a PhD Scholar to join the Griffith Sports Science team. The Scholar will have scope to develop a thesis aligned with their field of interest, alongside conducting research on iron measurement using quantum technology as part of the project ‘Strike While the Iron is Hot’: Revolutionising Iron Deficiency Detection to Enhance Athlete Performance and Health (STRIKE). The three-year candidature will be based at the Griffith University, with the option to spend time at the University of Melbourne Parkville campus to be trained by world-leaders in quantum sensing technology at UniMelb and FeBI. The scholar will work closely with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander athletes and communities to deepen insights into iron status, training demands, and the influence of remoteness, ultimately informing more tailored management approaches in the lead up to the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games, this offers a unique chance to help shape the global legacy of sports technology while supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander athletes on their performance journey.

Qualifications

The selection of the applicant for the award of a Higher Degree Research Scholarship at Griffith University is based on academic merit and research background. To be successful in this role, you will need to:

Work collaboratively with the research team, to fulfil the aim of STRIKE in revolutionising the detection and management of iron deficiency in female athletes using ultrasensitive quantum sensing technology.
Option to learn quantum technology skills necessary for data collection and analysis.
Conduct laboratory/fieldwork/research that contributes to the research objectives.
Contribute to the preparation and formulation of publications, presentations and research reports arising from the research.
Be a leading example of the principles and values embodied in the University’s Code of Conduct, and behave, act, and always communicate to reflect fairness, ethics and professionalism.
Develop a publication record in peer-reviewed journals.
Be a domestic applicant and identify as being of Aboriginal Australian or Torres Strait Islander descent.

Applicants must have completed, or expect to complete, a bachelor’s degree with honours equivalent to first class honours or a Master’s degree (AQF Level 9) incorporating a significant research component of a standard comparable to a bachelor honours degree or be regarded by Griffith University as having an equivalent level of attainment in accordance with Schedule One of the HDR Scholarship Procedure. For further information on the eligibility requirements for the program refer here.

Desirable criteria

Demonstrated experience in exercise science, physics and/or physical biosciences.
Demonstrated high level interpersonal skills as well as verbal and written communication skills.
Demonstrated ability to work independently and with minimal supervision to meet competing deadlines.
High-level organisational and time-management skills and a demonstrated capacity to bring projects to timely completion.
Demonstrated ability to work with people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Interest in female athlete health and performance.

Additional Information

About the scholarship

The 2026 Griffith University Indigenous Australian Postgraduate Research Scholarship (GUIAPRS) has an annual stipend of $55,379 (indexed) for a period of up to three and a half years of full-time study. Please see the GUIAPRS Conditions of Award for more information.

What Griffith offers

As a scholarship holder, you will study with a University that ranks among the top 2% worldwide and spans across campuses in South East Queensland. At Griffith University, we’ve worked hard to create a culture that will challenge you to be curious, creative and courageous. We also support the professional and personal development of all our HDR candidates and invest in the skills of our people. Griffith University values diversity, inclusion and flexibility and we encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and people of all backgrounds to apply. Griffith's strategic goals are to also increase the proportion of women in senior academic and administrative roles and in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM).

EOI Process

Please do not select the “APPLY” button. All expressions of interest must be submitted to [email protected] and [email protected] containing:

Statement addressing your suitability for the project/scholarship
Evidence that you have completed a program with the required grades as detailed in the about you section
A curriculum vitae (CV) using the Griffith CV template.
Names of two referees

Closing date for expressions of interest is: Friday 31 July 2026 11.59pm AEST

The preferred applicant will then be invited to apply for the program and scholarship on-line.

For project related enquiries please contact:

Professor Clare Minahan

Email: [email protected]

Emma Ferguson

Email: [email protected]

For administration enquiries please contact:

Griffith Graduate Research School

Phone: (07) 3735 3817

Email: [email protected]

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