PhD Scholarship in Applied Economics on “Firm Closures, Layoffs, and Their Impacts on Workers and
Families” (Melbourne, Australia)
Job No: 688623
Location: Caulfield campus
Employment Type: Full-time
Duration: 4.5-year fixed-term appointment
Remuneration: A generous scholarship covering tuition fees and a tax-free stipend at current value of $39,000 AUD per annum (up to $49,000 AUD per annum for outstanding students).
Additional financial support is available through research and teaching assistance work.
The Opportunity
This PhD offers the opportunity to work on a project at the intersection of labour economics, health economics, industrial organisation, and public policy. When firms close or downsize, the economic shock extends far beyond the workplace, affecting workers’ mental health, financial security, family relationships, and children’s long-term outcomes. Yet, despite the rising frequency of economic shocks – from natural disasters and monetary tightening to trade disruptions and geopolitical tensions – we still know surprisingly little about how firms adapt, how their decisions cascade through households and communities, and which policies can buffer these impacts. This project addresses that gap. It will generate the first comprehensive, population-level evidence on how firms manage periods of economic crisis and how their responses shape health, employment, and wellbeing outcomes for individuals and families.
The successful candidate will join a highly collaborative research team using linked employer–employee administrative data, including healthcare use data, and state-of-the-art econometric methods to generate causal evidence on these issues. Your work will produce insights directly relevant to labour-market policy, family services, and social protection systems. This is an opportunity to influence national policy debates while advancing academic knowledge in applied microeconomics and labour, health, and industrial economics. You will work closely under the PhD supervision of Associate Professor Sonja de New and Professor Dennis Petrie. You will also have the opportunity to work with other leading Professors from the University of Melbourne, University of Michigan and Free University of
Amsterdam, who are collaborators on this project.
Who we’re looking for
This project is an excellent fit for researchers who want to apply rigorous empirical methods to questions of real social importance. It will suit someone with strong empirical skills who enjoys working with large datasets, engaging deeply with research design, and collaborating within an interdisciplinary team.
Applicants should have completed an Honours degree, a four-year bachelor’s degree, or a master’s degree with excellent results and a
research component in economics or econometrics. A background or strong interest in applied economics, microeconometrics, labour
economics, industrial organisation, health economics, or public policy will be valuable.
We also welcome applicants from other quantitative disciplines – such as data science, mathematical statistics, actuarial science, public health, or psychology – who have strong quantitative skills and an interest in causal inference.
PhD Program
The project is based in the Centre for Health Economics, a large and active economics research group within the Monash Business School in Melbourne, Australia.
As a candidate in the CHE Integrated PhD Program, you will receive rigorous training in advanced health economics, econometrics, and related studies.
The Integrated Program starts with 1 year of advanced coursework and research training including a minor thesis packaged into a Master of Commerce (MCom) degree. Provided you meet the agreed requirements, you will then progress to the PhD project component, which involves high quality research training and career development, culminating in a written thesis on the topic outlined above. The PhD research stage will typically take three and a half years to complete. You will also enjoy opportunities for domestic and international research visits and conference travel.
PhD Program entry requirements and scholarship eligibility
Applicants to enter the 4.5-year Integrated PhD program should have completed an Honours degree, a 4-year Bachelor’s degree or a Masters degree with top marks and a research component in Economics, Econometrics or a related quantitative discipline as outlined above.
You can check your eligibility with the PhD readiness tool.
For full information on eligibility and English language requirements, please visit the Monash Business School Integrated PhD Program page.
Applications
Before applying, note the following:
When prompted, select “Health Economics” as your area of specialisation
To apply, please follow the Integrated PhD Program application process.
All eligible applications will be assessed, and shortlisted candidates will be contacted to meet with the supervisory team and discuss mutual fit for the project.
Application dates for the commencement of the Integrated PhD program in July/August 2026:
Application round is currently open.
Applications Close: Sunday 1 February 2026, 11:55 pm AEDT
About Monash and the Centre for Health Economics
The Centre for Health Economics is one of the world’s leading research groups in the economic analysis of health and health care. We have the highest concentration of economists working in health in the Asia-Pacific region and the largest Health Economics PhD program in Australia, reflecting the reputation of our researchers and the quality of their mentorship.
Monash is one of the top 50 universities in the world, ranked top in health economics in the Asia-Pacific region. As a PhD student of the Centre, you will be part of a team of researchers at the cutting edge of impactful international research across research themes including: disadvantage and health; global and environmental health economics; economic behaviour, incentives and preferences in health; and, economic modelling of health policies and technologies.
Employment prospects
PhD graduates from the Centre for Health Economics typically find employment as researchers in leading universities and consulting firms
around the world. For instance, our previous graduates have been successful in gaining positions at the London School of Economics, the
University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, the University of Illinois, the University of York, the University of Melbourne, Australian National University, Ernst & Young, the World Bank and government health departments.
Enquiries
For questions related to the application procedure, please contact buseco-research.degrees@f.e.monash.edu.
For questions about the project or to discuss whether the project is a good fit for you, please contact:
Associate Professor Sonja de New at sonja.denew@monash.edu
Supporting a diverse workforce
Monash University recognises that its Australian campuses are located on he unceded lands of the people of the Kulin nations, and pays its respects to their elders, past and present.
Supporting a diverse workforce
