Funded PhD Opportunities in Frailty Care, Health Economics, and Implementation Science at Bond University Bond University in Australia

Bond University’s Institute for Evidence-Based Healthcare (IEBH) is offering two fully funded PhD opportunities focused on improving frailty care in primary care settings in Australia. Supported by the MRFF and NHMRC, these positions are part of a multidisciplinary research project aiming to integrate frailty measurement and management into primary care, ultimately enhancing health outcomes for older Australians.

The first PhD project centers on co-designing frailty management interventions using qualitative research and implementation science methodologies. Candidates will work with primary care practitioners, older persons, and carers to develop and evaluate a toolkit for implementing frailty-focused interventions. The toolkit will address lifestyle factors such as physical activity, nutrition, and social prescribing, and the project will include process evaluation and communication strategies for effective delivery in primary care.

The second PhD project focuses on health economics, evaluating the economic impact of implementing frailty interventions in primary care. This includes integrating economic evaluation with implementation science, attributing economic value to health outcomes, and analyzing cost and revenue streams to support sustainable healthcare delivery. Candidates will access primary care data and use health economic analysis to identify potential costs and savings associated with scaling frailty interventions.

Supervision will be provided by Professor Mark Morgan (Bond University, General Practitioner and chair of the RACGP Expert Committee for Quality Care) and Professor Ruth Hubbard (University of Queensland, Geriatrician and Director of the Australia Frailty Network), alongside a team of experts in ageing, geriatric medicine, health economics, and primary care research.

Eligibility requirements include a relevant bachelor’s degree in health, economics, or statistics, with preference for those with clinical training. Applicants must demonstrate strong analytical, writing, and communication skills, knowledge of the Australian primary care system, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively. Experience in research, quality improvement, or primary care is desirable, as are publications and conference presentations.

Funding includes a tuition fee waiver for eligible candidates under the Australian Government’s Research Training Program (RTP) and a living stipend for up to three years. Additional employment opportunities within the Institute or Faculty may be available. Applications are open until 16 January 2026, and early submission is encouraged. For more information and to apply, visit the provided Bond University links.