PhD scholarship in CSIRO Next Generation Graduate Program (AI in Mental Health)

Job No.: 660868

Location: Clayton campus

Employment Type: Full-time

Duration: 3.5-year fixed-term appointment

Remuneration: The successful applicant will receive a Research Living Allowance, at current value of $40,500 AUD per annum as well as an additional $10,000 of research and travel expenses to support study. Industry partner Crank Group Pty Ltd will also provide part-time employment for up to 20 hours per week to complement the scholarship income.

The Opportunity

This opportunity is limited to Australian citizens, Australian Permanent Residents, NZ Citizens and any person entitled to stay in Australia, or to enter and stay in Australia, without any time limitations.

Almost half of Australians will experience mental ill health. But nearly 70% of those with a known mental health condition don’t seek professional help due to stigma, high costs, limited access, fear, and other factors.

The problem

Most mental health problems are established between the ages of 14 to 24, highlighting the importance of early detection and intervention. From an economic perspective, $10.6 billion is spent on Australian mental health services annually, and productivity losses caused by mental ill-health are as high as $39 billion per year.

From facilitating data-supported decision-making to enabling self-directed intervention via everyday technologies, there are ways that AI can be used to respond to this national and global challenge.

The goal

Monash University, the University of Melbourne and Monash University Malaysia’s graduate research program for AI in Mental Health will train the next generation of graduate researchers with cross-disciplinary expertise and industry awareness to apply AI in solutions that transform mental health.

Outcomes you’ll drive

We will achieve our goal through:

• New models of care and technologies to support the mental health of Australians
• A model of research training that has been co-designed with industry and service delivery partners to deliver maximum impact
• A problem-driven research program grounded in the strategic priorities of our partners
• Sustainable collaborations between academia, industry and service providers supported by an AI in Mental Health network
• Opportunities for networking and professional development in the forms of regular events including talks, workshops and annual ‘all hands’ conferences.

Your study experience

As one of our graduate researchers, you will:

• Develop an understanding of both clinical mental health and applied AI methods, as well as expertise in your chosen area of interest
• Undertake industry placements that are directly related to your research, giving you first-hand experience of digital mental health care service design, development and delivery
• Have support from industry and service delivery partners, as well as academic researchers with clinical and technical expertise
• Contribute to solving real-world problems that are co-designed with industry partners and clinical services – providing a direct pathway from research to impact
• Take part in a dedicated nine-week training program delivered by CSIRO’s Data61
• Engage with a national cohort of Next Generation Graduate Program research students and industry partners through expert seminars, networking activities and student-led grassroots events.

The specific project -AI-augmented coaching, reporting and its assessment

This PhD Scholarship is offered as part of the NextGen AI in Mental Health Program which is training future leaders working at the intersection of AI and mental health. Within this project position you will develop general cutting edge generative AI and natural language processing methods to advance AI-augmented human-in-the-loop coaching and associated training planning and outcome reporting.

The research will be completed specifically in the context of novel AI-augmented gaming coaching and National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) reporting methods for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), psychosocial and other barriers. Moreover, the quality of these methods will be assessed in the context of improved coaching, NDIS reporting efficiencies and participant outcomes. This will be achieved in a real world setting through collaboration with Crank Group Pty Ltd.

Crank Group will provide re-identifiable, de-identified demographic information, NDIS plans, coaching transcripts and other datasets from their Crew members to enable the development of AI-augmented gaming coaching and reporting tools that will lead to improved outcomes for ASD participants. This will be achieved through three main projects. (1) The recruited PhD student will perform natural language processing and machine learning research into AI-augmented coaching to provide a pre-coaching session AI-based question and answer tool for Crank crew members to prepare for coaching sessions around specific video gaming topics. (2) Moreover, the PhD student will complete natural language processing and machine learning research into AI-based activity planning and National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) report generating based on demographic information, NDIS plans, coaching transcripts and other datasets of Crew members. This will lead to a tool that generates coaching plans, coaching activities and NDIS reports for Crank Crew members.  (3) Finally, the PhD student will assess the utility of the tools and methods described above for the purposes of supporting Crank Crew and demonstrating increased efficiencies in NDIS reporting and improved coaching and outcomes for Crank Crew members The AI-based approach will be benchmarked against standard manual approaches.

Skills in graph databases (Neo4J), machine learning and natural language processing are desirable.

Diversity drives innovation

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, including those without a traditional science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) background.

We help our students unlock their full potential to shape the future of AI and emerging technologies, with the understanding that diversity in thought and backgrounds is crucial for innovation.

Our program is designed to bring together a community of creative thinkers from various disciplines, building a collaborative and inclusive environment for learning and discovery.

A bespoke 9-week training program has been developed by CSIRO’s Data 61 to help candidates from different backgrounds achieve proficiency in key topics.

Candidate Requirements

Applicants will be considered if they fulfil the criteria for admission at Monash University and demonstrate excellent research capability. Details of the relevant requirements are available at www.monash.edu/graduate-research/future-students/apply.

Scholarship holders must undertake industry placements with industry partner(s) of the program within which the student enrols.

Students must register and complete the coursework component of the Next Generation Graduates Program within the within the first 12 months of receipt of a scholarship.

Students who receive a scholarship are expected to undertake their training in Australia and endeavour to remain in Australia for two years following completion of their degree.

Applicants must show excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and the ability to conduct self-motivated research within a high-performing and target-driven group of researchers.

Shortlisted candidates will be interviewed, over Zoom if necessary. The interviews will be conducted in English.

The successful applicant will be expected to enrol by March 2024.

Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) which shall comprise:

• A curriculum vitae, including a list of published works (if any)
• A full statement of academic record, supported by scanned copies of relevant certified documentation
• Contact details of two academic referees
• Evidence of English-language proficiency (if required)
• Any achievement records

Please submit this EOI to [email protected]

Enquiries

[email protected]

Closing Date

Thursday 29 February 2024, 11:55pm AEDT

Supporting a diverse workforce