QUT Lighting and Health in ICU PhD Scholarships

Queensland University of Technology (QUT) is offering two fully funded PhD scholarships for research into circadian-responsive lighting and health in Intensive Care Units (ICUs). This innovative project aims to investigate how lighting design can support sleep, recovery, and overall patient outcomes in critical care environments. Patients in ICUs are often exposed to lighting conditions that disrupt circadian rhythms, leading to sleep deprivation and increased risk of delirium. The project addresses this gap by combining high-resolution measurements of light exposure and sleep with computational modelling, simulation, and optimisation to develop evidence-based, patient-centred lighting strategies.

Successful candidates will join an interdisciplinary team of experts in lighting, architecture, health, and building science, collaborating with healthcare, industry, and research partners. The research will contribute to the co-development of design guidelines and decision-support tools that translate findings on light exposure and sleep into actionable strategies for improving patient outcomes and informing human-centric lighting design in intensive care settings.

The project offers two distinct PhD research directions:

• PhD 1 – Sleep and Physiological Data Analysis (Data-Driven Focus): Focuses on collection, analysis, and interpretation of sleep and physiological data from ICU patients, alongside environmental measurements. The candidate will apply statistical and machine learning methods to identify patterns in time-series data, quantify the impact of light exposure on sleep and circadian outcomes, and contribute to evidence-based targets for ICU lighting design.
• PhD 2 – Environmental Modelling and Lighting Simulation (Computational Focus): Focuses on environmental monitoring, simulation, and optimisation of circadian-responsive lighting strategies. The candidate will develop predictive models of light exposure, align simulated conditions with real-world measurements, apply optimisation techniques, and undertake prototyping and experimental testing of lighting concepts.

Both PhD students will be actively involved in field-based research in real hospital environments, contributing to environmental measurements and/or wearable data acquisition. The research team works closely with healthcare partners at the Prince Charles Hospital, and candidates will be embedded within a multidisciplinary group at QUT.

Funding: The QUT scholarship provides a full-time, tax-exempt stipend of $40,000 per annum for a minimum of 3 years, with the possibility of a 6-month extension. Tuition fee offset/sponsorship covers tuition fees for the first 4 full-time equivalent years of doctoral studies. Extensions are subject to project duration and commencement date.

Eligibility: Applicants must meet QUT's Doctor of Philosophy entry requirements, including English language proficiency. Enrolment as a full-time internal student is required unless approval for part-time/external study is obtained. Candidates must commence by October/November 2026. A strong academic background in architectural science, lighting, building science, behavioural science, human physiology and sleep science, data science, computer science, or related quantitative fields is required. Applicants should hold a Master by Research or Master of Philosophy in one of these fields. Experience with quantitative research methods, field measurements, or human-technology interaction is highly regarded. Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work independently and collaboratively in interdisciplinary teams are essential. Applicants should demonstrate experience in environmental monitoring, behavioural observation, data analysis (statistical modelling/machine learning), simulation, optimisation, or computational design workflows. A writing example is required.

Application Process: The first step is to email A/Prof Veronica Garcia-Hansen (Subject: ARC Scholarship) with your CV, academic transcripts, cover letter (max 2 pages), and a writing example. If shortlisted, you may be invited for an interview. Successful candidates will submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) and nominate A/Prof Veronica Garcia-Hansen as principal supervisor. The application deadline is 22 June 2026.

For more information and to apply, visit the QUT scholarship website.