RMIT-CSIRO Next-Gen PhD in Designing an Incentivisation Model for Blockchain Technology in Health Equity

Data61/CSIRO Next Generation Artificial Intelligence Graduates program and Quaefacta Health will provide a PhD stipend scholarship for 3.5 years of $40,500 per annum. The program will also supply $5,000 per annum for training expenses and $5,000 per annum for travel expenses for the candidate. The program will further provide each candidate with a 6-month industry placement opportunity.

Open now.

The application will close once the position is filled.

One (1).

Applicants must have a first-class or 2A honours or a master's degree in Computer Science &IT, or Engineering or equivalent in a related discipline.

Applicants must satisfy RMIT University’s Doctor of Philosophy entry requirements.

Applicants must be Australian Citizens or Permanent Residents.

Interested applicants should email Professor Ibrahim Khalil (ibrahim.khalil@rmit.edu.au) and Lea Dias - Founder & CEO Quaefacta Health Pty Ltd (lea.dias@quaefacta.com) with the following information:

1. Cover letter outlining interest and alignment with the proposed research, and addressing the eligibility criteria (also see "Further information below");
2. CV (including the names of two referees);
3. Copy of Honours/Masters thesis or a first-authored published peer-reviewed journal/conference papers (if applicable).

Shortlisted applicants will then be invited to an interview. The selected applicant will be supported to develop a formal PhD application to RMIT. A scholarship application will only be successful if the prospective candidate is provided with an offer for admission from RMIT University.

Working in collaboration with the Principal Investigators, the specific responsibilities of the PhD candidate include:

1. Research the role and application of blockchain and decentralised ledger technologies in healthcare, focusing on patient and clinician centric healthcare and patient health data ownership.
2. Investigate the role of blockchain as a privacy preserving platform for privately and securely exchanging health data across the blockchain network using private/public key protocols.
3. Incorporate strictest privacy standards in line with Privacy by Design/Privacy by Default, GDPR.
4. Manage and assist in design and implementation of the current Digital Health Wallet prototype.
5. Demonstrate a model for incentivisation of health data with the various healthcare stakeholders including the role of Metaverse, NFTs, tokens, cryptocurrencies and fiat currencies.
6. Examine the role of blockchain for the interoperability of health data incorporating FHIR standards and openEHR interoperability standards.

Professor Ibrahim Khalil (ibrahim.khalil@rmit.edu.au) and Lea Dias - (lea.dias@quaefacta.com)