Woolcock Institute of Medical Research

Current PhD Opportunities

• Community based study of health effects of infrasound
• Decreasing the burden of allergic rhinitis in the community and establish a new evidence-based pathway for care in the community
• Emotional wellbeing in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Epidemiological investigation of childhood asthma within the childhood asthma prevention study (CAPS)
• Epidemiological investigation of COPD within the Australian burden of lung disease (BOLD) study
• Exercise, Rapid Weight Loss and Obstructive Sleep Apnea – The ExfastOSA Pilot Trial
• Inhaler devices and their use: shifting our understanding and changing practice
• Novel metrics to quantify patterns of medication use in asthma
• Reducing the burden of asthma in the community
• Smoking cessation within the health sector in Vietnam

Research at Sydney University and The Woolcock Institute of Medical Research

The majority of Woolcock research students enroll through the University of Sydney’s Medical School and become an integral part of both the Institute and University. Upon successful completion of your degree you will be a University of Sydney Graduate from the prestigious Faculty of Medicine. The University of Sydney is ranked among the top 100 Universities in the world by the Times Higher Education Supplement and is the oldest university in Australia, being founded in 1850. The University of Sydney’s researchers are international leaders in their fields. Woolcock researchers are funded by federal grants from the National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and Australian Research Council (ARC), as well as other commercial and non-federal funding sources. The Woolcock Institute hosts a number of prestigious centres and is affiliated with a number of centres and hospitals throughout the region.

The Woolcock Institute has an active postgraduate committee who hold many social events and initiatives. You will meet other like-minded students and be exposed to the diversity of research throughout the Institute.

Becoming a PhD or MPhil higher degree research student at the Woolcock Institute

1. Choose a project: Browse Our Research pages on this website. Once you have identified an area of interest, contact the Research Leader or our.research@woolcock.org.au and arrange for a visit to the Woolcock to discuss with them and other members of their group the possibility of studying at the Woolcock.
2. Discuss the project details with your potential supervisor and provide them with an updated copy of your resume.
3. Apply for a scholarship: Write a project proposal and enrol at the University of Sydney. One criteria for undertaking PhD studies at the Woolcock is that the student must have a competitive scholarship. Speak to your potential supervisor to learn about opportunities.
4. Enrol at University: Submit an enrolment application to the University of Sydney for a PhD program. Include with your application a copy of your academic transcript and project proposal.
5. Start: Submit a copy of your Letter of Enrolment from the University and Offer of Scholarship from the granting body to the Human Resources Officer. Arrange a start date with your supervisor. Begin your research program.

PhD students are required by the University to complete Annual Progress Reports. In addition, students are expected to participate in research meetings at the Woolcock throughout their candidature. These include:

• Tuesday/Friday Research Meetings Presentations (60 minute presentation by students, once a year)
• Short presentation to visiting Professors (20 minute presentation by student)
• Abstract – poster presentation to national conferences (once a year)
• Group Research meetings (informal presentations to members of group as required)
• Students are expected to attend Woolcock in-house seminars which are held during the year for the students.

Students are required to present their work in a 1 hour Final Seminar at the completion of their PhD, prior to the submission of their Thesis for assessment. This will be organised by the student and their supervisor.