
Scholarship: MPhil/PhD in Spillover effects in child obesity prevention – University of Sydney, Camperdown Campus
The NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence EPOCH-Translate brings together world leaders in early childhood obesity prevention research, economic modelling and health policy and practice. We are currently seeking a post-graduate research student to take up a scholarship investigating the use of spillover effects in economic evaluation of childhood obesity prevention. Spillover effects are the health benefits that extend to others beyond the target child – usually other family members -which are rarely taken account of in economic evaluation of child obesity prevention programs. This MPhil/PhD will include a systematic review of the literature on how spillover effects of carer and child have been combined in existing economic evaluations. There is also the possibility to conduct qualitative work with health economists to determine preferences for combining quality of life improvement of a target child and carer, in economic evaluation. Finally based on the foundational studies, a modelled economic evaluation, with and without incorporation of spillover effects will be conducted in either the context of breast -feeding promotion or healthy weight programs for children. You will be part of an NHMRC funded Centre of Research Excellence in early prevention of childhood obesity (https://earlychildhoodobesity.com) and will benefit from being part of our vibrant Early and Mid-Career Researcher Program.
You will be supervised by an experienced team of health economics researchers: primary supervisor Alison Hayes; co supervisors : Dr Anagha Killedar and A/Prof Tom Lung. For suitable candidates, support will be provided to apply for competitive funding to convert to PhD.
The scholarship will be provided at the RTP rate of $41, 753 p.a. for 1.7 years in the first instance, through a competitive merit-based selection process, including phone interview.
Please contact Prof Alison Hayes to express your interest
Candidate requirements
- 1st class honours degree in a quantitative subject or documented research experience
- OR Masters degree in Public Health Biostatistics or health economics
- High competency in biostatistics
- proficiency in analysing large, complex datasets, with STATA or R
- experience or willingness upskill in health economic evaluation