Valuing Emerging Central Venous Access Device Technologies through Patient-Reported Outcomes and Comparative Health Technology Assessment Research (VECTOR Study)

The Centre for Health Economics Research and Evaluation (CHERE) is seeking one candidate to undertake a Doctor of Philosophy at the Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney (UTS).

The successful applicant will conduct this PhD as part of a Medical Research Futures Fund (MRFF) funded project exploring approaches to improve health technology assessment of Central Venous Access Devices (CVAD). The PhD candidate will focus on the conceptualisation, development and implementation of discrete choice experiments to generate preference-based value sets for a CVAD specific Patient Reported Outcome Measure (PROM) and Patient Reported Experience Measure (PREM). The candidate will also have the opportunity to investigate how the data generated from these value sets can be used to improve CVAD specific health technology assessment processes.

The successful applicants will be supervised by Profs Brendan Mulhern (CHERE), Stephen Goodall (CHERE) and Joshua Byrnes (University of Queensland). A full scholarship and fee waiver is being offered.

Applicants will be assessed on the basis of academic merit, previous research experience, research outputs, and alignment with the University's research priorities.

In addition to ensuring you are eligible for admission to UTS, students should contact Brendan Mulhern (Brendan.mulhern@uts.edu.au) to discuss suitability before submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI).

A Scholarship allowance (stipend) is available, which will be discussed with eligible applicants.

Full-time studentship includes an option to work part-time, subject to relevant experience and satisfactory progress in the PhD program. 

To be eligible for a scholarship, applicants are expected to demonstrate excellent academic performance and, preferably, additional relevant research experience and/or peer-reviewed research publications, and/or academic awards and prizes.

In addition to ensuring you are eligible for scholarship and admission to UTS, students must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to Brendan Mulhern (Brendan.mulhern@uts.edu.au). EOI submission deadline is 25/09/2026

Your EOI should include:

• A personal statement (750 words maximum) outlining your suitability for undertaking a Higher Degree by Research, your research interests and goals, and your relevant research experience.
• Academic curriculum vitae including your qualifications, employment history and research experience
• Official academic transcripts for all undergraduate and postgraduate studies, including master’s thesis results (if applicable).
• Evidence of research output, such as peer-reviewed publications,  demonstrating your capacity to undertake independent research (if applicable).
• Proof of English language proficiency (if you have not completed at least 5 years of study in Australia).
• Two written academic references, including referee contact.
• Evidence of academic prizes, scholarships, and awards (certificates, statements of award). 
  
  

Shortlisted candidates should be available for a virtual interview in early October.

Successful candidate is then required to submit an online UTS application for the relevant course name along with all required documentation as listed on the website.

To discuss the research project, EOI process or application requirements, please contact 

Brendan Mulhern (Brendan.mulhern@uts.edu.au)