PhD Scholarship Exploring Alcohol and Suicidality Among Australian Military Veterans

The Australian Institute of Suicide Research and Prevention within the School of Applied Psychology at Griffith University is offering a PhD scholarship for an exceptional candidate to join an innovative research program exploring real-time alcohol consumption and suicidality among Australian military veterans.

This project sits at the intersection of behavioural health addiction science and precision psychology which aims to utilise real-time non-invasive monitoring approaches to better understand alcohol-related suicide risk with veterans. The work integrates ecological momentary assessments with continuous transdermal alcohol sensing via wearable wristbands to capture dynamic within-person fluctuations in alcohol exposure and theoretical contributors of suicidal ideation and suicide capability in naturalistic settings. The successful candidate will work within a multidisciplinary team including experts in sociology epidemiology psychology suicide research and lived experiences.

This is a unique opportunity for a motivated researcher to contribute to world class science with real-world clinical impact build a strong publication track record and gain experience with state-of-the-art technologies and methods.

The successful applicant will become part of a dynamic research environment at Griffith University with access to state-of-the-art infrastructure sophisticated analytical approaches and a highly supportive supervisory team dedicated to professional development. This project provides a distinctive opportunity to contribute to a fast-advancing field with strong translational impact that includes the potential to influence how future interventions are tailored to individual patients.

This PhD scholarship is funded through an Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Ideas Grant. The NHMRC Ideas scheme supports innovative high-impact research that addresses significant challenges in health and medical science. As part of this nationally competitive program the successful candidate will join a research project that has undergone rigorous peer review for scientific excellence feasibility and potential impact.

Qualifications :

The selection of applicants for the award of higher degree research scholarships at Griffith University involves consideration of your academic merit and research background. To be successful within this role you will be able to work both independently and collaboratively in a research team. You will have evidence of a passion for suicide research and prevention.

• Expressions of interest are welcome from domestic applicants.
• Applicants must have completed a Bachelors degree with honours equivalent to first-class honours or a Masters degree (AQF Level 9) incorporating a significant research component of a standard comparable to a Bachelor honours degree or be regarded by Griffith University as having an equivalent level of attainment in accordance with Schedule One of the HDR Scholarship Policy. For further information on the eligibility requirements for the program refer here.

Additional Information :

About the scholarship
The scholarship has an annual stipend of $35656 (indexed) for a period of up to three years of full-time study. The candidate will work closely with the projects chief investigators and collaborating partners. This environment is designed to support high-quality doctoral training while contributing directly to the delivery of outcomes defined by the NHMRC-funded project.

The PhD project will be aligned with the aims of the NHMRC Ideas Grant enabling the candidate to undertake research that is both academically rigorous and directly relevant to advancing knowledge and practice in health and medical research.

What Griffith offers
As a scholarship holder you will study with a University that ranks among the top 2% worldwide and spans across campuses in South East Queensland. At Griffith University weve worked hard to create a culture that will challenge you to be curious creative and courageous. We also support the professional and personal development of all our HDR candidates and invest in the skills of our people. Griffith University values diversity inclusion and flexibility and we encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and people of all backgrounds to apply. Griffiths strategic goals are to also increase the proportion of women in senior academic and administrative roles and in Science Technology Engineering Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM).

EOI Process
Please do not select the APPLY button. All expressions of interest must be submitted to Dr Luke Bayliss  containing:

• Statement addressing your suitability for the project/scholarship
• Evidence that you have completed a program with the required grades as detailed in the About you section
• A curriculum vitae (CV)
• Names and contact details of two referees

Closing date for expressions of interest is: Monday 9 March 2026 9:00pm AEST

The preferred applicant will then be invited to apply for the program and scholarship on-line

For project related enquiries please contact:
Professor Kairi Kolves
Phone: (07)
Email: 

For administration enquiries please contact:
Griffith Graduate Research School
Email: 

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time