Eliminating Prison Hepatitis C Transmission
Eliminating hepatitis C in prisons nationally and globally: molecular epidemiology and public health approaches
Published on the 08 October 2026 by UNSW Scientia PhD Project
This project is part of the UNSW Scientia PhD Scholarship Scheme
Successful applicants will receive an annual stipend and a one-off Global Mobility Grant to conduct international engagement activities.
This PhD project will investigate how hepatitis C virus (HCV) spreads in custodial settings across Australia, New York and Kenya. The successful candidate will combine viral genomics, epidemiology, behavioural research and public health implementation science to investigate HCV infection transmission in the prisons settings.
By integrating viral genomic sequencing with epidemiological, behavioural and health-system data, the project will identify transmission networks and examine how factors such as injecting drug use, prison mobility, healthcare access, treatment coverage and prevention services influence HCV transmission. Comparing diverse settings will enable identifying both shared and context-specific drivers of transmission and inform targeted, culturally appropriate public health responses.
The candidate will join an internationally-recognised prison-health research team, supervised by Prof Rowena Bull,A/Prof Behzad Hajarizadeh and Dr Yumi Sheehan from The Kirby Institute, and A/Prof Matthew Akiyama at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. Together, the supervisory team brings expertise in HCV virology, viral genomics, epidemiology, prison health, infectious diseases and implementation science. The project may also provide opportunities to conduct research in New York and Kenya.
This internationally collaborative research will provide high-level training while contributing to more equitable HCV elimination in prisons nationally and globally.
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- Residency: Domestic applicants only.
- Degree program: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
You must meet the minimum requirements below to apply:
- An appropriate Bachelor degree with first or upper second class Honours from UNSW: OR
- A completed Master by Research, with a substantial research component and demonstrated capacity for timely completion of a high-quality research thesis; OR
- a qualification from another tertiary institution at a level considered equivalent by the Faculty Higher Degree Committee (HDC)
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Eligible applicants must contact the Primary Supervisor, Rowena Bull - z2274440@ad.unsw.edu.au. If she agrees to supervise you, you will be invited to submit a formal application to UNSW.
Your email should include:
- CV
- Official academic transcripts
- A brief introduction about you and why you are qualified for this project.
- What interests you about this project and the supervisor(s) expertise.
Research project overview
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Scholarship value
$39,991 per annum (2027 rate) stipend for 3.5 years
$25,000 Global Mobility Grant (one-off) -
Supervisory team
Professor Rowena Bull (UNSW, Primary Supervisor)
Associate Professor Matthew Akiyama (Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Co-Supervisor)
Associate Professor Behzad Hajarizadeh (UNSW, The Kirby Institute, Co-Supervisor)
Dr Yumi Sheehan (UNSW, The Kirby Institute, Co-Supervisor)
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Global research partner
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Candidate residency
Domestic
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Degree program
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
UNSW School | Research area
Faculty of Medicine & Health | School of Biomedical Sciences
Impact focus area
Pillar 8: Enable healthy lives
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Impact focus area
Pillar 9: Strengthen societal resilience, security and cohesion
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Supervisors
Do you have questions?
The UNSW Graduate Research School manages all postgraduate research applications and scholarships. Get in touch with our team to discuss your research interests and the next steps.