[Australia] Ph.D Scholarships at the University of Wollongong

Ph.D Scholarships at the University of Wollongong

Applications are invited for three full-time PhD scholarships (2 x Australian Postgraduate Award - Industry) and (1 x University Postgraduate Award and HDR Tuition Fee Exemption Scholarship), tenable at the University of Wollongong within the Faculty of Informatics. The APA(I) scholarships are funded by an ARC Linkage Project grant, New Methods for Small Group Analysis from Sample Surveys, awarded to Professor Ray Chambers and Professor David Steel of the University of Wollongong. The industry partners are the Methodology Division of the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics, the Centre for Epidemiology and Research at NSW Health and the Public Health Intelligence unit at the New Zealand Ministry of Health.

Accurate data for population sub-groups and between small areas are fundamental to good policy decisions in health, environment, economics and social issues. Unfortunately, national and state averages of statistics on unemployment, salinity, drought impact, and health often hide large differences at lower levels of aggregation. This local variation needs to be understood so that effective policies can be developed and carried out efficiently and their impact monitored. Using statistical models that combine survey data with other information about the groups of interest, this project will develop robust and efficient methods for providing information on these variations using data from large-scale national and state surveys. In particular, the aim will be to create new cost-effective methods that address the increasing demand for high quality statistics about the distribution of important social, economic, health and environmental variables within local areas and small population sub-groups. Implications for survey design for outputs at these levels will be determined, as will robust and efficient methods for analysing these data. This will lead to significant improvements in the data available for such groups and areas, allowing better targeting of policies aimed at addressing local differences.

The students involved in the project will develop skills in sample survey analysis, the theory and methods of modeling data with group structure and methods for small area estimation. Many of these topics are at the forefront of statistical research. The project will involve the development of innovative methodologies that will be directly applicable by the industry partners as well as by other organisations of great practical importance to Australia.

The students will work in a vibrant and growing research centre, the Centre for Statistical and Survey Methodology, at the University of Wollongong. The Centre comprises 10 academic statisticians, including four professors, and 15 PhD students. The project will involve joint work with, and visits to, the industry partners in Canberra, Sydney and Wellington, which will enhance the quality and relevance of the research and will provide the student with valuable insights into applied statistical research in government agencies.

The value of the APA(I) scholarships are currently AUS$25,627 per year for three years. The UPA will also provide a stipend of AUS$25,627 per year for 3 years while the HDR Tuition Fee Exemption Scholarship will cover the full fee charged by the University for the degree of the PhD for 3 years. There may be opportunities to supplement this with tutoring or other casual work. Additional funding is available for computing equipment and travel. The project involves collaboration with researchers at the University of Pisa in Italy and the Centre also has close ties with the University of Manchester and the University of Southampton in the UK and there may be opportunities for students to visit these institutions.

APA(I) scholarships are open only to Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents and New Zealand citizens. However, the UPA is also open to international applicants. Applicants should have an Honours 1 or 2(1) degree in Statistics, or an equivalent qualification, by the end of 2007, strong research potential and be able to commence by the end of February 2008. Applications, including a curriculum vitae, academic transcript and contact details of two or more referees should be sent to Prof Ray Chambers, Centre for Statistical and Survey Methodology, School of Mathematics and Applied Statistics, University of Wollongong, NSW 2522. Closing date: Friday September 28, 2007. Australian and New Zealand citizens and Australian permanent residents should also include proof of citizenship or permanent residency.

We welcome enquiries about the project or the Centre. For more information, please contact Professor Ray Chambers, ph (61) 2 42213809, email ray@uow.edu.au or Professor David Steel, ph (61) 2 42213823, email dsteel@uow.edu.au.