Advanced data-driven methods for epidemiological analysis of poisoning incidents in Australia: A spatial and environmental risk assessment

Poisoning remains a critical public health challenge in Queensland and Australia, encompassing environmental toxins, agricultural chemicals, venomous bites/stings, medications, household chemicals, and illicit substances. Climate change is expected to amplify these risks through its effects on ecosystems, agriculture, and urban environments. Yet, State and nationwide studies examining spatial, temporal, and environmental drivers of poisoning are limited.

This PhD project will leverage data from State Poison Information Centres, hospital admissions, and coronial death records (via ABS) to conduct a comprehensive, spatially explicit risk assessment. Advanced spatial epidemiological modelling and data-driven approaches, including sophisticated computational methods (e.g., random forests, gradient boosting, deep learning) and Bayesian hierarchical frameworks, will be applied to analyse geographical hotspots, environmental risk factors, and multilevel spatial hierarchies at both the Queensland and national levels.

This project is supported by the Research project scholarship.

Learn more about the Research project scholarship.

Your application will be assessed on a competitive basis.

We take into account your:

• previous academic record
• publication record
• honours and awards
• employment history

A working knowledge of epidemiology; risk assessments; data-driven approaches; computational methods; public health; and environmental health would be of benefit to someone working on this project.

You will demonstrate academic achievement in the field/s of environmental health sciences, public health, risk assessments, data-driven approaches and the potential for scholastic success.

A background or knowledge of epidemiology; environmental health and biostatistics is highly desirable.

Before you apply

Before submitting an application you should:

1. check your eligibility for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
2. prepare your documentation
3. contact Associate Professor Nicholas Osborne (n.osborne@uq.edu.au) to discuss your interest and suitability
4. submit your application by 5 May, 2025 5 May, 2025.

When you apply

You apply for this scholarship when you submit an application for your program. You don’t need to submit a separate scholarship application.

In your application ensure that under the ‘Scholarships and collaborative study’ section you select:

• ‘My higher degree is not collaborative’
• ‘I am applying for, or have been awarded a scholarship or sponsorship'
• ‘Other’, then ‘Research Project Scholarship’ and in the ‘Name of scholarship’ field enter POISONING-OSBORNE.

Apply now