Six UTS PhD students have been awarded scholarships in the inaugural round of the NSW Health PhD Scholarships Program. The UTS scholarship recipients are among 26 successful applicants from across NSW who will partner with local health districts and specialty health networks on research that will directly benefit patients and the healthcare system.
UTS Assistant Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Distinguished Professor of Public Health Elizabeth Sullivan says the cross-faculty representation of the UTS candidates, from engineering and IT to business, health and science, reflects the university’s transdisciplinary approach in health research.
"We have a diversity of health expertise across the university, which offers unique advantages in taking on new global health challenges and devising novel and sustainable solutions to the delivery and management of health care," says Sullivan.
"The university is committed to improving the overall health and wellbeing of our communities and creating people-centred health systems that are sustainable and equitable – from a healthy start to life to ageing well.
"We are delighted to partner with NSW Health on these prestigious scholarships to advance important health research."
The NSW Health PhD Scholarships Program provides funding to host universities to support PhD candidates to gain skills and undertake projects that will build capacity in areas of need for the NSW Health system. Funding for the PhD scholarships is matched by the host universities or partner organisations.
UTS scholarship recipients:
Aeden Roberts, Faculty of Engineering and IT
Partner organisation: Sydney Children’s Hospital Network
Project: Using genomics data to map rare childhood cancers and improve their management
Hei Shun Jackie Yim, Centre for Health Economics Research and Evaluation, UTS Business School
Partner organisation: Psycho-oncology Co-operative Research Group
Project: Cancer patients with anxiety and depression-cost effectiveness of interventions
Jessica Lee, Faculty of Health
Partner organisation: Sydney Local Health District
Project: Better management of cancer nerve pain
Christina Sanderson, Faculty of Health
Partner organisation: South East Sydney Local Health District
Project: Improving interventions for dying patients with cognitive impairment
Julee McDonagh, Faculty of Health
Partner organisation: St Vincent's Health Network
Project: Improving frailty interventions for individuals with heart failure
Patricia Zajaczkowski, Faculty of Science
Partner organisation: South Western Sydney Local Health District
Project: Identifying those groups in NSW most at risk of parasitic infection and developing targeted health interventions
- Six UTS PhD students are among 26 NSW Health scholarship recipients from across the state
- The students will partner with a range of health organisations on research projects as diverse as managing childhood cancers and identifying at-risk groups for parasitic infection