PhD Stipend Scholarship – School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Monash University [Hospital-associated functional decline and deconditioning in older adults]

Job No.: 693750

Location: Peninsula campus

Employment Type: Full-time

Duration: 3.5 years fixed-term appointment

Supervisory Team: Associate Professor Christina Ekegren (Main Supervisor)

The successful candidate will be supported by a multidisciplinary project team with expertise in ageing, healthcare, biostatistics and digital health. Refer to www.research.monash.edu/en/persons/christina-ekegren (for main supervisor profile). Other supervisors to be confirmed.

Remuneration: A PhD annual stipend for 3.5 years of full-time PhD enrolment ($37,145 per annum for 2026 rate). The stipend rate is indexed annually and published on the Monash University Graduate Research Stipend and Allowance Rates website.

Additional support also available for project resources and conference presentation:

• School of Primary and Allied Health Care HDR Support Fund of up to $4,000 for the duration of candidature
• Monash Graduate Research Travel Grant
• The successful PhD candidate will participate in collaborative activities of the project team relating to this project funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). This collaboration will further assist in consolidating the PhD candidate’s skills and capabilities.

The Opportunity:

The PhD stipend scholarship offers an outstanding opportunity for talented candidates to undertake PhD study in the field of hospital-associated functional decline and deconditioning in older adults.

The PhD Project:

This PhD forms part of an NHMRC Ideas Grant (‘Smart Ward PREDICT’), based at the Rehabilitation, Ageing and Independent Living (RAIL) Research Centre, School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Monash University, using data from the National Centre for Healthy Ageing Smart Ward and Healthy Ageing Data Platform.

Hospital admissions can expose older adults to a spectrum of avoidable and costly harms. Not least of these is hospital-associated functional decline, defined as a loss of independence, from admission to discharge, in one or more activities of daily living (ADLs) e.g. bathing, dressing, transfers. This loss of independence has significant impacts, including an increased risk of acute re-admission, premature admission to residential aged care, and mortality.

The aim of this project is to build the evidence base on hospital-associated functional decline and deconditioning in order to improve preventive efforts before, during and after hospitalisation in older adults.

Specific research questions may include:

• What published evidence exists for interventions that can prevent/reduce hospital-associated functional decline and deconditioning?
• What are the prevalence, risk factors, economic cost and consequences of hospital-associated functional decline and deconditioning?
• Can movement patterns detected using localisation/motion-based sensor technologies help predict hospital-associated functional decline and deconditioning in hospitalised older adults?

Selection criteria:

Prospective applicants must satisfy Monash University PhD entry requirements as outlined in the Monash Graduate Research Admission Procedure, including, but not limited to:

• An Australian citizen; or New Zealand citizen; or have been granted permanent resident status; and
• A bachelor’s degree of at least four years in a relevant discipline, which includes a research thesis or project, with a minimum overall average grade of an Honours degree equivalent to the First Class Honours Division A; or
• A master's degree in a relevant discipline which includes a research thesis or project equivalent to at least 25 percent of one year of full-time study, with a minimum overall average grade of honours equivalent to the First Class Honours Division A; or
• A qualification, or combination of qualifications and relevant professional or research experience, deemed equivalent by the Graduate Research Committee (or delegate); and
• Preferably, be available to commence as a full-time PhD candidate in Q4 2026 (or by arrangement).
• Preferably, background or experience in epidemiology/biostatistics, and a relevant clinical discipline such as nursing, medicine or allied health.

How to apply

We are seeking expressions of interest from talented candidates who wish to apply for the PhD and contribute to this exciting project. This position has a two-stage selection process:

Stage 1: Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to Dr Michelle Shannon, michelle.shannon@monash.edu

For general instructions on how to apply for roles at Monash, please refer to How to apply for Monash jobs. Candidates should include the following when submitting an EoI:

• A cover letter not exceeding 500 words that includes a brief statement of suitability and why you are interested in pursuing a PhD in this research project/area.
• A curriculum vitae, including a list of any peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations and relevant work and/or research experience.
• Scanned copies of academic transcripts.
• Contact details of two academic and/or clinical referees, at least one of whom must be an academic referee.

Stage 2: Submit a PhD candidature application

For the candidate whose EoI in Stage 1 is successful will be invited to submit a full application for Monash PhD candidature.

Enquiries: Dr Michelle Shannon, michelle.shannon@monash.edu

Applications Close: Sunday 28 June 2026, 11:55pm AEST