The Opportunity:

The Children’s Lung Health team at Telethon Kids Institute aims to improve the lung health in children with asthma, neuromuscular disease, cystic fibrosis, following preterm birth and Aboriginal lung health. This project aims to identify the most predictive measures for tracking disease progression in children and young people with neuromuscular disorders. Potential areas of focus for PhD projects include, but are not limited to; functional assessments, sleep studies, lung function testing and quality of life assessments in children with neuromuscular disorders.

We are seeking a highly motivated international postgraduate student for PhD studies in developing predictors of disease progression in children with neuromuscular disorders. Thanks to the generous support of the Health Science faculty at Curtin, a full international scholarship is available and the successful applicant will be provided a Curtin-funded tuition fee offset scholarship to assist with tuition fee liability. Exceptional students may be offered a top-up scholarship from the Children’s Lung Health team. We are seeking a student who can begin in early 2020.

The Role:

Children with neuromuscular disorders have weaker muscles, and this can affect their breathing. Problems with breathing often begins during sleep, but it can be difficult to determine when these problems start and when to begin treatment. This project will examine whether a combination of lung function tests, functional assessments, sleep measures and quality of life questionnaires can monitor breathing difficulties in children with neuromuscular disorders.

This is a multi-centre study based at Telethon Kids Institute and Perth Children’s Hospital in WA, Australia. The student will also complete part of their studies at Stanford University and the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital in California, USA.

Experience: 

Please submit a cover letter addressing the following selection criteria:

• Have an Honours degree, Masters by Research degree or equivalent, or has significant research experience in health or medical sciences;
• Minimum English language requirements for Health Sciences Research Degree entry;
• Eligible to enrol in a PhD at a Curtin University;
• Self-management and high personal motivation
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team

The successful candidate will be asked to provide a Working with Children’s Check and satisfactory National Police Check prior to commencement.