Danielle Mazza

This PhD scholarship at Monash University offers an exciting opportunity to explore women's perspectives on reproductive wellbeing through qualitative research. The project addresses a critical gap in women's sexual and reproductive health by focusing on how women themselves define reproductive wellbeing and what supports it, rather than solely on measurable health outcomes. Through in-depth interviews with women of reproductive age across Australia, the research aims to generate insights that will inform the co-design of more responsive, patient-centred health services and contribute to policy initiatives advancing reproductive autonomy and equity. The successful candidate will join the SPHERE NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health in Primary Care, a multidisciplinary research hub within the Department of General Practice at the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences. SPHERE focuses on improving access to and the quality of women's sexual and reproductive health care, particularly in preconception care, contraception, medical abortion, and endometriosis and pelvic pain management in primary care settings. Supervision will be provided by Professor Danielle Mazza, a nationally and internationally recognised leader in implementation research and knowledge translation in general practice, with a strong track record in advancing women's sexual and reproductive health in Australia. The project is ideal for candidates passionate about health equity, qualitative research, and making a real-world impact in women's health care. The scholarship provides a tax-free stipend of $37,145 per annum (2026 full-time rate) for three years. Applicants who are health care practitioners or psychologists are eligible for an additional stipend of $5,000 per year (up to $15,000 total) on top of the standard Monash RTP stipend. This opportunity is open to domestic students only, and applicants must meet the Monash University minimum requirements for PhD admission. For full eligibility criteria, refer to the Monash University admissions website. To apply, submit a cover letter outlining your research interests and motivation for undertaking a PhD, a CV with qualifications, academic achievements, publications, work history, and references, and a copy of your academic transcripts via the Monash University application portal by 29 April 2026.

This PhD scholarship at Monash University offers an exciting opportunity to explore women's perspectives on reproductive wellbeing through qualitative research. The project addresses a critical gap in women's sexual and reproductive health by focusing on how women themselves define reproductive wellbeing and what they believe supports it, rather than solely measurable outcomes like reducing unintended pregnancy or increasing contraceptive uptake. Insights from in-depth interviews with women of reproductive age across Australia will inform the co-design of more responsive, patient-centred health services and contribute to policy initiatives that advance reproductive autonomy and equity. The successful candidate will join the SPHERE NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health in Primary Care, a multidisciplinary cohort based at the Department of General Practice, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (MNHS) at Monash University. SPHERE focuses on improving access to and quality of women's health care services, particularly in preconception care, contraception, medical abortion, and endometriosis and pelvic pain management in primary care. Monash University is internationally recognized for excellence in research and teaching, and is a member of Australia’s Group of Eight coalition. The principal supervisor is Professor Danielle Mazza, Head of the Department of General Practice and a leader in implementation research and knowledge translation in general practice, especially in women’s sexual and reproductive health. Professor Mazza leads the NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Sexual and Reproductive Health for Women in Primary Care (SPHERE), aiming to improve quality, safety, and capacity of primary health care services for better outcomes in women’s health. Funding is provided through the Monash Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend, offering a tax-free stipend of $37,145 per annum (2026 full-time rate). Applicants who are health care practitioners or psychologists are eligible for an additional stipend of $5,000 per year (up to $15,000 over three years). The position is full-time for three years and is open to domestic students only. Eligibility requires meeting Monash University’s minimum PhD admission requirements. Applicants should submit a cover letter describing their research interests, a CV with qualifications, academic achievements, publications, work history and references, and academic transcripts. The application deadline is 29 April 2026. For further information, refer to the Monash University website and the application portal. This project is ideal for those passionate about health equity, qualitative research, and creating real-world impact in women’s sexual and reproductive health care. The research environment is supportive, diverse, and embedded in an ecosystem of health, academia, and industry, offering opportunities for career development and meaningful contribution to health policy and practice.