Project summary
- Program
- PhD
- Location
- St Lucia
- Research area
- Psychology
Project description
Over one third of the global workforce, and 1 in 6 Australian workers, work long hours. Recent data shows that Australians have a poorer work-life balance than 75% of OECD countries. In response to these issues, the 4-day workweek movement has gained momentum globally, advocating for reduced working hours to counteract the negative consequences of overwork. To understand the possible impacts of such policies, we need to understand the factors driving the relationship between working hours and well-being. Yet this relationship is complex.
This project involves applying computational modelling and machine learning to panel survey data collected over 5 decades from over 600,000 individuals across more than a dozen countries. The project provides answers to important questions about the effects of long working hours. These questions include:
1) How big are the effects?
2) Who is most vulnerable?
3) How long do effects take to emerge?
4) And what other outcomes are important?
You will have an opportunity to develop expertise in quantitative research methods and organisational psychology. You will be supported by an engaged and enthusiastic team of staff and other PhD students within the Centre for Business and Organisational Psychology at UQ.
This PhD project is part of an ARC-funded Future Fellowship that aims to develop and validate a computational model that helps us understand the impact of long working hours.
Scholarship
This is an Fellowship support scheme scholarship project that aligns with a recently awarded Australian Government grant.
The scholarship includes:
- living stipend of $36,400 per annum tax free (2025 rate), indexed annually
- your tuition fees covered
- single overseas student health cover (OSHC).
Learn more about the Fellowship support scheme scholarship.
Supervisor
Principal supervisor
You must contact the principal supervisor for this project to discuss your interest. You should only complete the online application after you have reached agreement on supervision.
Always make sure you are approaching your potential supervisor in a professional way. We have provided some guidelines for you on how to contact a supervisor.
Preferred educational background
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 R statistical programming language would be of benefit to someone working on this project.
How to apply
This project requires candidates to commence no later than Research Quarter 1, 2026. To allow time for your application to be processed, we recommend applying no later than 30 September, 2025 30 June, 2025.
You can start in an earlier research quarter. See application dates.
Before you apply
- Check your eligibility for the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
- Prepare your documentation.
- Contact Dr Tim Ballard (t.ballard@uq.edu.au) to discuss your interest and suitability.
When you apply
You apply for this scholarship when you submit an application for a PhD. 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
- UQ Earmarked Scholarship type.