Making cognition comparable: developing and validating a harmonised cognitive constructs framework for international cohort studies of ageing

Population ageing worldwide is accompanied by a sharp rise in people with cognitive impairment and dementia. Although numerous longitudinal cohort studies have collected cognitive data over decades, meaningful cross-study comparisons remain limited due to heterogeneity in cognitive assessments, test batteries, and scoring approaches. This fragmentation constrains statistical power, limits generalisability, and restricts the ability to investigate global patterns and inequities in cognitive ageing.

COSMIC (Cohort Studies of Memory in an International Consortium), hosted and led at the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA), brings together population-based ageing cohorts from diverse global regions with the aim of harmonising cognitive data and advancing international comparative research. COSMIC relies on retrospective harmonisation of cognitive measures, requiring robust conceptual, methodological, and statistical approaches.

CHeBA website: https://www.unsw.edu.au/cheba/research-and-impact/consortia/cosmic

This PhD project will contribute to the development and validation of COSMIC-HCOG - a harmonised cognitive construct framework designed to enable comparability of cognitive outcomes across international ageing cohorts. The project spans the full harmonisation pipeline, including conceptual alignment, expert consensus, and statistical harmonisation.

It is expected that the successful candidate will also apply for the standard scholarships (e.g., RTP, UPA) at the time of their PhD application.

Who we are looking for

We are seeking a highly motivated candidate with strong quantitative and analytical skills and an interest in data methods, cognitive ageing, dementia research, and international collaborative science.

The ideal candidate will have:

• A background in epidemiology, data science, biostatistics, psychology, neuroscience, or a related discipline.
• First experience working with longitudinal or large-scale observational data.
• Strong statistical skills and familiarity with software such as R, Stata, or Python.
• Interest in psychometrics, measurement theory, and data harmonisation methods.
• The ability to work independently while contributing to an interdisciplinary, international research team.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and demonstrated capacity for research.

Eligibility

Domestic  PhD  candidates.

Scholarship

$10,000 per annum for 3.5 years. 

How to apply 

Please email A/Prof Sussane Roher s.roehr@unsw.edu.au a copy of your CV and academic transcripts by the deadline.

Further information on how to apply can be found here HDR Application Process

Application deadline: 17 April 2026