NIPP PhD Scholarship Opportunity: Optimising Prenatal Supplementation

Title

Optimising Prenatal Supplementation to Improve Pregnancy and Child Health Outcomes: National Industry PhD Program Scholarship Opportunity.

Description

This exciting PhD opportunity is a collaboration between the Caring Futures Institute at Flinders University, the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), and industry partner Natural Factors Australia.

The overarching aim of our research program is to generate evidence that informs the design of nutritional supplements during pregnancy to optimise health outcomes for mothers and their children. This is achieved through identifying pregnant women's preferences for supplements, developing improved formulations, and evaluating their effectiveness over time. The findings will contribute to evidence-based prenatal nutrition strategies and support maternal and child health policy and practice.

This exciting PhD opportunity offers the chance to contribute to a major national randomised controlled trial funded by the Women's & Children's Hospital Foundation, while gaining experience in nutritional supplement research and formulation development.

A key component of the PhD may involve working with data from the FIG Study, which is investigating the effects of continuing versus discontinuing folic acid supplementation during pregnancy. The successful candidate may work on projects evaluating the longer-term effects of prenatal folic acid supplementation on child health outcomes, contributing to evidence that inform future clinical recommendations, policy, and practice.

The candidate will also undertake a placement with the industry partner, Natural Factors Australia, gaining valuable experience in product development, industry collaboration, and the translation of research findings into practice.

Training Opportunities

This PhD will provide advanced training in:

• Clinical trial design and conduct

• Epidemiology and population health research

• Evidence synthesis and systematic review methodologies

• Knowledge translation and implementation science

• Research that informs policy and practice change

Applicants with backgrounds in nutrition and dietetics, public health, epidemiology, health sciences, medicine, pharmacy, or related disciplines are encouraged to apply.

The successful candidate will be supervised by Professor Tim Green and Associate Professor Luke Grzeskowiak. The candidate must be able to work independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary research team and demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills, together with strong interpersonal skills when engaging with staff, students, research participants, and collaborators.

Benefits

The scholarship includes:

• A stipend and top-up scholarship valued at $51,000 per annum (tax free)

• Scholarship support for up to 3.5 years

• A Research Training Program (RTP) Fee Offset Scholarship to cover tuition fees for Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens, and Australian permanent residents

Eligibility

To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must:

• Be an Australian citizen, New Zealand citizen, or Australian permanent resident; and

• Meet the admission requirements for a PhD at Flinders University, including:

  • An Australian Honours degree Class 1 or Class 2A (or an equivalent AQF Level 8 or higher qualification) that includes a research component of at least six months full-time study and a Distinction (75%) or higher; or

  • Demonstrated equivalent research experience, such as a substantial first-author peer-reviewed publication or a significant track record as an investigator on a competitively funded research project.

Application information

Before submitting an application, prospective applicants are encouraged to contact the Lead Investigator, Professor Tim Green, to discuss the project. Please include "Expression of Interest – Maternal and Child Nutrition PhD Scholarship" in the subject line of your email.

Email: tim.green@flinders.edu.au

Applications for admission and scholarship support are separate processes and must be submitted electronically through the University application system.

The successful candidate is expected to commence between October 2026 and January 2027, with a start date no later than 31 January 2027.