Griffith Health is one of Australia’s leading health educators. Through leadership and innovation in teaching, research and community engagement, Griffith Health helps to create sustained improvement in health and healthcare for local, national, and international communities. Griffith Health students benefit from award-winning Learning and Teaching staff, state-of-the-art facilities, and world-renowned research programs within a purpose-built Griffith Health Centre. Griffith Health has five schools. These are the Schools of Applied Psychology, Health Sciences and Social Work, Medicine and Dentistry, Nursing and Midwifery, and Pharmacy and Medical Sciences.

Our research team under the supervision and guidance of the Dean of Research (Health), Prof Sandie McCarthy, has a strong focus on development and delivery of multidisciplinary lifestyle interventions within cancer populations. As part of our team, you will benefit from high quality training in the above areas to support a transition to independent research.

RECENTRE is an NHMRC-funded project undertaken in partnership with Mater Foundation and Mater Health Queensland. The collaborative research team is interdisciplinary (exercise science, nutrition, nursing, public health, statistics, health economics, psychology, implementation science) and spans several institutions including universities and hospital settings. This is an implementation study of a lifestyle intervention focussed on women after treatment for breast and gynaecological cancer.

Women with female-specific cancers can now survive decades after diagnosis, however there is little support after treatment despite their risk of physical and psychosocial complications. Previous studies from members of this research team demonstrate that our Women’s Wellness after Cancer Program (WWACP) improves quality of life and reduces treatment-related chronic disease risks in these women through targeted lifestyle management. As part of this study, the WWACP will be digitalised and rebranded as “RECENTRE: The Enhancing Women’s Recovery after Cancer Treatment Program” for tertiary prevention of chronic disease in women treated for breast and gynaecological cancer regardless of their cancer stage. The purpose of this study is to implement and evaluate RECENTRE as standard practice after treatment, Queensland-wide, across Mater Health facilities.

We seek a PhD candidate to contribute to research on this study. There are a variety of opportunities to design an innovative research project that enhances and fits within the parameters of RECENTRE. Success in this role requires collaboration with the immediate research team and a broader interdisciplinary team across universities and hospital settings.

A fully-funded scholarship is available for domestic and international students to be part of the RECENTRE team.  The successful candidate will be based at the Gold Coast campus of Griffith University.

The selection of applicants for the award of higher degree research scholarships at Griffith University involves consideration of your academic merit and research background. To be successful within this role, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge in one or more of the following areas: epidemiology, econometrics, statistics and work in the field of nursing, allied health, public health or medicine. You will have evidence of a passion for behavioural change research in a health setting.

• Expressions of interest are welcome from domestic and international applicants.
• Applicants must have completed, or expect to complete, a bachelors degree with honours equivalent to first class honours or a Masters 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.

Please note:

• Applicants with a background in allied health, nursing, public health or medicine will be viewed favourably. Particularly accreditation as an Exercise Physiologist (ESSA) will be positively viewed.

International applicants should ensure that English Language Proficiency requirements for the program are met before formally applying. Applicants to research programs will need to show they meet:

1. A minimum overall band score of 6.5 on the IELTS (Academic) with no band score less than 6.0 OR
2. A minimum score of 575 on the paper-based TOEFL including a score of no less than 5.0 on the TWE OR
3. A score of 79 on the internet-based (iBT) TOEFL with no sub-score less than 19

About the scholarship

The 2024 Griffith University Postgraduate Research Scholarship has an annual stipend of $33,480 (indexed) for a period of up to three years of full-time study. Please see the GUPRS Conditions of Award for more information.

A successful International applicant will also be awarded a Griffith University International Postgraduate Research Scholarship to cover tuition fees for up to three years. Please see the GUIPRS Conditions of Award for more information.

EoI process

Please do not select the “APPLY” button. All expressions of interest must be submitted to Dr Sarah Balaam [email protected] or Dr Janine Porter-Steel [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, including a  copy of your academic transcript
• A curriculum vitae (CV) using the Griffith CV template
• Names of  two referees

The closing date for expressions of interest is:  5pm Friday 11 October 2024

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

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).

Further information

For project related enquiries please contact:

Dr Sarah Balaam
Email: [email protected]

Dr Janine  Porter-Steele
Email: [email protected]

For administration enquiries please contact:
Griffith Graduate Research School
Email: [email protected]