PhD Scholarship – AI for Next-Generation Helplines
Job No.: 676881
Location: Clayton campus
Employment Type: Full-time
Duration: 3.5-year fixed-term appointment
The Opportunity
Expressions of interest are sought from Australian and New Zealand candidates (Aus/NZ citizens or Australian permanent residents) for a full-time scholarship to study for a PhD supervised by the Faculty of Information Technology and Turning Point.
The successful candidate will be one of a cohort of students across Monash University and the University of Melbourne that make up the CSIRO Next Generation Graduate program for AI in Mental Health (see: link)
The successful candidate will work as part of a team (including other PhDs and Research Engineers) on an AI engineering-focused Next Generation AI Graduate studentship to use LLMs to improve the quality and effectiveness of Turning Point’s helplines for alcohol and other drug addictions. Turning Point is a national treatment, research and education centre, that provides leadership in the alcohol and other drug, gambling and mental health sectors. The project brings together leading research on Artificial Intelligence, Human-Computer Interaction and Addiction Studies at Monash University.
The scholarship comprises:
- $42,483 AUD tax-free stipend (for 3.5 years, subject to annual indexation)
- $5,000 AUD pa x 3 years training allowance
- $5,000 AUD for travel
- $840 AUD thesis allowance
- $5,000 AUD cost of living allowance ($2,000 paid at enrolment and $3,000 at PhD confirmation)
The project aims to bring advances in artificial intelligence to the forefront of helplines for people with alcohol and other drug addictions. Through unique access to Turning Point helpline call data, the candidate will develop and deploy LLM technologies to evaluate helpline effectiveness, identify areas for improvement, and provide LLM-supported tools for dynamic helpline respondent support. Achieving these aims requires pragmatic innovations in LLM engineering and application.
Candidate Requirements
The position is only available to Australian and New Zealand citizens and Australian permanent residents (this is a funder requirement).
The successful applicant will have:
- Qualifications comprising one or more of:
- a bachelor’s honours degree in a relevant discipline (computer science, software engineering or information technology), which includes a research thesis or project, with an overall average grade equivalent to a First Class Honours or Second Class Honours Division A; or
- a master's degree in a relevant discipline (computer science, software engineering or information technology) which includes a research thesis or project equivalent to at least 25 per cent of one year of full-time study, with an overall average grade equivalent to a First Class Honours or Second Class Honours Division A; or
- a qualification, or combination of qualifications and relevant professional experience, deemed equivalent by the Monash Graduate Research Committee.
- strong software development skills and a passion for improving technical knowledge and knowledge of how to develop and deploy real-world AI systems;
- familiarity, expertise and/or interest in quantitative research methods and preparedness to further develop these skills; and
- a passion for engineering software systems that have an impact of the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in society.
This position has a two-stage selection process:
Stage 1: Please submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the Faculty of Information Technology Graduate Research Office at fit-graduate.research@monash.edu
EOIs should include the following attachments:
- a cover letter (one A4 page maximum) explaining the applicant’s suitability for and interest in the topic;
- a curriculum vitae, including any relevant work experience (and a list of published works, if applicable);
- a copy of academic transcripts for all higher education qualifications;
- contact details of two referees (at least one academic referee) and
- evidence of Australian citizenship or Australian permanent residency or New Zealand citizenship
Stage 2: Candidates who pass this stage of the selection process will be invited to discuss their ideas with Professor Patrick Olivier and Dr Lizhen Qu before developing a full proposal and submitting an application.
Enquiries:
About the project – Professor Patrick Olivier patrick.olivier@monash.edu and Dr Lizhen Qu Lizhen.Qu@monash.edu
About submitting an EOI - Faculty of IT Graduate Research Office fit-graduate.research@monash.edu
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an interview by 31 March 2025.
Closing date: Monday 24 March 2025, 11:55pm AEDT
Supporting a diverse workforce
