UNSW Scientia PhD Scholarship Scheme 2019 is now open – apply by 20 July 2018
Posted 20 June 2018
We have some exciting news!
Three of the 2019 round of the prestigious UNSW Scientia PhD Scholarships is offered in our area of research.
We are looking for committed PhD scholars globally in the following research topics:
Growing Well: Renewing Sydney’s housing for health, wellbeing and equity
Sydney is among the world’s most expensive cities. In Sydney Local Health District alone, population is expected to increase by 40% by 2030, further exacerbating housing system stress. Government faces the interlinked challenges of enhancing housing affordability, containing urban sprawl, and renewing run-down social housing – all while creating liveable places that promote healthy lifestyles.
This scholarship will investigate government and industry responses to changing housing and service needs, while creating healthy built environments. The research will examine how disadvantaged groups and communities can share the potential health benefits of urban renewal through social inclusion.
The ideal candidate will:
- have a passion for making the cities of the future healthier and more accessible for all
- have experience in urban planning, housing management or development, population health, or health equity
- have had prior involvement in designing and conducting empirical qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods research
- have published and presented on their research
- be seeking a research career focused on the interface between the built environment, health and equity.
Connecting airport development, public health and urban policy
The central question is how healthy are airports? Conventional research highlights noise, emissions and congestion impacts and mitigation but the entrenched importance of global aviation in metropolitan economies necessitates a shift to their health promoting capacities as transformative infrastructure. This project will develop an evidence base for this new paradigm by documenting multi-scalar health-positive and enabling dimensions across operational (airport functions), spatial (local area planning) , and catalytic (healthy cities) perspectives. Stimulated by Sydney’s new airport and linked to a wider collaborative research enterprise, this project focuses on a global survey of airport and airport-region stakeholders and their initiatives.
A self-motivated student from an urban studies, social policy and/or public health background with an interest in large-scale urban infrastructure planning with demonstrable expertise in document and policy review, data base management and analytics, interview experience, interpersonal skills, and a superior writing record. Multi-lingual aptitude will be an advantage given the trans-global nature of the research.
Community health workers as navigators: improving access to preventive care
With the increased burden of chronic disease on the health system and society there is an urgent need to increase the uptake of effective preventive care. Although disadvantaged patients experience a disproportionate burden they are less likely to receive preventive care due to provider and patient barriers including low health literacy. Community health workers are effective especially in minority ethnic and low socioeconomic communities, but, in Australia, have mostly limited to Aboriginal health services. In the first trial of its kind in Australia, we will a evaluate their feasibility and effectiveness for disadvantaged and ethnically diverse populations.
The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated commitment to social justice and to improving health outcomes. To undertake this study, the PhD candidate should have: (1) a degree in health or social sciences; (2) excellent communication, organisational and presentation skills; (3) ability to work independently and collaboratively with other researchers and external stakeholders; (4) a track record in working cross culturally, with disadvantaged groups and/or intersectorally to address the social determinants of health and (5) sound understanding of health services research and mixed methods or demonstrated commitment to completing further courses.
Expression of Interest for the 2019 round of the UNSW Scientia PhD Scholarship Scheme is now open, and will close at 11.59pm on 20 July 2018
Benefits of the Scientia PhD Scholarship include :
For more information on the UNSW Scientia PhD Scholarship visit : https://www.2025.unsw.edu.au/apply/
