Enhancing Blood-Borne Virus Care
Improving blood-borne virus care for women who inject drugs
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.
Women who inject drugs face among the starkest inequities in blood-borne virus and syphilis care, particularly in the perinatal period, when testing and treatment benefit both mother and infant.
This PhD will use a mixed-methods approach to examine how perinatal and harm reduction pathways can be better integrated. You will analyse quantitative National Hepatitis C Point-of-Care Testing Program data to characterise gaps in perinatal care, and conduct interviews with women and providers to identify structural and stigma-related barriers and enablers. Findings will inform a stigma-responsive implementation framework for integrated care in Australian and Canadian settings.
You will join an international supervisory team spanning UNSW's Kirby Institute and Centre for Social Research in Health and McGill University's RISE3 Implementation Science Lab in Montreal, and partner with community organisations to translate evidence into impact. Ideal candidates have backgrounds in public health, epidemiology, social science or implementation science, and quantitative or qualitative skills.
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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, Alison Marshall - z5028792@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
Senior Lecturer Alison Marshall (UNSW, Primary Supervisor)
Assistant Professor Guillaume Fontaine (McGill University, Co-Supervisor)
Professor Natalie Taylor (UNSW, Co-Supervisor)
Professor Jason Grebely (UNSW, 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 | Kirby Institute
Impact focus area
Pillar 3: Convene across sectors and build networks locally and globally
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Impact focus area
Pillar 6: Accelerate the transition to a sustainable society and planet
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Impact focus area
Pillar 8: Enable healthy lives
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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.