Are you considering undertaking a PhD in pharmacy and wondering what financial support is available? The University of Queensland offers a number of scholarships for students to access during their studies and research.
The Alan Grant-Taylor Memorial Scholarship is a UQ scholarship for Higher Degree by Research (HDR) candidates, supporting them to conduct high-quality research with the potential to advance community pharmacy practice. The scholarship was established in 1995 to commemorate the contribution of Mr Alan Grant-Taylor OAM to the field of community pharmacy practice.
This pharmacy scholarship is available to prospective HDR candidates who are awarded a UQ Graduate School Scholarship, and it provides a $10,000 top-up per annum. Combined with the Graduate School Scholarship, this comes to $45,000 each year*.
*Based on 2024 rate.
Will Olsen is a UQ HDR student completing his PhD with an Alan Grant-Taylor Memorial Scholarship. Find out how this pharmacy PhD scholarship is assisting Will in his research, what his project involves, and his tips for anyone who is considering applying for a UQ scholarship.
The process to apply is very easy, and it doesn’t hurt to throw your hat in the ring! There are so many important projects that relate to advancing community pharmacy practice; if you're thinking of starting a PhD in this area, make sure you apply for this scholarship.
How did you hear about this pharmacy PhD scholarship?
I first found out about the scholarship through the UQ website when I was looking for potential supervisors and PhD topics. The Alan Grant-Taylor Memorial Scholarship page listed a number of projects that would be eligible for the top-up scholarship, and this somewhat guided my choice in project.
How was the process of applying for the scholarship?
The application process for the scholarship was very straightforward. The application involved providing details of my prospective topic and a few words about myself and the project. From there, I just had to wait until my university admission had been approved and for the scholarship round to come through; I was delighted to find out that I had been selected for the top-up scholarship as well!
What is your PhD research about?
My PhD topic explores the responsibilities of pharmacists in the supply of prescription opioids in the context of the opioid crisis. The aim of this project is to develop an ethical framework that details the responsibilities of pharmacists dispensing opioids in order to support clinical decision-making.
What inspired you to undertake your PhD and this topic in particular?
Before starting my PhD, I had the opportunity to work in a specialist clinic for opioid replacement therapy. In this role, I observed the considerable impact that opioid addiction and other opioid-related harm has on individuals and families in Australia. This project was an opportunity for me to contribute to addressing this health-system challenge at a high level.
What were you doing prior to starting your PhD?
Before commencing my PhD studies, I was working as a community pharmacist. In the final year of my Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) program at UQ, I completed my honours project, which gave me a taste for research.
"I had always planned on going back to complete some sort of postgraduate study. In my case, the timing and motivation worked out to start a PhD project."
What was the honours project you did research on about?
The work that I completed as part of my honours project focused on the regulatory changes related to over-the-counter codeine supply in 2017. At the time, the re-scheduling of codeine was a hotly debated topic. My project sought to determine whether some patients might be negatively affected by these changes in codeine availability. Thankfully, in 2024, we have seen the widespread benefits of this regulatory change. Nevertheless, the role of pharmacists in responding to the opioid crisis is even more important now; the work completed in my honours project has inspired me to continue researching in this area.
Why did you apply for the pharmacy PhD scholarship?
I applied for the Alan Grant-Taylor Memorial scholarship because of the opportunity that it has provided past recipients to engage in their PhD studies. I was encouraged by the contribution that previous projects have made to advancing community pharmacy practice, a focus that aligns with my motivation in research.
How has the scholarship assisted you so far?
The scholarship has allowed me to commit more of my time to my PhD project, as I have less of a financial requirement to work during the week. When I have picked up work outside of my PhD project, I have been tutoring into the undergraduate pharmacy program at UQ. Being able to apply current research to teaching practices has been incredibly rewarding; it is a privilege to play a role in developing a wise generation of community pharmacists.
"I aim to be able to spend as much time on my project as possible while also engaging in activities to extend my knowledge such as education events and conferences. Additionally, I hope to continue strengthening ties between academia and community pharmacy practice."
Have you experience any unexpected benefits from the scholarship?
I didn’t think I would enjoy attending conferences when I started my PhD, but it has been incredibly valuable to attend a number of conferences in a variety of field. The scholarship has made attending these conferences possible for me. I was able to attend the 2023 Australasian Association of Bioethics and Health Law. The opportunity to learn about cutting-edge bioethics research and to apply these concepts to my PhD work has improved my research and professional competence tremendously.
What does being awarded this scholarship mean to you?
I was delighted to find out I was to be the recipient of this scholarship. Receiving the recognition that my PhD work has the merit to be considered for such a prestigious scholarship was incredibly rewarding.
One of my supervisors, Associate Professor Chris Freeman, was a recipient of the scholarship when he was completing his PhD. Chris pointed out the benefits of the opportunity and suggested that I apply. It is a great privilege to receive the same scholarship as Chris, and I now look forward to being able to contribute to and be part of the legacy of this scholarship.
What would you like potential future applicants to know about the scholarship and the process?
The process to apply is very easy, and it doesn’t hurt to throw your hat in the ring! There are so many important projects that relate to advancing community pharmacy practice; if you're thinking of starting a PhD in this area, make sure you apply for this scholarship.
Want to learn more? Read about the Alan Grant-Taylor Memorial Scholarship and how to apply.
