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Vice Chancellor’s Research Fellow PhD Scholarship – Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes

The Centre for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Care Outcomes is excited to offer a PhD scholarship for the project "Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes: Immediate and Long-Term Morbidity - A Life Course Approach", under the VC Research Fellowship. This project examines the influence of adverse pregnancy outcomes (APOs) and psychosocial factors across a woman's lifespan, with a focus on perinatal health, postpartum care, mental health and long-term conditions, particularly cardiovascular disease (CVD). The project leverages longitudinal, population-based linkage records in Australia along with large international pregnancy cohorts to address women’s health issues. Outcomes could shape policies, and guide preventive measures such as patient education via primary health care providers, including nurses and midwives. The successful PhD candidate will work under the supervision of leading researchers in these disciplines. The position is based at ECU, Joondalup, School of Nursing and Midwifery.

Important dates

Opens: 2-04-2024 Closes: 1-05-2024

Applies to

Postgraduate Research

At a glance

The project aims to deepen our understanding of how APOs, such as gestational diabetes and preeclampsia, impact maternal and neonatal health, postpartum healthcare utilization, and the development of subsequent mental health conditions. Furthermore, the project will explore factors influencing the relationship between APOs and long-term morbidity, particularly cardiovascular disease (CVD), by employing a life course perspective. This research project is designed to address critical health issues for women of reproductive age, and the outcomes from this project could shape policies, refine CVD risk assessments, and guide preventive measures such as patient education through primary health care providers, including nurses and midwives. The main research project will leverage longitudinal, retrospective cohorts’ data from population-based linked datasets in Australia (perinatal and hospital registries), alongside large international pregnancy cohorts, namely the Raine study, the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child (MoBa) cohort, and the AVON Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) cohort.

Research Structure:

  1. Year 1: To synthesise the current evidence on the complex relationship between APOs, mental health conditions and later morbidities.
  2. Year 2: To characterise the common APOs by clinical and sociodemographic factors and evaluate maternal, birth (including childbirth), and neonatal outcomes among women with previous APO or preexisting chronic conditions.
  3. Year 3: Examine the association between APOs and healthcare use (inpatient hospitalisations), diseases risk within two years after giving birth, and the relationship between APOs and subsequent mental health conditions.

Eligibility guidelines

To be eligible for this scholarship applicants must:

  • Meet the entry requirements for a PhD at ECU.

Selection Criteria

  • The suitable candidate for this project must have completed a bachelor’s degree including an honours degree, and, preferably, a master’s degree by research in Public Health, Epidemiology, Nursing, Midwifery, or a closely related field, with relevant research publications.
  • Demonstrated experience in quantitative research with a strong interest and background in maternal, child, reproductive health, and health service research. Ideally, the candidate would also have some published work in this area.
  • Experience with quantitative data analysis (preferably using Stata or R software), interpretation, and presentation of complex and/or large health datasets.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
  • Preferably, the candidate will also have experience in clinical settings, project management, and qualitative research.

How to apply

Interested applicants are required to send expressions of interest, to Dr Amanuel Gebremedhin .

Your expression of interest should include the following:

  • A brief description of how your skill set will contribute to the project addressing the selection criteria and describing your interest in the field (2 pages maximum);
  • An up-to-date CV containing your contact details and preferred referee.
  • Academic transcripts;
  • Relevant supporting documents of prior research (e.g. copy of your best publication); and
  • Evidence of English language proficiency (only relevant for applicants whose previous studies were not in English).

For more information

Email Dr Amanuel Gebremedhin Vice Chancellor’s Research Fellow if you have any questions about this scholarship and/or the project.

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