About the position
As Australia's first private University, Bond University based at Robina, Gold Coast seeks to be recognised internationally as a leading independent university, imbued with a spirit to innovate, a commitment to influence and a dedication to inspire tomorrow's professionals who share a personalised and transformational student experience.
The Faculty of Health Sciences & Medicine is calling for expressions of interest from graduates in health, pharmacy, economics, data science or a related discipline wishing to complete a PhD.
Project Description
This PhD opportunity will form part of a broader Centre of Research Excellence (CRE) collaborative research program and will develop and evaluate an evidence-informed framework for reassessing the value and pricing of medicines across their lifecycle in Australia.
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) provides Australians with equitable access to subsidised medicines, with initial pricing informed by assessment of clinical effectiveness, safety and cost-effectiveness, followed by pricing negotiations and application of relevant PBS pricing policies. This research responds to the direction identified by Australia's 2024 Health Technology Assessment Policy and Methods Review towards greater consideration of post-HTA evidence, pricing and reassessment over a medicine's lifecycle.
The future candidate will be joining a world-class team of national researchers and health economists under the supervision of Associate Professor Hansoo Kim at Bond University.
This national program of work will directly lead to practical recommendations for reassessing medicine value and pricing across the PBS lifecycle, with the potential to inform national policy, improve value for the health system and support sustainable access to effective medicines.
The PhD candidate will have the opportunity to develop advanced skills in health economics, health technology assessment, economic modelling, medicines policy, real-world data analysis, stakeholder engagement and mixed-methods research.
This PhD project may involve:
- Conducting scoping and systematic evidence reviews of value-based pricing and post-listing medicine reassessment approaches in Australia and internationally.
- Analysing longitudinal PBS pricing, utilisation and reimbursement data to examine how medicine prices and value change across the post-listing lifecycle.
- Undertaking stakeholder surveys to establish expert consensus on when and how medicine prices should be reassessed.
- Developing and applying health economic models to evaluate alternative lifecycle pricing approaches and their implications for cost-effectiveness, health-system value and medicine expenditure.
The project is expected to generate peer-reviewed publications and policy-relevant outputs.
About the person
Selection criteria for the opportunity includes the following:
Applicants should have one of the following: Masters by Research degree/Masters degree with a substantial research component or an Honours degree - Class 1 or Class 2 Division A or other research experience deemed equivalent to one of the above, i.e. applicant has worked as a research assistant or has a publication record or professional experience and can demonstrate the appropriate level of expertise in research methodology and relevant research skills.
More information: PhD Entry Requirements
Essential:
- Bachelor’s degree in health sciences, pharmacy, economics, public health, epidemiology, statistics, data science or a related discipline.
- Demonstrated research capability (e.g., Honours or Master’s thesis, research assistant role)
- Demonstrated quantitative and analytical skills, with the capacity to work with complex health, economic or administrative datasets.
- Ability to undertake research, critical appraisal and evidence synthesis, including reviewing and interpreting scientific literature.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary research team and engage with research and policy stakeholders.
Desirable:
- Knowledge or experience in health economics, health technology assessment (HTA), economic evaluation or outcomes research.
- Experience with statistical analysis or health economic modelling, using relevant analytical software.
- Experience working with large health, pharmaceutical or administrative datasets.
- Demonstrated interest in health policy and research translation, with the ability to collaborate with diverse research, clinical, consumer and policy stakeholders.
Salary details
Candidates will receive high quality, personalised supervision and access to the full range of facilities available to Bond University students, successful applicants will be entitled to the following benefits:
Tuition fee waiver: The Australian Government’s Research Training Program (RTP) scheme provides tuition fee waivers for eligible Australian and New Zealand citizens, and Australian permanent residents enrolled in higher degree programs such as a PhD. The tuition waiver lasts the duration of the program.
Stipend: This is a National Health and Medical Research Council funded project with a living stipend allocated for the successful PhD applicant for up to three (3) years.
Employment opportunities: The successful applicant may also be provided with employment opportunities such as tutoring or research assistant work within the Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine dependent upon prior experience. Employment will be subject to the conditions of the PhD program and the terms of any scholarship awarded.
Additional information
For all enquiries related to this position, please contact Tanya Forbes: [email protected]
Application and submission details
Please submit your expression of interest via the Bond University application portal. Your EOI must include:
- The title of the position you are applying for.
- A written statement (maximum of 2 pages) describing your interest in the research project and proposed research topic.
- A written statement (maximum of 2 pages) addressing the selection criteria set out above.
- A current curriculum vitae including the names of two academic referees.
- Your academic transcripts.