PhD scholarship in CSIRO Next Generation Graduate Program (AI in Mental Health)
Job No.: 664722
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 $41,650 AUD per annum as well as an additional $20,000 of research and travel expenses to support study.
The Opportunity
Monash University seeks applicants for this opportunity who are able to demonstrate and present valid and current Australian work rights.
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 - Enhancing Service User Care Pathway Experience through AI-Driven Personalisation
The project is a partnership with headspace National Youth Mental Health Foundation. Refer to this page for more information.
We are seeking a highly motivated and innovative PhD student interested in exploring the opportunities for using AI to enhance personalisation of services and resource recommendations, ultimately optimising the overall user journey. This project will improve the care pathway experience for young people and families accessing mental health services through the headspace website.
Possible approaches to addressing this challenge might include:
- Developing algorithms to identify patterns and preferences based on service users’ previous content engagement on the headspace website, enabling the generation of tailored service and resource suggestions
- Exploring 1:1 and group chat inputs to identify recurring themes in presenting needs and implement AI-driven tools to automate content suggestions or propose next steps
- Establishing a system to share identified themes and content suggestions in real time with service providers during live engagements, to facilitate more specific and timely content recommendations by service providers to enhance user engagement
- Analysing website activity data to identify potential crisis points that might require intervention or escalation to a clinician when critical points are detected, ensuring timely support
- Utilising data inputs from service user surveys to enhance the generation of personalised service and resource recommendations and implementing strategies to continuously refine recommendations based on evolving user preferences and needs
- Analysing assessment inputs to determine appropriate next steps which may include appropriate resource or service recommendations or follow-up assessments
Prospective candidates should possess a strong background in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analysis. Additionally, experience in healthcare informatics, user experience research, and a commitment to improving mental health services are highly 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 January 2025.
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 FIT-graduate.research@monash.edu
Enquiries
Please direct your enquires to FIT-graduate.research@monash.edu
Closing Date
Saturday 25 May 2024, 11:55 pm AEST
Supporting a diverse workforce
