The National Drug Research Institute (NDRI) Melbourne Scholarship is being offered as a new initiative to support the re-establishment of the Melbourne office of NDRI. It will support an outstanding PhD Scholar with a background in quantitative data analysis to conduct analyses of data collected on patterns of drug use and related harms through the SuperMIX cohort of people who inject drugs.

SuperMIX study, the largest and only active cohort study of people who inject drugs ever undertaken in Australia. Led by Professor Paul Dietze and colleagues from the Burnet Institute, the Kirby Institute, the University of British Columbia and the University of Bristol, the SuperMIX study involves following a cohort of in excess of 1300 people who inject drugs over time with annual direct interviews and linkage to key datasets connected to the health of participants including hospitalisation, drug treatment and ambulance services. Drawing on previous analyses of the SuperMIX databases, the specific work undertaken will be determined through discussions between the successful candidate and supervisors.

A range of potential analyses are possible, but the focus will be on longitudinal patterns of drug use and harm and the impact of key interventions, policies or other variables. This work could include an examination of the impact of supervised injecting facilities, opioid substitution therapy and drug treatment more broadly or the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Future Students

• Faculty of Health Sciences

• Higher Degree by Research

• Australian Citizen
• Australian Permanent Resident
• New Zealand Citizen
• Permanent Humanitarian Visa
• International Student

• Merit Based

This scholarship provides a living stipend of $28,092 p.a. pro rata indexed, based on full-time studies, for up to a maximum of 3 years.

1

Prospective applicants must enroll in the Curtin University PhD program through the National Drug Research Institute.

• Full-time enrolment
• Active interest in work designed to improve the health of people who use drugs
• Hold or expect to obtain First Class Honours or equivalent results in epidemiology, biostatistics, public health or a related discipline
• Understand the principles of public health practice around alcohol and other drugs
• Successful recipients must also not be in receipt of any other scholarship

Expressions of interest containing a current CV and statement of interest (one-page maximum) should be emailed to Paul Dietze, paul.dietze@curtin.edu.au by March 8, 2021.

The successful candidate must enrol full-time into the PhD program at Curtin University and meet their Milestone 1, 2 and 3 requirements.

The successful candidate must enrol full-time into the PhD program at Curtin University and meet their Milestone 1, 2 and 3 requirements.

Please direct enquires to Professor Paul Dietze, National Drug Research Institute: paul.dietze@curtin.edu.au

NDRI is a centre for excellence in alcohol and other drug research and is supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Health under the Drug and Alcohol Program.