PhD Scholarship – Feasibility, Acceptability and Utility of a Person-Centred Behaviour Change Program to Slow Cognitive Decline in Older Adults
Job No.: 677725
Location: Clayton campus
Employment Type: Full-time
Duration: 3.5-year fixed-term appointment
Remuneration: The successful applicant will receive a tax-free stipend, at the current value of $36,063 per annum, as per the Monash Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend www.monash.edu/study/fees-scholarships/scholarships/find-a-scholarship/research-training-program-scholarship#scholarship-details
- Be inspired, every day
- Drive your own learning at one of the world’s top 80 universities
- Take your career in exciting, rewarding directions
About the project
In Victoria, Australia, older adults with memory concerns are referred to memory clinics for assessment and diagnosis. This is typically a lengthy process, which can take up to 12 months in some areas. After this, individuals diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia are then referred back to their GPs for management. However, extensive interviews conducted by our team have indicated that people with MCI or mild dementia are highly motivated to engage in behaviour change activities, such as engaging in physical activity, cognitively stimulating activities, improving diet, increasing social activity, that may slow cognitive decline and disease progression, and improve quality of life. A major challenge lies in implementing these solutions. As the needs of each individual can vary, any effective solution needs to be person centred and tailored.
This project aims to adapt a person-centred lifestyle intervention program (BetterBrains) and pilot its acceptability and utility in individuals who have been diagnosed with MCI or mild dementia. Five key domains known to increase risk for cognitive decline and dementia progression will be targeted, namely vascular risk, poor sleep, low cognitive and social engagement, low mood and risk of falls.
This project will provide the foundational evidence to determine the acceptability and utility of a person-centred, behaviour modification program that seeks to address key determinants of dementia disease progression, with the aim of preserving independence for longer.
Qualifications and experience required
- Experience in the field of dementia and/or neuropsychology
- Excellent written communication and verbal communication skills with proven ability to prepare and communicate the aims and outputs of research projects in a range of formats
- Experience working with older-aged clients and/or research participants, administering cognitive assessments and/or working on clinical trials
- Well-developed planning and organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise multiple tasks and set and meet deadlines
- Capacity to work in a collegiate manner in a team environment and with other students/staff in the workplace
- A demonstrated awareness of the principles of confidentiality, privacy and information handling
Monash School of Psychological Sciences, ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Optimal Ageing and Monash University
The Monash School of Psychological Sciences is ranked among the best in the world. Our School’s mission is to develop students and research outcomes that make significant contributions to improving the lives of others globally. Our overarching vision is to make a significant and long-lasting impact that changes the world around us, beginning in infancy and across the lifespan. Drawing on the expertise of our staff and the University' unique research platforms and technology, our mission is to sustain and build on Monash's position with world-class research and teaching in Psychology.
For more information about us and the work we do, please visit www.med.monash.edu.au/psych
Housed within the School of Psychological Sciences, the Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health is a world- leading institute dedicated to making significant contributions to basic and translational research, clinical care, and research training in brain and mental health. The Institute represents the largest grouping of cognitive and clinical neuroscientists in Australia and Asia Pacific.
To learn more, please visit www.monash.edu/turner-institute/research
Monash and the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences values staff diversity and champions inclusive practices. We are committed to equitable decision making and apply the principles of achievement relative to opportunity in our selection processes.
The successful candidate will be a member of the Industrial Transformation Training Centre (ITTC) for Optimal Ageing. The Centre is led by Monash University (Turner Institute, Monash Engineering, Monash Faculty of IT) and Federation University. The Centre seeks to inspire and train the next generation of leaders in the area of ageing, by providing direct experience with industry partners, as well as training and master classes in key areas of psychology and health sciences, engineering and information technology. The projects within the Centre are expected to accelerate research translation and industry engagement through the development and application of digital, robotics and sensor-based technology to address key challenges in ageing, which are to enhance cognition, promote independence and foster social connectedness. The expected outcome of this Centre is to equip the trainees with skills that expand Australia’s technical capability and will enable them to make key contributions to the sustainability and growth of the Medtech and Biotech sectors, and to provide significant capacity to address global challenges for 21st century innovation to optimise ageing.
Monash University is a member of Australia’s Group of Eight coalition, and is internationally recognized for excellence in research and teaching as one of the world's top 80 universities. Embedded in an ecosystem of health, academia and industry, it delivers the research outcomes, skilled workforce, technology and partnerships to improve human health locally and globally.
Supervisory Team
Associate Professor Yen Ying Lim
Associate Professor Yen Ying Lim is the Director of the ITTC for Optimal Ageing, primary investigator of the Healthy Brain Project (healthybrainproject.org.au) and the BetterBrains Trial (betterbrains.org.au), a senior scientist at the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle (AIBL) study, and a Chief Investigator on an NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence. Her primary research interests are in integrating and translating the effects of genetic, biological, and lifestyle factors on cognitive decline and clinical disease progression in Alzheimer’s disease. She is also interested in the development and validation of web-based cognitive tests for the early detection of cognitive dysfunction in preclinical Alzheimer’s disease.
Associate Professor Darshini Ayton
Associate Professor Darshini Ayton is the Deputy Head of the Health and Social Care Unit at the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine. Dr Ayton leads the ageing and health services research work for HSCU. She is a Chief investigator on an NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence and is the Primary Investigator on an ARC Discovery Project, Medical Research Future Fund and National Centre for Healthy Ageing grants. Dr Ayton also has multiple industry, health service and aged care provider partnerships.
Her program of research links acute care to community and residential aged care and encompasses dementia prevention, innovative diagnostics for dementia and sector-spanning models of care to improve quality of care and quality of life.
Dr Ayton has a strong track record in health and social care research and methodological approaches including qualitative research, consumer and community involvement, clinical registries, randomised controlled trials and implementation science.
Dr Catherine Robb
Dr Catherine Robb trained in dementia epidemiology at Imperial College London. Her research interests and expertise include the investigation of modifiable and non-modifiable factors associated with cognitive health in older age, the prediction and early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease and the relative importance of genetic, biomarker, lifestyle, and environmental factors in the aetiology of the condition.
Dr Robb continued her research at Monash University as part of the ASPREE team in the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine where she investigated lifestyle genomics in disease prevention and aimed to identify the potential of unique biological measures in assisting with early diagnosis of cognitive decline and dementia.
Eligibility Requirements
Candidates will need to fulfil the Monash University minimum requirements for admission to a PhD detailed here: www.monash.edu/admissions/entry-requirements/minimum.
How to apply
For general instructions on how to apply for roles at Monash, please refer to 'How to apply for Monash Jobs'.
To express your interest in this scholarship and PhD research opportunity, we request candidates provide:
- A cover letter describing your research interests and why you would like to undertake a PhD (maximum one page)
- A CV including qualifications, academic achievements, list of publications, work history and references
- A copy of your academic transcript(s)
Enquiries: Dr Karen Little, karen.little@monash.edu, Business Manager, ITTC for Optimal Ageing
Supporting a diverse workforce
