PhD in Social History of Polio Vaccination in Australia (1950s–1970s) University of Newcastle in Australia

This PhD opportunity at the University of Newcastle, Australia, invites applications for a research project focused on the social history of polio vaccination in Australia from the 1950s to the 1970s. The project is part of a larger Australian Research Council funded initiative examining polio’s history during a pivotal period marked by serious outbreaks and the introduction of vaccines. Led by Professor Catharine Coleborne, the research will explore public health promotion of the Sabin Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) in Australia from 1966, as well as transnational histories of polio and public health in Australia and New Zealand.

The doctoral student will engage with oral history collections, polio memories, stories from regional Australia, and the introduction of vaccines. The project includes a digital mapping component, offering opportunities to learn and apply digital humanities methods. Co-supervision will be provided by a member of the history academic staff and/or experts from public health, medicine, or Indigenous research, ensuring interdisciplinary support.

Students will have the chance to attend conferences, co-publish an article with the lead supervisor, participate in a small research team, and contribute to public engagement activities. The research aims to link personal accounts of polio to broader narratives of health and illness at the national level, combining oral stories, archival sources, and digital representations of infection and vaccination data. This approach promises a multi-dimensional understanding of polio’s history, articulating public memory, official medical knowledge, and the role of social welfare organizations.

Australia experienced higher median incidence rates of polio compared to the United States and United Kingdom throughout the twentieth century, with significant outbreaks in the mid-1950s until the introduction of the Salk vaccine in 1955 and the Sabin OPV in 1966. Despite the impact, polio’s story has been largely absent from national narratives, and there are few scholarly histories of the Australian experience. This project will address the scholarly silence, investigating social acceptance of the polio vaccine and the stigma associated with the disease.

The scholarship provides a living allowance of $38,938 per annum (2026 rate), indexed annually, and covers tuition fees for 3.5 years. An additional relocation allowance of up to $1,500 is available. The scholarship is contingent on the grant being fully established. Applicants should have experience in social histories of health and medicine, strong archival research skills, and preferably be based in Newcastle or Sydney. Domestic students are eligible.

To apply, candidates should send an email with scanned academic transcripts, CV, a brief statement of research interests, and a proposal linking their interests to the project. For more information and to access the application portal, visit the provided link.