HDR Scholarship - A smart home for self-care

Prof Ralph Maddison

Dr Kate Parker

School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences

Faculty of Health

Melbourne Burwood Campus

As part of an NHMRC-funded IDEAS grant, the School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences have two scholarship positions for PhD candidates to join the digital health team. The IDEAS grant aims to design, develop and evaluate a Smart-Heart ecosystem to support self-management for people living with heart failure.

The Smart-Heart ecosystem will enable individualised monitoring of symptoms, and adherence to medications and healthy lifestyle behaviours, via a comprehensive network of internet-connected sensors. Predictive modelling will anticipate the need for medical and self-management support and will provide feedback and alerts to patients, carers and/or healthcare providers when needed. Key behaviour change techniques, gamification, and tailored information will be integrated to maximise effectives, and facilitate empowerment, uptake and engagement, leading to improved self-management and health outcomes.

This project is seeking PhD candidates interested in working on Smart Heart-related topics, which can include:

• Understanding optimal intervention features for a Smart Heart ecosystem;
• How to engage people to use a Smart Heart ecosystem for supporting self-management; and
• Exploring the role of digital health literacy.

Applications close 5pm, Sunday 31 October 2021.

This scholarship is available over 3 years.

• Stipend of $28,900 per annum tax exempt (2022 rate)
• Relocation allowance of $500-1500 (for single to family) for students moving from interstate
• International students only:  Tuition fees offset for the duration of 4 years. Single Overseas Student Health Cover policy for the duration of the student visa.

To be eligible you must:

• be either a domestic or international candidate currently residing in Australia. Domestic includes candidates with Australian Citizenship, Australian Permanent Residency or New Zealand Citizenship.
• meet Deakin's PhD entry requirements
• be enrolling full time and hold an honours degree (first class) or an equivalent standard master's degree with a substantial research component.

Please refer to the research degree entry pathways page for further information.

Additional desirable criteria include:

• A background in a relevant field such as health sciences, psychology, or information technology is desirable.

For more information about this scholarship, please contact Prof Ralph Maddison or Dr Kate Parker

Prof Ralph Maddison
Email Prof Ralph Maddison
+61 3 924 46218

Dr Kate Parker
Email Dr Kate Parker
+61 3 9246 8094